When we think of movie stars, our minds often jump to red carpets, glamorous photoshoots, and perfectly delivered lines on screen. But behind the glitz and glamour lies an intense world of long working hours, demanding roles, and exhausting shoots. Maintaining focus and energy during this chaos isn’t easy—even for the most seasoned actors.
So what really helps them stay sharp and in the zone during a 16-hour day on set? Surprisingly, it’s not all yoga and green juice. Today’s actors are blending traditional wellness with new-age focus tools to keep their edge. Let’s take a look behind the curtain.
The Demands of Filming
Before we dive into what helps them stay focused, it’s important to understand the demands of a film set. Shooting a film often involves waking up before dawn, waiting around for hours between scenes, memorizing pages of dialogue, and switching emotional gears at a moment’s notice. Factor in time zone changes, back-to-back interviews, and the physical toll of action sequences, and you’ve got a recipe for burnout.
That’s why focus, stamina, and mental clarity are critical tools for survival in the film industry. And that’s also why many actors develop personal rituals and tools that help them stay sharp.
Healthy Habits and Routines
Many stars turn to healthy routines to maintain balance and focus during hectic shoots. These include:
Meditation and Mindfulness: Actors like Hugh Jackman and Zendaya have spoken openly about their use of mindfulness to stay present during intense filming schedules. A few minutes of deep breathing between scenes can make a big difference in maintaining mental clarity.
Nutritional Support: Meal prepping and maintaining a balanced diet is essential. Many actors travel with personal chefs or meal kits to ensure they’re getting enough protein, healthy fats, and brain-boosting nutrients like omega-3s.
Sleep Hygiene: Despite their busy schedules, successful actors prioritize sleep whenever possible. They may use blackout curtains, white noise apps, or travel pillows to catch quality rest in trailers, hotel rooms, or on flights.
The Focus Toolkit: Caffeine and Beyond
Of course, coffee remains a go-to for many. But as people become more conscious of caffeine crashes and jitters, there’s been a shift toward alternatives that offer focus without side effects.
Matcha and Green Tea: Containing L-theanine along with caffeine, these drinks provide a smoother energy lift, which many actors prefer before emotionally intense scenes.
Adaptogens: Supplements like ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, and lion’s mane mushroom have made their way into wellness routines for supporting stress resilience and mental clarity.
Nicotine Pouches: A growing number of adults, including those in high-performance professions like acting, are turning to nicotine pouches as a discreet and smoke-free way to boost focus. These pouches provide a mild stimulant effect that can help with concentration during long takes or downtime on set. For those who already use nicotine or are looking to transition from smoking, these pouches offer a convenient alternative.
This is also why there has been increased online interest around options to buy snus or other similar tobacco-free nicotine pouch products—especially among those seeking clean, odorless options that won’t interfere with filming environments.
Staying Focused Without Distractions
Film sets can be chaotic. Between the crew moving lights, multiple takes, and last-minute changes in the script, distractions are constant. That’s why some actors work with focus coaches or use cognitive behavioral strategies to keep themselves anchored in the moment.
For example:
Visualization Techniques: Before shooting a critical scene, actors may close their eyes and visualize every movement and line delivery to prepare themselves mentally.
Noise-Canceling Headphones: To drown out ambient noise between scenes, many performers use high-end headphones to listen to instrumental music or white noise, helping them stay locked in before filming.
Digital Detox: Scrolling through social media is a common time-waster. Many actors put their phones on airplane mode or leave them in their trailers to avoid distractions while preparing for intense scenes.
Personal Rituals That Promote Mental Sharpness
Everyone has their own quirks—and Hollywood stars are no different. Some actors swear by certain rituals that help them get in the zone and stay focused:
Journaling Before a Scene: Writing down their character’s thoughts or emotional state helps actors dive deeper into their roles.
Chewing Gum or Using Mints: Not just for fresh breath, chewing helps stimulate the brain and maintain alertness.
Pre-Scene Workouts: A quick burst of movement—jumping jacks, push-ups, or yoga—can enhance circulation and awaken the body before a big moment.
Essential Oils: Scents like peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus have been used by actors as natural focus aids while waiting in trailers or prepping for a shoot.
The Role of Modern Wellness Products
As Hollywood evolves, so do the tools and products its stars rely on. Many are leaning into biohacking and science-backed performance tools, from nootropic supplements to wearable tech that tracks sleep and heart rate variability.
Nicotine pouches, in particular, have quietly gained popularity due to their ease of use and fast-acting effects. Unlike traditional tobacco, these pouches are discreet, smokeless, and don’t carry the same social stigma—making them ideal for use on closed film sets where smoking is prohibited.
