Jason Momoa Reveals His Stage Fright Struggles: Why Performing Live Is More Terrifying Than Blockbusters

Jason Momoa, known for his larger-than-life roles in Game of Thrones and Aquaman, is no stranger to the spotlight. But even with his extensive experience in front of cameras, there’s one aspect of performing that still gets his heart racing—live performances. Whether it’s on the set of a blockbuster or on stage in front of a live audience, Momoa is no stranger to intense pressure, but it’s the live audience that truly gets to him.

Recently, the actor shared his experience with stage fright in an interview with People, revealing how different it feels to perform in front of an audience compared to the safety of a movie set. While Momoa has been a Hollywood staple for years, he’s only recently ventured into live performances with his band ÖOF TATATÁ, which he formed with friends Mike Hayes and Kenny Dale. The band’s first show took place in August, and just a few months later, they completed a small tour.

In the interview, Momoa openly admitted that performing live on stage is much more daunting than playing a character on film. “It gives me an opportunity to have two hours to really be scared,” he said. “I’ve never done theater, I’ve never been on stage — so it’s another aspect that I’ve never gotten into.” Unlike the controlled environment of a film set, where mistakes can be fixed in post-production, live performances leave no room for error. When you’re on stage, the audience is right there, watching and reacting in real-time. And that exposure, Momoa explained, is both exhilarating and terrifying.

“It’s so exposed,” he continued. “It could be a crowd of 400, it could be a crowd of 1,000, but they’re right there. And it’s not something that if I mess up, it’s just like, ‘Oh.’ You want to be perfect.” Despite the nerves, he sees it as an exciting challenge, adding, “I think people are having a good time, so I’m just trying to go out there and spread a little love.”

The actor’s vulnerability about his stage fright is refreshing and relatable. Stage fright is something that affects many people, and knowing that even someone as accomplished as Momoa feels nervous on stage is reassuring. His honesty is bound to inspire others to confront their own fears, whether on stage or in other areas of life.

Despite his nerves, performing live has given Momoa something that even his blockbuster films haven’t—instant gratification. “We are playing characters, and the camera’s watching us. Being with a live audience, it’s not my background,” he explained. “It’s rejuvenating. You get that energy back from fans, so it’s cool because, when you’re acting, you shoot something, it’s good right then, and you don’t see it for two years. This has that instant gratification of being there with everybody, and so it is a new experience for me.”

Momoa’s openness about his stage fright and his ability to tackle new challenges is truly inspiring. Beyond his band, he’s been keeping busy with various other projects, including starring in A Minecraft Movie alongside Jack Black and celebrating the start of production on The Wrecking Crew. Even though Momoa has been a fixture in Hollywood for years, he continues to push himself out of his comfort zone, embracing new opportunities and experiences.

It’s clear that Jason Momoa is not just a talented actor, but also a man with the courage to take risks and try new things—even if it means confronting his fears along the way. Whether he’s headlining a massive movie or rocking out on stage, one thing’s for sure: Momoa’s journey is far from over, and we can’t wait to see where it takes him next.