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Before Michael Keaton became the chameleonic screen star he is today, he intuited that the life of a performer is full of uncertainty. So taking risks, as first a stand-up comedian and then an actor, became a key part of his artistic mission. \u201cI told myself, you\u2019re never gonna know if you can do this until you just try to do it,\u201d he remembers. \u201cI certainly had many moments of going: Oh, boy. This is a nervous time. I\u2019m not feeling too secure right now. But desperation will kill you.\u201d In his podcast interview, Michael reveals the thinking behind his characters\u2014big and small, brashly comedic and quietly dramatic\u2014and explains why actors must pursue the truth, both in their performances and in life.\n\nA Pennsylvania native, Michael has repeatedly reinvented himself in big-screen projects, from his breakout in \u201cNight Shift\u201d all the way to playing Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton\u2019s \u201cBatman,\u201d a role he is reprising in the upcoming \u201cThe Flash\u201d and \u201cBatgirl\u201d movies. His background in theater and as production assistant on \u201cMister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u201d led to iconic roles in \u201cMr. Mom,\u201d \u201cBeetlejuice,\u201d and more, and he\u2019s received accolades for \u201cSpotlight,\u201d his Academy Award\u2013nominated \u201cBirdman,\u201d and last year\u2019s SAG Award winner \u201cThe Trial of the Chicago 7.\u201d This year he starred in the Netflix film \u201cWorth\u201d and on Hulu\u2019s limited series about the opioid epidemic, \u201cDopesick,\u201d as Dr. Samuel Finnix. Check out Backstage\u2019s cover story with \u201cDopesick\u201d co-star Rosario Dawson here: https://bit.ly/3mCvaia\n---\nBackstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage\u2019s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today\u2019s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ\n\nFollow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:\n- https://www.facebook.com/backstage\n- https://www.twitter.com/backstage\n- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope\n- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast\n\nLooking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe\nBrowse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e\nCheck out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0\nBackstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5\n\nSpecial thanks to...\n- Host: Jack Smart\n- Producer: Jamie Muffett\n- Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins\n- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins\n- Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis