2023年毕业典礼英文演讲稿（通用篇）

2023年毕业典礼英文演讲稿（通用篇）毕业典礼英文演讲稿1

Answeringspeech

DearprofessorsanddearfriendsofChinaJiliangUniversity,

I’mhonoredtoaddressyouonbehalfofallthegraduationsthisyear.

Iwouldliketothankmyparents,classmates,andfriendswhohelpedus,andencouragedandsupportedusasweworkedtowardstoourgraduatedegrees.

IalsowanttothankJiliang’sfacultymemberswhoservedasourinstructors，mentor,andfriends,relatives,likeProf.Yu,Prof.Gao,Mrs.Liang.Throughtheircommitments,theyhaveinspiredustoachieveandguidedustoourdream.

Onthisstage,atmygraduationceremony,whenIlookbackmyfouryearsatJiliang,mymindisfilledwithmemories.Maybeyouwillaskme:doyouhavespecialtoshare?Yes,Iwanttosharefewsimplebutcriticalsuggestionswithyouandwithforthecomingjuniors:

First,beworkhardandthinksmart.

Secondly,believethingshappenedforareason.

Thirdly,justasJobssaidatthegraduationceremonyinStanfordUniversity,stayhungry,stayfoolish.

Today,wewillgraduatefromChinaJiliangUniversity,butwewillbewithJiliangforever.LetusthinkforwardandworktogethertomakethenewhistoryofChinaJiliangUniversity.

Thankyou.

毕业典礼英文演讲稿2

Unlikeanyothercreatureonthisplanet,humanscanlearnandunderstand,withouthavingexperienced.Theycanthinkthemselvesintootherpeople’sminds,imaginethemselvesintootherpeople’splaces.

Ofcourse,thisisapower,likemybrandoffictionalmagic,thatismorallyneutral.Onemightusesuchanabilitytomanipulate,orcontrol,justasmuchastounderstandorsympathise.

Andmanyprefernottoexercisetheirimaginationsatall.Theychoosetoremaincomfortablywithintheboundsoftheirownexperience,nevertroublingtowonderhowitwouldfeeltohavebeenbornotherthantheyare.Theycanrefusetohearscreamsortopeerinsidecages;theycanclosetheirmindsandheartstoanysufferingthatdoesnottouchthempersonally;theycanrefusetoknow.

Imightbetemptedtoenvypeoplewhocanlivethatway,exceptthatIdonotthinktheyhaveanyfewernightmaresthanIdo.Choosingtoliveinnarrowspacescanleadtoaformofmentalagoraphobia,andthatbringsitsownterrors.Ithinkthewilfullyunimaginativeseemoremonsters.Theyareoftenmoreafraid.

Whatismore,thosewhochoosenottoempathizemayenablerealmonsters.Forwithoutevercommittinganactofoutrightevilourselves,wecolludewithit,throughourownapathy.

OneofthemanythingsIlearnedattheendofthatClassicscorridordownwhichIventuredattheageof18,insearchofsomethingIcouldnotthendefine,wasthis,writtenbytheGreekauthorPlutarch:Whatweachieveinwardlywillchangeouterreality.

Thatisanastonishingstatementandyetprovenathousandtimeseverydayofourlives.Itexpresses,inpart,ourinescapableconnectionwiththeoutsideworld,thefactthatwetouchotherpeople’slivessimplybyexisting.

Buthowmuchmoreareyou,Harvardgraduatesof2023,likelytotouchotherpeople’slives?Yourintelligence,yourcapacityforhardwork,theeducationyouhaveearnedandreceived,giveyouuniquestatus,anduniqueresponsibilities.Evenyournationalitysetsyouapart.Thegreatmajorityofyoubelongtotheworld’sonlyremainingsuperpower.Thewayyouvote,thewayyoulive,thewayyouprotest,thepressureyoubringtobearonyourgovernment,hasanimpactwaybeyondyourborders.Thatisyourprivilege,andyourburden.

Ifyouchoosetouseyourstatusandinfluencetoraiseyourvoiceonbehalfofthosewhohavenovoice;ifyouchoosetoidentifynotonlywiththepowerful,butwiththepowerless;ifyouretaintheabilitytoimagineyourselfintothelivesofthosewhodonothaveyouradvantages,thenitwillnotonlybeyourproudfamilieswhocelebrateyourexistence,butthousandsandmillionsofpeoplewhoserealityyouhavehelpedtransformforthebetter.Wedonotneedmagictochangetheworld,wecarryallthepowerweneedinsideourselvesalready:wehavethepowertoimaginebetter.

