Fear was a powerful motivator for Henry Winkler
How Winkler used his anxieties to his advantage.
An actor like Henry Winkler may seem like he lives a carefree life, but even The Fonz gets nervous sometimes.
During an interview with The Daily Breeze, the Happy Days actor explained that he wasn't exempt from fears and insecurities, just like the rest of us.
"I have a lot of fear," Winkler said. "I'm scared that one day I'm going to wake up and discover I've forgotten to act. The techniques I've studied all my life have suddenly disappeared."
Fame can feel like a blessing to some, Winkler included. "Stardom is thinking about what your wildest dream would be," he said. "And then finding it has come true and you're living it."
However, there were times when Winkler's celebrity status didn't always encourage positive emotions. Rather, it made the actor more wary.
"Sometimes it's as if the devil is behind me," he said. "Sometimes it's a lot of fun...it's a lot of fun to giggle and enjoy it. But it never allows you to get comfortable. There are so many things thrown at you that can pervert you."
But rather than get caught up in his fear, Winkler used the emotions to fuel his work.
"Fear isn't necessarily a bad thing," he said. "It can be very healthy, and very motivating. It's an individual's responsibility to take his own fear and make it work for him."