I don't know about you, but so much of my training as an actor was focused on warming up my instrument. I took countless classes to hone my vocal and physical skills—such essential tools for our craft! I remember one of my professors told us to do a cool down after playing a heavy scene, but there were no instructions on how to do it.
Fast forward to my professional acting career. One of my very first roles was in Federico Garcia Lorca's heart-wrenching play, "Blood Wedding," where I played the Bride. By the end of that performance, I was left carrying so much shame and guilt—feelings that I found incredibly hard to shake off once the curtain fell. Honestly, I struggled to detach from all that heaviness for weeks, even after the show closed. At the time, I just chalked it up to the price of being an actor—you know, suffering for your art and all of that?
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be that way. Let me restate that. It shouldn't be that way.
I was blessed to work with an amazing therapist about five years ago who helped walk me through issues I was dealing with in my early twenties as an actor. I shared with her that I was tackling a particularly tough character in "The Book of Grace" by Suzan-Lori Parks—someone who endures physical and emotional abuse—I realized I was grappling with a lot of anxiety as a result. One of the first things she asked was if I had a cool-down routine, and of course, I didn’t! Thankfully, she guided me through some great breathing and grounding exercises that I could use after rehearsals and performances.
By the end of each show, I was covered from head to toe in stage dirt and blood, which required a shower. I used this "cleanse" as an opportunity to cool down from Grace by praying, crying out any remaining tears, feeling the hot water against my skin, and smelling the soap. The last two specifically are the grounding techniques that my therapist and Skye from the video talk about using.
While every role has its own demands, I do my best to incorporate these de-roling steps into my routine, just like I would for my warm-up. I really encourage you to think about adding some breath and grounding exercises into your workflow as well. They can be super helpful, especially if you ever find yourself in a rehearsal where you feel a bit stuck. It's a great way to detach from your character and create a healthy boundary in your life.
Now, I want to hear from you! Are cool-downs part of your routine? Did you learn about de-roling during your training? What practices do you enjoy using? Or is this a new concept for you? I’m excited to hear your thoughts!
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