Iamnearlyfinished.Ihaveonelasthopeforyou,whichissomethingthatIalreadyhadat21.ThefriendswithwhomIsatongraduationdayhavebeenmyfriendsforlife.Theyaremychildren’sgodparents,thepeopletowhomI’vebeenabletoturnintimesoftrouble,friendswhohavebeenkindenoughnottosuemewhenI’veusedtheirnamesforDeathEaters.Atourgraduationwewereboundbyenormousaffection,byoursharedexperienceofatimethatcouldnevercomeagain,and,ofcourse,bytheknowledgethatweheldcertainphotographicevidencethatwouldbeexceptionallyvaluableifanyofusranforPrimeMinister.

Sotoday,Icanwishyounothingbetterthansimilarfriendships.Andtomorrow,Ihopethatevenifyouremembernotasinglewordofmine,yourememberthoseofSeneca,anotherofthoseoldRomansImetwhenIfleddowntheClassicscorridor,inretreatfromcareerladders,insearchofancientwisdom:

毕业典礼英文演讲稿3

Youmustbelieveinyourselfandinyourwork.WhenourfirstBatmanmoviebrokeallthosebox-officerecords,IreceivedaphonecallfromthatUnitedArtistsexecwho,yearsbefore,hadtoldmeIwasoutofmymind.Nowhesaid,“Michael,ImjustcallingtocongratulateyouonthesuccessofBatman.Ialwayssaidyouwereavisionary.”Youseethepointhere—dontbelievethemwhentheytellyouhowbadyouareorhowterribleyourideasare,butalso,dontbelievethemwhentheytellyouhowwonderfulyouareandhowgreatyourideasare.Justbelieveinyourselfandyoulldojustfine.And,ohyes,dontthenforgettomarketyourselfandyourideas.Usebothsidesofyourbrain.

Youmusthaveahighthresholdforfrustration.TakeitfromtheguywhowasturneddownbyeverystudioinHollywood.Youmustknockondoorsuntilyourknucklesbleed.Doorswillslaminyourface.Youmustpickyourselfup,dustyourselfoff,andknockagain.Itstheonlywaytoachieveyourgoalsinlife.

毕业典礼英文演讲稿4

SherylSandbergtoldagraduatingclassofTsinghuaUniversitythatgreatleaderswantgenuineenthusiasm,somethingshesaidherlatehusband,DaveGoldberg,alwayshad.

雪莉·桑德伯格激励清华高校毕业学子说，宏大的领袖须要“真正的激情”，而这一点她和她已故先生戴夫·哥德伯格(DaveGoldberg)始终怀有。

NoonewonmoreheartsthanmybelovedhusbandDave…Heraisedtheperformanceofeveryonearoundhim,shesaidduringacommencementspeechonSaturdayinBeijing.HediditasCEOofSurveyMonkey,agreatcompanyhehelpedbuild,andhediditformeandourchildren.

雪莉·桑德伯格周六在北京发表的毕业演讲中说道，“没有人能像我挚爱的丈夫戴夫·哥德伯格那样赢得那么多人的心，他让身边的人表现更为精彩，他在调查猴子(SurveyMonkey，美国一家网络调查公司)担当首席执行官时就是如此。这是他帮助建立起来的一个极为精彩的公司。同时他也让我和我们的孩子成为更好的人。”

GoldbergandSandberg,45,wereataprivateresortinPuntaMita,Mexico,withtheirfamilywhenhefelloffatreadmillanddiedfromsevereheadtraumaonMay1.Hewasjust47.

哥德伯格出事之时，他正与桑德伯格(45岁)以及他们的孩子在墨西哥蓬美达的私人度假胜地游玩。他健身的时候从跑步机上摔下来撞到头，最终因头部重伤救治无效于5月1日去世，年仅47岁。

ThisisbelievedtobeSandbergsfirsttimepubliclyspeakingaboutherhusbandsincehisuntimelydeath.

这是她的丈夫英年早逝之后，桑德伯格首次在公众面前提起此事。

以下是其演讲部分重点摘要:

Ibelievethatyouarethefutureleaders,notonlyofchinabutoftheworld.Andforeachofyou,Iwishfourthings:

我信任你们不仅将成为中国的领袖，同时还将成为全球的领袖。对你们在座的每一个人，我有4点期冀：

1.Thatyouareboldandhavegoodfortune.Fortunefavorsthebold.

