I know really, really famous people who are terrified every time they walk on to a stage.

Nighy’s remark demystifies celebrity by stressing that public acclaim does not eliminate vulnerability. Even performers at the highest level can experience acute stage fright, suggesting that fear is not a sign of incompetence but a common human response to exposure, judgment, and the desire to do well. The quote also implies a quiet solidarity among performers: anxiety is often managed privately, while audiences see only the polished result. More broadly, it reframes “confidence” as something that can coexist with fear—professionalism may consist less in being unafraid than in functioning effectively despite apprehension.