Unmasking: From Stage Roles to My Own Skin 🦋🎭

I wore masks long before I ever stepped on stage.

They were invisible, yet heavy.

I learned to smile, keep the story moving, and hit my emotional cues — not just in the theatre, but in life.

Acting came naturally to me because I’d been doing it for years. 🎭

The lines, the blocking, the transformation into someone else — that was the easy part.

What was harder was knowing what was mine and what belonged to my characters.

I carry a quiet sadness when I say this. Because masking wasn’t just a skill; it was also a shield. It kept me safe, but it also kept me away from myself.

Challenging that — taking the mask off — has been the hardest work of my life.

Forgiving the parts of me I used to hide.

Letting myself be uncomfortable in order to grow.

Every time I push forward, it’s messy. It’s awkward. But I know it’s necessary.

Each uncomfortable step peels away another layer, revealing the version of me I’ve always been meant to meet.

🦋 Maybe that’s what becoming the “beautiful butterfly” really is — not a perfect transformation, but an emergence from the cocoon you didn’t realise you’d been in.

As a coach, I know this is where the real work happens. It’s not about playing a perfect role — it’s about giving yourself permission to be the person you’ve been rehearsing for all along.