希望你足够英勇并有好运。命运偏爱勇者。

2.Thatyougiveandgetthefeedbackyouneed.Feedbackisagift.

希望你能赐予并得到你要所需的反馈。反馈是一种礼物。

3.Thatyouempowereveryone.Nothingissomebodyelse’sproblem.

希望你能给身边的人以力气。不要置身事外，要以身作则。

4.Thatyousupportequality.Leanin!

希望你支持男女同等。向前一步!

Congradulations!

庆贺你们!

毕业典礼英文演讲稿5

GraduatesofYaleUniversity,Iapologizeifyouhaveenduredthistypeofprologuebefore,butIwantyoutodosomethingforme.Please,takeaoodlookaroundyou.Lookattheclassmateonyourleft.Lookattheclassmateonyourright.Now,considerthis:fiveyearsfromnow,10yearsfromnow,even30yearsfromnow,oddsarethepersononyourleftisgoingtobealoser.Thepersononyourright,meanwhile,willalsobealoser.Andyou,inthemiddle?Whatcanyouexpect?Loser.Loserhood.LoserCumLaude.

"Infact,asIlookoutbeforemetoday,Idontseeathousandhopesforabrighttomorrow.Idontseeathousandfutureleadersinathousandindustries.Iseeathousandlosers.

"Youreupset.Thatsunderstandable.Afterall,howcanI,LawrenceLarryEllison,collegedropout,havetheaudacitytospoutsuchheresytothegraduatingclassofoneofthenationsmostprestigiousinstitutions?Illtellyouwhy.BecauseI,Lawrence"Larry"Ellison,secondrichestmanontheplanet,amacollegedropout,andyouarenot.

"BecauseBillGates,richestmanontheplanet--fornow,anyway--isacollegedropout,andyouarenot.

"BecausePaulAllen,thethirdrichestmanontheplanet,droppedoutofcollege,andyoudidnot.

"Andforgoodmeasure,becauseMichaelDell,No.9onthelistandmovingupfast,isacollegedropout,andyou,yetagain,arenot.

"Hmm...youreveryupset.Thatsunderstandable.Soletmestrokeyouregosforamomentbypointingout,quitesincerely,thatyourdiplomaswerenotattainedinvain.Mostofyou,Iimagine,havespentfourtofiveyearshere,andinmanywayswhatyouvelearnedandenduredwillserveyouwellintheyearsahead.Youveestablishedgoodworkhabits.Youveestablishedanetworkofpeoplethatwillhelpyoudowntheroad.Andyouveestablishedwhatwillbelifelongrelationshipswiththewordtherapy.Allthatofisgood.Forintruth,youwillneedthatnetwork.Youwillneedthosestrongworkhabits.Youwillneedthattherapy.

"Youwillneedthembecauseyoudidntdropout,andsoyouwillneverbeamongtherichestpeopleintheworld.Ohsure,youmay,perhaps,workyourwayuptoNo.10orNo.11,likeSteveBallmer.Butthen,Idonthavetotellyouwhohereallyworksfor,doI?Andfortherecord,hedroppedoutofgradschool.Bitofalatebloomer.

"Finally,Irealizethatmanyofyou,andhopefullybynowmostofyou,arewondering,IsthereanythingIcando?Isthereanyhopeformeatall?Actually,no.Itstoolate.Youveabsorbedtoomuch,thinkyouknowtoomuch.Yourenot19anymore.Youhaveabuilt-incap,andImnotreferringtothemortarboardsonyourheads.

"Hmm...yourereallyveryupset.Thatsunderstandable.Soperhapsthiswouldbeagoodtimetobringupthesilverlining.Notforyou,Classof00.Youareawrite-off,soIllletyouslinkofftoyourpathetic$200,000-a-yearjobs,whereyourcheckswillbesignedbyformerclassmateswhodroppedouttwoyearsago.

"Instead,Iwanttogivehopetoanyunderclassmenheretoday.Isaytoyou,andIcantstressthisenough:leave.Packyourthingsandyourideasanddontcomeback.Dropout.Startup.

