When Science Catches Up with the Stage
I’ve recently been diving into Vanessa Van Edwards’ book Cues, after she popped into my LinkedIn feed and sparked my curiosity. Her work is insightful, practical, and—if I’m being honest—completely unsurprising.
Let me explain.
As an actor and communication coach, I’ve been training and teaching behavior, presence, and performance for over 20 years. So when I read Cues, I found myself repeatedly nodding along. Not because the material was surprising to me but because it so beautifully affirms what actors have known (and practiced!) for over a century.
What Vanessa does so brilliantly is connect the dots between behavior and perception - then backs it all up with science. And for those of us working with voice, body, and presence every day, that kind of research is both exciting and validating.
What Actors Have Known All Along
One of the core messages in Cues is that the way we move or hold our body shapes not only how others perceive us - but how we feel in our own skin.
That’s not just theory in the acting world. It’s the foundation of many actor training systems.
Take Michael Chekhov, for example. A legend in the actor training world, Chekhov developed an entire approach based on physicality - teaching actors to explore gesture and movement patterns to access specific emotional experiences. In his system, the body leads the emotion.
In other words, by moving a certain way, we begin to feel a certain way.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Embodied Emotion Is Not Just for the Stage
One of the most memorable examples of this in my own life happened when I volunteered to be the “actor demo” for a friend’s presentation on Alba Emoting—a system that maps precise facial, postural, and breathing patterns to generate real emotions.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. But within minutes of adopting certain facial, body, and breath cues…
I felt different.
The emotions were real.
And they were powerful.
Which brings us full circle to Vanessa’s work.
In Cues, she highlights how small shifts in the body - like creating more space between your shoulders and ears - can increase your perceived competence and your felt confidence. That one example alone is a direct echo of what we’ve been practicing in actor training studios for generations.
Why This Matters Off Stage
Now, as someone who works with professionals on voice, presence, and public speaking, this crossover is huge. Because now it’s not just “actor stuff” that works - it’s research-backed, peer-reviewed, measurable change.
How you use your body informs how you feel and how others perceive you.
We’re seeing the science catch up with the stage.
We’re seeing the credibility of this work expand.
And I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Why I’m Sharing This
So first of all - thank you, Vanessa Van Edwards, for your thoughtful, generous research and insight. You’re giving language and legitimacy to tools that actors, voice and speech trainers, and body-based coaches have been using for decades.
And second: if you’ve ever felt stiff, stuck, or disconnected when you speak…
Or if you’ve been told to “look more confident” but don’t know where to begin…
Stick around.
Actor training is the foundation of everything I teach. Because when you understand how your body, breath, and voice work together - you don’t just look more confident -
You feel it.
You embody it.
You become it.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re curious about how actor tools can elevate your executive presence, strengthen your voice, and transform the way you show up in front of an audience - whether that’s a conference room or a stage - this blog is just the beginning.
Follow me on LinkedIn and YouTube for more insights, tools, and somatic practices that will help you feel grounded, credible, and connected every time you speak.
Your presence is your power. Let’s help you own it.
If you want to start building your presence, confidence, and executive presence, book a call today.