Mark Evans Studio

I kicked off Thursday night's class last week by asking everyone to share one time they have felt tremendous joy as an actor in their lives. It reminded us all why we fell in love with this thing we’re so passionate about and allowed the class to be laid back, fun and playful - Joy filled! As actors - myself included - it’s easy to drift into a mindset where we’re chasing outcomes instead of experiences. We start measuring ourselves by bookings, callbacks, or how we think we’re being perceived. In that space, joy becomes conditional. It becomes something we earn, rather than something we bring with us. But the truth is, when joy leaves the room, our work suffers. We tighten, we overthink, and we lose the very thing that makes our performances compelling. When we prioritise joy, everything opens up. We give ourselves permission to play again. We take risks without the fear of failure looming over every choice. We listen more deeply, respond more honestly, and allow ourselves to be s...

  Last night while teaching, a thought surfaced that felt simple but powerful and seemed to really resonate with the students in class: “If you find yourself questioning ‘Am I worthy?’ find a way to make the answer ‘Yes!’” Most people experience moments where their inner critic gets loud. It might sound like doubt, insecurity, or that quiet voice that asks whether we’re good enough. In those moments, the mind can become a courtroom where our confidence is put on trial. Too often, we let our insecurities present all the evidence. But what if we approached those moments differently? Instead of letting the question “Am I worthy?” spiral into self-doubt, we can treat it as an invitation to act. The goal isn’t to silence the question. The goal is to create an answer. When your mind asks whether you’re worthy, ask yourself a better question: “What can I do right now that would make the answer yes?” Sometimes the answer is small. Show up with integrity. Do the next task well. Help someon...