Of course, everyone’s focus strategy is personal. What works for one actor may not work for another. The key is finding a system that supports both their mental sharpness and overall well-being without interfering with performance or the environment around them.
The new Superman stars David Corenswet as a new, vulnerable, dog-loving Man of Steel.
Besides playing Superman, Corenswet will of course play his version of Clark Kent in the new film, coming July 11 from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn.
But before David Corenswet becomes known for Superman, here are some other roles in which he stood out.
The Projectionist in Pearl
Mia Goth and David Corenswet in Pearl – Credit: C/O
You may remember David Corenswet as the smarmy projectionist from Pearl. It’s actually a pretty significant, though short-lived, role in the Ti West horror masterpiece.
Not only does he show Pearl (Mia Goth) her first dirty movie, but he also has the audacity to break up with her with these fateful words: “You’re scaring me, Pearl.”
River Barkley in The Politician
David Corenswet as River Barkley in The Politician – Credit: C/O
In Netflix’s Ryan Murphy co-created comedy-drama series The Politician, Corenswet has an 11-episode arc across both seasons as River Barkley, a student at Saint Sebastian High School who has, at different times, romantic relationships with Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) and Astrid Sloan (Lucy Boynton).
River is a popular boy at school, but he feels empty inside — we won’t spoil anything more here.
David Corenswet and Larry Mitchell in We Own This City – Credit: C/O
In this six-episode HBO crime drama, Corenswet played Investigator David McDougall of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force. The show follows Jon Bernthal as Sgt. Wayne Jenkins of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, which is being investigated for corruption.
We Own This City covers true events, and is based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Baltimore Sun journalist Justin Fenton.
Reed in House of Cards
Corenswet and Willa Fitzgerald in House of Cards – Credit: C/O
Though he only appears in one episode of House of Cards, it’s worth mentioning here because it’s the penultimate episode of the entire series — and it has a lot to do with the past of Madame President Claire Underwood (Robin Wright).
In a flashback, Corenswet plays Reed, Claire’s former boyfriend when she was 20 years old. Though Reed urged her to turn down a proposal from Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), Claire turns him down and marries Frank in the hopes that he will open doors for her.
For better or worse, he does.
Jake in Look Both Ways
Corenswet and Lili Reinhart in Look Both Ways courtesy of Felicia Graham/Netflix – Credit: C/O
In this recent Netflix romantic comedy, Corenswet appears opposite Lili Reinhart‘s Natalie as Jake, the guy she could have been with if she had moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams instead of getting pregnant by her good friend Gabe (Danny Ramirez). The movie looks at both ways Natalie’s life could have turned out if that one life-changing moment had gone differently.
Main Image: David Corenswet as River Barkley in The Politician courtesy of Netflix.
Liked This List of 5 David Corenswet Roles to Enjoy Before Seeing Him as Superman?
Christopher Reeve as Superman. Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O
In Hollywood, acting is only part of the equation. Behind every major casting choice is a business decision not just by studios, but by the actors themselves. Roles aren’t just performances, they’re brand moves. Each film, each character, and each public appearance contributes to how an actor is positioned in the entertainment economy.
Let’s take a closer look at how movie roles serve as a strategic branding tool for celebrities, what goes into these decisions, and how the industry views actors not just as artists, but as businesses in motion.
1. Actors Are Brands, Not Just Performers
Major stars today operate more like media companies than freelancers. Their public image, values, social media presence, and choice of roles all shape a brand identity that can be leveraged across multiple industries film, endorsements, fashion, tech startups, and beyond.
Think of:
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: Positioned as a family-friendly action star with charisma and muscle. Every movie from Jumanji to Black Adam reinforces that image.
Zendaya: Carefully balancing between high-fashion icon, Gen Z representation, and serious dramatic actor (Euphoria, Dune).
Ryan Reynolds: Leaning into meta-humor and entrepreneurship, using his on-screen personality to drive off-screen ventures like Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile.
These choices are not accidental. Each project is filtered through a lens: “Does this fit my brand?” If the answer is no, top-tier actors often walk away.
2. Casting as Market Positioning
Studios cast actors not just based on talent, but based on what their name brings to the table. That includes:
A romantic comedy might call for someone with warmth and relatability (think Reese Witherspoon or Paul Rudd), while a dark thriller may need a transformation artist like Joaquin Phoenix. The actor’s brand affects not only the character but the film’s marketing, audience expectations, and even box office success.