"ForIcantellyouthatacapandgownwillkeepyoudownjustassurelyasthesesecurityguardsdraggingmeoffthisstagearekeepingmedown..."

(AtthispointTheOracleCEOwasusheredoffstage.)

毕业典礼英文演讲稿6

Hello,classof2023.I’msohonoredtobeheretoday.

DeanKhurana,faculty,parents,andmostespeciallygraduatingstudents,thankyousomuchforinvitingme.TheSeniorClassCommittee,it’sgenuinelyoneofthemostexcitingthingsI’veeverbeenaskedtodo.IhavetoadmitprimarilybecauseIcan’tdenyit.AsitwasleakedintheWikiLeaksreleaseoftheSonyhackthatwhenIwasinvitedIrepliedandIdirectlyquotemyownemail.“Wow!Thisissonice!I’mgonnaneedsomefunnyghostwriters.Anyidea?”

ThisinitialresponsenowblessedlypublicwasfromtheknowledgethatatmyclassdaywewereluckyenoughtohaveWillFerrelasclassdayspeaker.Andthatmanyofuswerehung-over,orevenfreshlyhigh,mainlywantedtolaugh.SoIhavetoadmitthattoday,even12yearsaftergraduation,I’mstillinsecureaboutmyownworthiness.Ihavetoremindmyselftodayyou’rehereforareason.

TodayIfeelmuchlikeIdidwhenIcametoHarvardYardasafreshmanin1999.Whenyouguyswere,tomycontinuedshockandhorror,stillinkindergarten.Ifeelliketherehadbeensomemistake,thatIwasn’tsmartenoughtobeinthiscompany.AndthateverytimeIopenedmymouth,IwouldhavetoprovethatIwasn’tjustadumbactress.SoIstartwithanapology.Thiswon’tbeveryfunny.I’mnotacomedian.AndIdidn’tgetaghostwriter.ButI’mheretotellyoutoday,Harvardisgivingyoualldiplomastomorrow.Youarehereforareason.

Sometimesyourinsecuritiesandyourinexperiencemayleadyou,too,toembraceotherpeople’sexpectations.Standards,orvalues.Butyoucanharnessthatinexperiencetocarveoutyourownpath,onethatisfreeoftheburdenofknowinghowthingsaresupposedtobe,apaththatisdefinedbyitsownparticularsetofreasons.

TheotherdayIwenttoanamusementparkwithmysoon-to-be4-year-oldson.AndIwatchedhimplayarcadegames.Hewasincrediblyfocused,throwinghisballatthetarget.JewishmotherthatIam,Iskipped20steps,andwasalreadyimagininghimasamajorleagueplayer,withwhatishisaimandhisarmandhisconcentration.ButthenIrealizedwhathewant.Hewasplayingtotradeinhisticketsforthecrappyplastictoys.Theprizewasmuchmoreexcitingthanthegametogetit.Iofcoursewantedtourgehimtotakejoyandthechallengeofthegame,theimprovementuponpractice,thesatisfactionofdoingsomethingwell,andevenfeelingtheaccomplishmentwhenachievingthegame’sgoals.Butalloftheseaspectswereshadebythelittle10centplasticmenwithstickystretchybluearmsthatadheretothewalls.Thatwastheprize.Inachild’snature,weseemanyofourowninnatetendencies.Isawmyselfinhimandperhapsyoudotoo.

Prizesserveasfalseidolseverywhere.Prestige,wealth,fame,power.You’llbeexposedtomanyofthese,ifnotall.Ofcourse,partofwhyIwasinvitedtocometospeaktoday,beyondmybeingaproudalumna,isthatI’verecruitedsomeverycovetedtoysinmylife,includinganotsoplastic,notsocrappyone,anOscar.SowebumpupagainstthecommontrollIthinkofthecommencementaddresspeoplewhohaveachievedalottellingyouthatthefruitsoftheachievementarenotalwaystobetrusted.ButIthinkthatcontradictioncanbereconciledandisinfactinstructive.Achievementiswonderfulwhenyouknowwhyyou’redoingit.Andwhenyoudon’tknow,itcanbeaterribletrap.

