Harrison Ford, the actor behind some of the most iconic characters in movie history, recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the misconceptions that he suffers from social anxiety.
The 80-year-old actor, who is best known for his roles in the Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Blade Runner franchises, has long been known as a reserved, private and sometimes even shy character in interviews and public appearances. But Ford insists that it isn’t social anxiety, but rather an “abhorrence of boring situations” that has kept him away from the spotlight.
Ford revealed that he was indeed “f***ing terrified” when he first started out as a stage actor, but that he was able to talk himself through the nerves and eventually enjoy the performance.
“My knees would shake so badly, you could see it from the back of the theatre. But that’s not social anxiety. That’s being unfamiliar with the territory,” he said.
Ford continued, “I was able to talk myself through that and then enjoy the experience of being onstage and telling a story with collaborators.”
He now finds comfort in being able to blend in with the crowd, as he wears whatever is appropriate for the situation. “I have a protective coloration. I try to blend in. That’s what I do. When I’m getting dressed, if people are going to be wearing a suit, I wear a suit,” he explained. “If people are wearing blue jeans, I’m wearing blue jeans. I’m comfortable in all kinds of company. I don’t know why people have an expectation of me. I come in all colors. I don’t know who’s going to show up. But it’s usually me — and it looks familiar.”
The actor is still going strong, with the Yellowstone prequel, 1923, being renewed for a second season and the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, on the horizon. Ford says that he’s “still excited about the prospect of telling a story” and that he’s having a great time playing the role of an older character.