Actors aware of this dynamic often pick roles that either maintain their positioning or intentionally pivot it.
3. Strategic Career Pivots: The Rebrand Move
When an actor wants to move beyond typecasting or reposition their public image, role selection becomes a deliberate branding decision.
Examples include:
Matthew McConaughey’s shift from rom-com heartthrob to dramatic lead (Dallas Buyers Club, True Detective).
Robert Pattinson, once known mostly for Twilight, has now reinvented himself through arthouse and dark roles (Good Time, The Batman).
Brendan Fraser, whose comeback included emotionally heavy roles that reframed his persona (The Whale).
These aren’t just acting decisions, they’re business moves designed to change how audiences, directors, and studios see them.
4. Brand Equity Impacts Earnings and Deals
When an actor successfully builds a strong brand through role selection, the financial opportunities increase dramatically. A well-defined persona can lead to:
Bigger paychecks per film
Producer credits and backend revenue
Endorsement deals aligned with their image
Merchandising opportunities
For instance, Tom Cruise’s long-standing identity as a blockbuster action lead gives him leverage to negotiate profit-sharing deals and creative control. His consistency has built trust with both studios and fans, meaning higher box office returns and a stronger business position.
5. Audience Expectations Brand Loyalty
An actor’s brand creates expectations. If those are met or exceeded, it builds trust, similar to how consumers react to companies. This trust becomes leverage for riskier projects or brand extensions.
But there’s risk in brand misalignment. If an actor’s role feels “off-brand” or inauthentic, audiences notice.
Case in point:
Some comedies with dramatic actors fall flat if the tone or character doesn’t match what audiences expect.
Conversely, dramatic roles from comedic actors (Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Steve Carell) can redefine public perception—when executed well.
That’s why branding isn’t only a studio conversation. Smart actors manage this themselves—often with the help of PR teams, agents, and even personal brand consultants.
6. The Cross-Industry Impact of Celebrity Branding
A strong role-driven brand doesn’t stop at the box office. Many actors turn that equity into business empires. Roles act as the top of the funnel, feeding attention into brands, products, and platforms.
Examples:
Jessica Alba turned her clean-living image into The Honest Company.
Reese Witherspoon, known for empowering female leads, launched Hello Sunshine, producing women-led stories.
Ryan Reynolds uses his smart-aleck persona to boost his entrepreneurial ventures.
For media brands that cover celebrity business moves, these transitions are a goldmine. Websites like The Boring Magazine explore how celebrity careers intersect with business, brand equity, and media perception.
Final Thoughts
Hollywood isn’t just a creative industry, it’s a commercial one. Every role an actor takes either strengthens or weakens their brand. For those thinking long-term, the goal is clear: build a brand that lasts beyond the screen.
Whether you’re a producer, an entertainment marketer, or just a movie fan, understanding the branding behind the casting gives you a clearer picture of how the business of Hollywood works.
Here are some stars of the 1970s are still going strong.
Diane Keaton
United Artists – Credit: C/O
After breaking out with The Godfather, Diane Keaton hit icon status with Annie Hall (above) and has never let it go.
After a run of films including Reds, Baby Boom, the Father of the Bride films, and Something’s Gotta Give, she returned in 2023 with the sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter. She was terrific in Mack & Rita, too. She’s terrific in everything.
Say, whatever happened to that guy who played her husband in The Godfather films? What was his name again?
Al Pacino
Credit: C/O
Oh, that’s right. Al Pacino, one of the greatest actors of the 1970s and all time, broke out with 1971’s The Panic of Needle Park (still haunting) before beginning a run of ’70s hits that included not just the first two Godfather films but also Dog Day Afternoon (above), and Serpico.
In the ’80s, he mostly chose his shots carefully, settling on an iconic turn in Scarface. His spectacular ’90s run included an Oscar-winning role in Scent of a Woman — he’s ridiculously only one once, out of nine nominations — followed by Heat, Donnie Brasco, Devil’s Advocate and more.
Recent highlights include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, and a hilarious role in House of Gucci. Like others on this list, he has finally moved into television (OK, streaming) with Amazon’s Hunters.
Pacino, 84, also appeared last year with Michael Keaton in Knox Goes Away, which Keaton directed, and in Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, directed by his Donnie Brasco co-star, Johnny Depp.
He also just released a new autobiography, and has made so many great movies we can think of at least five you’ve likely never heard of.
After breaking out in 1970s roles including The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (above) and Bang the Drum slowly, he became a film icon with Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II (for which he won his first Oscar), Taxi Driver, and The Deer Hunter. Next came 1980’s Raging Bull, which earned him his second Oscar.
