Having to travel so much plays havoc with your personal life.

Fleming is pointing to a common cost of high-level performing careers: constant travel can erode the routines and relationships that sustain a stable private life. The phrase “plays havoc” suggests not a minor inconvenience but ongoing disruption—missed milestones, difficulty maintaining friendships or partnerships, and the fatigue that makes intimacy and presence harder even when one is home. Coming from an internationally touring opera singer, the remark also underscores the hidden labor behind glamour: success on major stages often requires living out of suitcases, adapting to time zones, and prioritizing engagements over personal continuity. The quote functions as a candid counterweight to romanticized views of artistic fame.