Taking on the unknown can be exhilarating, but the experience can also come with a daunting query: "What if I am not good at this?" This fear can only be amplified by the sense of having established one's identity in another field. There is no reason to go back to the beginning, to venture into a realm where judgmental eyes will be watching.
But for Rita Wilson, fear has frequently been a companion to some of the most crucial artistic endeavors in her career. The actress, producer, and musician has continuously ventured into different kinds of story-telling, through Hollywood films and Broadway to writing songs and singing music.
Rita Wilson’s quote on trying new things
“Be fearless in trying new things, whether they are physical, mental, or emotional, since being afraid can challenge you to go to the next level.”
Who is Rita Wilson?
Margarita 'Rita' Wilson was born in Los Angeles in 1956 under the name Margarita Ibrahimoff. The American-Greek actress has created a career encompassing performing arts, film, and music.
Wilson appeared as an actress in many movies including Sleepless in Seattle, Runaway Bride, It's Complicated, and Jingle All the Way . However, she became equally known as a producer of the popular movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding . Rita produced more films like Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
A few years later, in 2006, Rita Wilson played Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical Chicago. The role inspired the actress to become a singer. Her long-lasting passion for music resulted in a solo album called AM/FM that the actress released in 2012. Wilson created a career as a singer-songwriter after the mentioned performance.
The woman herself explains that songwriting gave her another type of creative control compared to acting. In fact, she said that in acting, one cannot choose what she wants to say artistically.
She married actor Tom Hanks in 1988, after the two had worked together and developed a relationship in the 1980s. The couple have two sons, Chet and Truman Hanks. Wilson is also stepmother to Hanks' two children from his previous marriage, Colin and Elizabeth Hanks.
What does Rita Wilson’s quote mean?
Wilson’s speech is not about eradicating fear; rather, it is about how fear can indicate the unknown and something that may make us transcend our boundaries.
This theme is evident in Wilson's journey towards becoming a musician. According to a 2021 interview on Parade, Wilson admits to being scared sometimes in her early days as a songwriter. Even with her experience in acting, she still decided to be a beginner in a new creative field. She further mentions that one does not need a certain time limit to do something new.
The key difference between the two concepts is that being fearless is not synonymous with the absence of fear. Being fearless can simply mean choosing not to let your fear have the final say when facing something new.
