Many well-known actors have reported using hypnosis or hypnotherapy to help with performances, manage anxiety, or break habits that affected their work. Here are notable examples with brief context for each:
Anthony Hopkins — Used hypnosis and meditation techniques early in his career to develop concentration and inhabit characters more deeply. He has spoken about mental training that overlaps with hypnotic concentration.
Helen Mirren — Has described using hypnosis for relaxation and confidence before performances and during preparation for demanding roles.
Daniel Radcliffe — Used hypnotherapy to help manage stage fright and anxiety while performing in theater, particularly during his post‑Harry Potter stage work.
Charlize Theron — Reportedly used hypnotherapy to quit smoking and to maintain focus and stress control during intense shooting schedules.
Emma Watson — Has mentioned using hypnotherapy and guided visualization to cope with anxiety and to prepare mentally for public appearances and performances.
Ryan Reynolds — Used hypnosis to break habits (notably smoking) and to manage performance stress when taking on high-pressure roles.
Barbra Streisand — Has used hypnotherapy in the past for performance anxiety and voice control.
Gwyneth Paltrow — Reported using hypnotherapy for relaxation and to help with sleep and focus during shoots.
Notes and cautions:
Public accounts vary in detail and some actors use terms like “meditation,” “visualization,” or “guided imagery” that overlap with hypnotherapy; media reports sometimes conflate these practices. Where possible, each example above reflects public statements or widely reported interviews, but specifics (technique, therapist, frequency) are not always available.
Hypnosis affects people differently; artists use a range of mental techniques (hypnosis, meditation, cognitive therapy, breathing/relaxation exercises, sport psychology) to improve performance.