“I am shy and nervous when I perform or act in public – people mock me”, said Chamroeun Sophea, a 23-year-old member of KROM Productions from Kandal province. She finds it hard to act naturally outside the safety of the studio.

Acting and becoming a big star is the dream of many people around the world. But the reality is often far less glamorous than the dream, requiring a great deal of hard work and dedication.

Sophea has being performing and acting since she was 12-years-old and started attending the traditional dance class at Royal University of Fines Arts. Since then she has continued acting but has never been able to overcome her shyness.

This is despite taking part in Cambodian National Music Contest 2011, acting in Krom productions and performing traditional dance routines.

“Acting has never been easy for me” she says, adding: “It is hard for me to cry in a romance type of film because I like to act as a naughty type of character.” While she finds changing roles difficult her biggest challenge is shyness.

So, Sophea really wants to know, “how to overcome shyness in acting?”

Dara Sao Yuthnea & Samreth Sodh