IwenttoapublichighschoolonLongIsland,SyossetHighSchool.Ooh,hello,Syosset!ThegirlsIwenttoschoolwithhadPradabagsandflat-ironedhair.Andtheyspokewithanaccent,Iwhohadmovedthereatage9fromConnecticutmimickedtofitin.Florida,Oranges,Chocolate,Cherries.SinceI’mancientandtheInternetwasjuststartingwhenIwasinhighschool.Peopledidn’treallypaythatmuchofattentiontothefactthatIwasanactress.IwasknownmainlyatschoolforhavingabackpackbiggerthanIwas,andalwayshavingwhite-outonmyhands.BecauseIhatedseeinganythingcrossedoutinmynotelooks.IwasvotedformysenioryearbookImostlikelytobeancontestantonJeopardy,orcodefornerdiest.

WhenIgottoHarvardjustafterthereleaseofStarWars:Episode1.IknewIwouldbestartingoverintermsofhowpeopleviewedme.IfearedpeoplewouldhaveassumedI’dgotteninjustforbeingfamous,andthattheywouldthinkthatIwasnotworthyoftheintellectualrigorhere.Anditwouldnothavebeenfarfromthetruth.WhenIcamehereIhadneverwrittena10paperbefore.I’mnotevensureI’vewrittena5paper.Iwasalarmedandintimidatedbythecalmeyesofafellowstudent,whocameherefromDaltonorExeterwhothoughtthatcomparedtohighschooltheworkloadherewaseasy.Iwascompletelyoverwhelmed,andthoughtthatreading1000pagesaweekwasunimaginable,thatwritinga50thesisisjustsomethingIcouldneverdo.Ihadnoideahowtodeclaremyintentions.Icouldn’tevenarticulatethemtomyself.

I’vebeenactingsinceIwas11.ButIthoughtactingwastoofrivolousandcertainlynotmeaningful.Icamefromafamilyofacademics,andwasveryconcernedofbeingtakenseriously.Incontrasttomyinabilitytodeclaremyself,onmyfirstdayoforientationfreshmanyear,fiveseparatestudentsintroducedthemselvestome,bysaying,I’mgoingtobepresident.RememberItoldyouthat.Theirnames,fortherecord,wereBernieSanders,MarcoRubio,TedCruz,BarackObama,andHilaryClinton.Inallseriousness,Ibelievedeveryoneofthem,theirbearingandself-confidencealoneseemedproofoftheirprophecywhereIcouldn’tshakemyself-doubt.IgotinonlybecauseIwasfamous.ThiswashowotherssawmeanditwashowIsawmyself.Drivenbytheseinsecurities,IdecidedIwasgoingtofindsomethingtodoinHarvardthatwasseriousandmeaningfulthatwouldchangetheworldandmakeitabetterplace.

Attheageof18,I’dalreadybeenactingfor7years,andassumedIfindamoreseriousandprofoundpathincollege.SofreshmanfallIdecidedtotakeneurobiology,andadvancedmodernHebrewliterature,becauseIwasseriousandintellectual.Needlesstosay,Ishouldhavefailedboth.IgotBs,foryouinformation,andtothisday,everySundayIburnasmalleffigytothepaganGodsofgradeinflation.

ButasIwasfightingmywaythroughAlephBetYodY’dshuainHebrew,andthedifferentmechanismsofneuro-response,Isawfriendsaroundmewritingpapersonsailing,andpopculturemagazines,andprofessorsteachingclassesonfairlytalesandTheMatrix.Irealizedthatseriousnessforseriousness’ssakewasitsownkindoftrophy,andadubiousone,aposeIsoughttocountersomehalf-imaginedargumentaboutwhoIwas.TherewasareasonthatIwasanactor.IlovewhatIdo.AndIsawfrommypeersandmymentorsthatitwasnotonlyanacceptablereason,itwasthebestreason.

WhenIgottomygraduation,sittingwhereyousittodayafter4yearsoftryingtogetexcitedaboutsomethingelse.IadmittedtomyselfthatIcouldn’twaittogobackandmakemorefilms.Iwantedtotellstories,toimaginethelivesofothers.Ihavefoundorperhapsreclaimedmyreason.Youhaveprizenow,oratleastyouwilltomorrow.TheprizeisaHarvarddegreeinyourhand.Butwhatisyourreasonbehindit?

