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Ultimately, the more I know what I’m going to do when I get into that room, the less nervous I tend to be. That way, when audition day rolls around, I can stay calm and focused, knowing in the back of my mind that I’ve done everything humanly possible to prepare.
    Because I’ve crossed all my T s and dotted all my I s, on the day of the actual audition I keep things calm and light. I get up, get ready, and go. And I try to keep things calm and light in the room, too, so that if something does go wrong, it’s easier to laugh it off and move forward. I’ve had auditions where I’ve completely forgotten my lines—it happens to everyone. The best thing to do is to make something out of it and make them laugh: They’ll certainly remember you! And if you don’t get the role, don’t despair. There will always be opportunities, and there will always be more auditions.
    Q HOW DO YOU HANDLE DIFFICULT COWORKERS?
    A We’ve all been there, where we’ve had to work with someone who might not be the easiest to deal with on a day-to-day basis. My trigger is feeling like I’m prepared and others aren’t—that’s very, very frustrating, particularly because it affects not only the cast but the entire crew, too, who are there to do their jobs well and go home. It’s also frustrating when people are unprofessional or bring their personal life, or drama, to set. Over the years, I’ve learned that the best thing to do is to literally block it from my mind and to resist the urge to obsess over the injustice of it all or fixate on their missteps. Ultimately, you can’t control other people.
    At times, I’ve felt that situations have become unworkable, and since I tend to be honest and direct, I’ve found that addressing the problem with my coworker face-to-face works best. If there’s a situation that’s causing tension, I’m known for giving a big hug to break the ice—usually, by offering that it’s been a long week and that maybe we can start fresh, it’s possible to clear the air. When you’re onstage, or filming, with someone, it’s very personal, and it goes much better when you have a good relationship. When a good relationship just isn’t possible, I do my best to be civil so that I can move forward without friction or distraction.
    Q HOW DO YOU KEEP A WORK/LIFE BALANCE?
    A I learned at a young age that when my personal life is good, then my work is at its best. So even though I theoretically work all the time, and that work would seem to be my priority, the opposite is actually true. I prize my alone time and cherish my family and friends. Without a full and good personal life, I’d be terrible at my job: It all makes me a bigger and better actor. I keep potential chaos in check by being pretty old-school: I keep a physical calendar. I write everything down in my day planner so that I can be sure that my days are balanced, that I’m doing things that genuinely make me happy, and that I’m not just socializing to keep myself busy. I also try to make sure that I put my phone down when I’m with the people I love, in order to be fully present and focused on the time that I have with them.
    Q WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU COULDN’T ACT?
    A For a while, I really wanted to practice law; I was on the debate team and it was such a fun experience, so I figured making my case in front of a jury would be just as fun. But the reality is that I was born a singer, and singing is what I do best.
    Q WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR FAMILY DIDN’T SUPPORT YOU, BUT YOU KNEW ACTING WAS WHAT YOU WANTED YOU TO DO?
    A It’s hard for me to conceive of what it would be like if my family didn’t support my choice to be in show business, but I do know a lot of people whose families really want them to pick careers with more stability. Working as an actor can be very unpredictable, and I think it’s understandable that a lot of parents just want their kids to be able to pay their rent every month. What makes it even more confusing is that