2023年畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿（通用篇）

2023年畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿（通用篇）畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿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.

畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿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:

畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿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.

畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿4

SherylSandbergtoldagraduatingclassofTsinghuaUniversitythatgreatleaderswantgenuineenthusiasm,somethingshesaidherlatehusband,DaveGoldberg,alwayshad.

雪莉·桑德伯格激勵(lì)清華高校畢業(yè)學(xué)子說，宏大的領(lǐng)袖須要“真正的激情”，而這一點(diǎn)她和她已故先生戴夫·哥德伯格(DaveGoldberg)始終懷有。

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

雪莉·桑德伯格周六在北京發(fā)表的畢業(yè)演講中說道，“沒有人能像我摯愛的丈夫戴夫·哥德伯格那樣贏得那么多人的心，他讓身邊的人表現(xiàn)更為精彩，他在調(diào)查猴子(SurveyMonkey，美國一家網(wǎng)絡(luò)調(diào)查公司)擔(dān)當(dāng)首席執(zhí)行官時(shí)就是如此。這是他幫助建立起來的一個(gè)極為精彩的公司。同時(shí)他也讓我和我們的孩子成為更好的人。”

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

哥德伯格出事之時(shí)，他正與桑德伯格(45歲)以及他們的孩子在墨西哥蓬美達(dá)的私人度假勝地游玩。他健身的時(shí)候從跑步機(jī)上摔下來撞到頭，最終因頭部重傷救治無效于5月1日去世，年僅47歲。

ThisisbelievedtobeSandbergsfirsttimepubliclyspeakingaboutherhusbandsincehisuntimelydeath.

這是她的丈夫英年早逝之后，桑德伯格首次在公眾面前提起此事。

以下是其演講部分重點(diǎn)摘要:

Ibelievethatyouarethefutureleaders,notonlyofchinabutoftheworld.Andforeachofyou,Iwishfourthings:

我信任你們不僅將成為中國的領(lǐng)袖，同時(shí)還將成為全球的領(lǐng)袖。對(duì)你們?cè)谧拿恳粋€(gè)人，我有4點(diǎn)期冀：

1.Thatyouareboldandhavegoodfortune.Fortunefavorsthebold.

希望你足夠英勇并有好運(yùn)。命運(yùn)偏愛勇者。

2.Thatyougiveandgetthefeedbackyouneed.Feedbackisagift.

希望你能賜予并得到你要所需的反饋。反饋是一種禮物。

3.Thatyouempowereveryone.Nothingissomebodyelse’sproblem.

希望你能給身邊的人以力氣。不要置身事外，要以身作則。

4.Thatyousupportequality.Leanin!

希望你支持男女同等。向前一步!

Congradulations!

慶賀你們!

畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿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.)

畢業(yè)典禮英文演講稿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