MyHarvarddegreerepresentsforme,thecuriosityandinventionthatwereencouragedhere,thefriendshipsI’vesustained,thewayProfessorGrahamtoldmenottodescribethewaylighthitaflower,butrathertheshadowtheflowercast,thewayProfessorScarrytalkedabouttheatreisatransformativereligiousforce,howProfessorCoslinshowedhowmuchourvisualcortexisactivatedjustbyimagining.Nowgrantedthesethingsdon’tnecessarityhelpmeanswerthemostcommonquestionI’masked:Whatdesignerareyouwearing?What’syourfitnessregime?Anymakeuptips?ButIhaveneversincebeenembarrassedtomyselfaswhatImightpreviouslyhavethoughtwasstupidquestion.MyHarvarddegreeandotherawardsareemblemsoftheexperienceswhichledmetothem.Thewoodpaneledlecturehalls,thecolorfulfallleaves,thehotvanillaToscaninis,readinggreatnovelsinoverstuffedlibrarychairs,runningthroughdininghallsscreaming:Ooh!Ah!Citysteps!Citysteps!Citysteps!Citysteps!

It’seasynowtoromanticizemytimehere.ButIhadsomeverydifficulttimeshereto.Somecombinationofbeing19,dealingwithmyfirstheartbreak,takingbirthcontrolpillsthathavesincebeentakenoffthemarketfortheirdepressivesideeffects,andspendingtoomuchtimemissingdaylightduringwintermonths,ledmetosomeprettydarkmoments.Particularlyduringsophomoreyear,therewereseveraloccasionswhereIstartedcryinginmeetingswithprofessors.OverwhelmedwithwhatIwassupposedtopulloff.WhenIcouldbarelygetmyselfoutofbedinthemorning.MomentwhenItookonthemottoformyschoolwork.Done.Notgood.IfonlyIcouldfinishmywork,evenifittookeatingajumbopackofsourPatchKidstogetmethroughasingle10paper.IfeltthatI’veaccomplishedagreatfeat.Irepeattomyself.Done.Notgood.

Acoupleofyearsago,IwenttoTokyowithmyhusband,andIateatthemostremarkablesushirestaurant.Idon’teveneatfish.I’mvegan.Sothattellsyouhowgooditwas.Evenwithjustvegetables,thissushiwasthestuffyoudreamedabout.Therestauranthassixseats.MyhusbandandImarveledathowanyonecanmakericesosuperiortoallotherrice.Wewonderedwhytheydidn’tmakeabiggerrestaurantandbethemostpopularplaceintown.OurlocalfriendsexplainstousthatallthebestrestaurantsinTokyoarethatsmall,anddoonlyonetypeofdish:sushiortempuraorteriyaki.Becausetheywanttodothatthingwellandbeautifully.Andit’snotaboutquantity.It’sabouttakingpleasureintheperfectionandbeautyoftheparticular.

I’mstilllearningnowthatit’saboutgoodandmaybeneverdone.Andthejoyandworkethicandvirtuositywebringtotheparticularcanimpartasingulartypeofenjoymenttothosewegiveto,andofcourse,toourselves.

Inmyprofessionallife,italsotookmetimetofindmyownreasonsfordoingmywork.ThefirstfilmIwasincameoutin1994.Again,appallingly,theyearmostofyouwereborn.Iwas13yearsolduponthefilm’sreleaseandIcamestillquotewhattheNewYorkTimesaidaboutmeverbatim.MsPortmanposesbetterthansheacts.Thefilmhadauniversallytepideristicresponseandwentontobombcommercially.ThatfilmwascalledTheProfessional,orLeoninEurope.Andtoday,20yearsand35filmslater,itisstillthefilmpeopleapproachmeaboutthemosttotellmehowmuchtheylovedit,howmuchitmovedthem,howit’stheirfavouritemovie.Ifeelluckythatmyfirstexperienceofreleasingafilmwasinitiallysuchadisasterbyallstandardsandmeasures.Ilearnedearlythatmymeaninghadtobefromtheexperienceofmakingthefilmandthepossibilityofconnectingwithindividualsratherthantheforemosttrophiesinmyindustry:financialandcriticalsuccess.Andalsotheseinitialreactionscouldbefalsepredictorsofyourworksultimatelegacy.

IstartedchoosingonlyjobsthatI’mpassionateaboutandfromwhichIknewIcouldgleanmeaningfulexperiences.Thisthoroughlyconfusedeveryonearoundme:agents,producers,andaudiencesalike.ImadeGoya’sGhost,aforeignindependentfilmandstudiedacthistoryvisitingtheproduceeverydayfor4monthsasIreadaboutGoyaandtheSpanishInquisition.ImadeVforVendetta,studioactionmovieforwhichIlearnedeverythingIcouldaboutfreedomfighters,whomotherwisemaybecalledterroristsfromMenachemBegintoWeatherUnderground.ImadeYourHighness,apotheadcomedywithDannyMcBrideandlaughfor3monthsstraight.Iwasabletoownmymeaningandnothaveitbedeterminedbyboxofficereceiptsorprestige.

BythetimeIgottomakingBlackSwan,theexperiencewasentirelymyown.Ifeltimmunetotheworstthingsanyonecouldsayorwriteaboutme,andtowhethertheaudiencefeltliketoseemymovieornot.Itwasinstructiveformetoseeforballetdancersonceyourtechniquegetstoacertainlevel,theonlythingthatseparatesyoufromothersisyourquirksorevenflaws.Oneballerinawasfamousforhowsheturnedslightlyoffbalanced.Youcanneverbethebest,technically.Somewithalwayshaveahigherjumporamorebeautifulline.Theonlythingyoucanbethebestatisdevelopingyourownself.AuthoringyourownexperiencewasverymuchwhatBlackSwanitselfwasabout.IworkedwithDarrenAronofskythedirectorwhochangedmylastlineinthemovietoItwasperfect.BecausemycharacterNinaisonlyartisticallysuccessfulwhenshefindsperfectionandpleasureforherself,notwhenshewastryingtobeperfectintheeyesofothers.SowhenBlackSwanwassuccessfulfinanciallyandIbeganreceivingaccoladesIfelthonoredandgratefultohaveconnectedwithpeople.ButthetruecoreofmymeaningIhadalreadyestablished.AndIneededittobeindependentofpeople’sreactionstome.

PeopletoldmethatBlackSwanwasanartisticrisk.Ascarychallengetotrytoportrayaprofessionalballetdancer.Butitdidn’tfeellikecourageordaringthatdrovemedoit.IwassooblivioustomyownlimitsthatIdidthingsIwaswoefullyunpreparedtodo.Andsotheveryinexperiencethatincollegehadmademeinsecure,mademewanttoplaybyothers’rules.Nowismakingmeactuallytakerisks,Ididn’tevenrealizewererisks.WhenDarrenaskedmeifIcouldballet,ItoldhimIwasbasicallyaballerinawhichbythewayIwholeheartedlybelieved.WhenitquicklybecameclearthatpreparingforthefilmthatIwas15yearsawayfrombeingaballerina.Itmademeworkamilliontimesharderandofcoursethemagicofcinemaandbodydoubleshelpedthefinaleffect.Butthepointis,ifIhadknownmyownlimitations,Ineverwouldhavetakentherisk.Andtheriskledtooneofmygreatestartisticpersonalexperiences.AndthatInotonlyfeltcompletelyfree.Ialsometmyhusbandduringthefilming.

Similarly,Ijustdirectedmyfirstfilm,ATaleofLoveinDarkness.Iwasquiteblindtothechallengesaheadofme.Thefilmisaperiodfilm,completelyinHebrewinwhichIalsoactwithaneight-year-oldchildasacostar.AllofthesearechallengesIshouldhavebeenterrifiedof,asIwascompletelyunpreparedforthem,butmycompleteignorancetomyownlimitationslookedlikeconfidenceandgotmeintothedirector’schair.Oncethere,Ihadtofigureitallout,andmybeliefthatIcouldhandlethesethings,contrarytoallevidenceofmyabilitytodosowasonlyhalfthebattle.Theotherhalfwasveryhardwork.Theexperiencewasthedeepestandmostmeaningfuloneofmycareer.NowclearlyI’mnoturgingyoutogoandperformheartsurgerywithouttheknowledgetodoso!Makingmoviesadmittedlyhaslessdrasticconsequencesthanmostprofessionsandallowsforalotofeffectsthatmakeupformistakes.

ThethingI’msayingis,makeuseofthefactthatyoudon’tdoubtyourselftoomuchrightnow.Aswegetorder,wegetmorerealistic,andthatincludesaboutourownabilitiesorlackthereof.Andthatrealismdoesusnofavors.Peoplealwaystalkaboutdivingintothingsyou’reafraidof.Thatneverworkedforme.IfI’mafraid,Irunaway.AndIwouldprobablyurgemychildtodothesame.Fearprotectsusinmanyways.Whathasservedmein