His too-many to list roles between then and now include Goodfellas, Casino, Awakenings, Silver Linings Playbook, Heat, Jackie Brown, Midnight Run, and the Meet the Parents franchise. He earned the most recent of his Oscar nominations for The Irishman, which again paired him with Pacino and Martin Scorsese, though the film marked the first time he worked with both.
He was also up for an Oscar for best supporting actor last year for his role in Killers of the Flower Moon.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Credit: C/O
The latest winner of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once may always be best known for her role as Laurie Strode in 1978’s Halloween (above), a role she has repeatedly revisited, including in the latest Halloween trilogy, before vowing that she will never play the character again.
Her other career highlights have included widely varied roles in films from Trading Places to A Fish Called Wanda to True Lies to Knives Out.
She earned raves for her latest, The Last Showgirl, alongside Pamela Anderson, and was one of the first stars to step up and pledge $1 million to support the recovery from the L.A. fires.
Sylvester Stallone
United Artists – Credit: C/O
Despite a breakout role in 1974’s The Lords of Flatbush, Stallone wasn’t happy with the roles he was being offered. So he blacked out his windows to focus and wrote several screenplays, one of which turned out to be Rocky. Then he insisted on playing the title role and became one of the breakout stars of the 1970s.
In the process, he helped invite the modern blockbuster — and franchise — and did it again with the Rambo films. Rocky led to Creed, in which Stallone starred in the first two installments. This year he’s back with the fourth and perhaps final Expendables film.
All that and he decided to give TV a try, playing an ex-con who goes West in Tulsa King (above). He’s remarkably never gotten an Oscar, though Rocky won Best Picture and Best Director for John G. Avildsen.
He’s also the subject of a compelling recent Netflix documentary about his life and career called Sly, and was recently named one of President Trump’s “Special Ambassadors to Hollywood.”
Sally Field
Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O
We like her, we really like her. Sally Field, a two-time Best Actress Oscar winner for 1979’s Norma Rae (above) and 1984’s Places in the Heart, is also a 1960s star, thanks to her appearances on Gidget, starting in 1965, and the The Flying Nun.
In roles from Sybil to Smokey and the Bandit to Mrs. Doubtfire to Forrest Gump to Lincoln, she demonstrated exceptional range, and mastery of award-ceremony speeches — her “You like me, right now, you like me” speech for Places in the Heart still holds a place in the heart of anyone who’s seen it.
Last year she stood out in 80 for Brady, proving she’s still got comic chops — and a love of hot wings that took everyone by surprise. We also loved her in HBO’s Winning Time as Jessie Buss.
Meryl Streep
Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O
Perhaps the greatest actress, period, Meryl Streep was already highly respected when she earned the first of her 21 Oscar nominations for her role in 1978’s The Deer Hunter (above), alongside a stellar cast that included Robert De Niro, and established herself in the process as one of the most promising stars of the 1970s.
She has won an Oscar three times, once for Best Supporting Actress in Kramer v. Kramer, and twice for Best Leading Actress in Sophie’s Choice and The Iron Lady.
Her endless list of films includes Out of Africa, Sophie Choice, Doubt, The Hours, the Mamma Mia films, The Devil Wears Prada, and The Post, for which she received her most recent Oscar nomination. She stole the show as pitiless President Janie Orlean in Don’t Look Up, and appeared recently in the Apple TV+ drama Extrapolations and Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
Jodie Foster
Columbia Pictures – Credit: C/O
One of our all-time favorite actors — and a two-time Best Actress Oscar winner for The Accused and Silence of the Lambs — Jodie Foster broke into the industry with a Coppertone ad at age three.
She quickly established herself as a powerhouse with astonishing range, starring in Freaky Friday and Taxi Driver in 1976, when she was barely a teenager, making her one of the youngest stars of the 1970s.
She was back in crime-solving last year as the star of HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, and was up for an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role Nyad. She also just won a Golden Globe for Night Country.
As for her Silence of the Lambs co-star…
Anthony Hopkins
20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O
Anthony Hopkins broke out in 1960s roles including The Lion in Winter (1968) and Hamlet (1969), then found success in the 1970s with films like A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Magic (1978). He entered the next decade with The Elephant Man (1980).
But things really took off with Silence of the Lambs (1991) — for which he won a Best Actor Oscar with just 16 minutes of screen time. From there he went on to star in films liike Nixon (1995), Amistad (1997), Hannibal (2001), The Human Stain (2003), Alexander (2004) and Hitchcock (2012). Along the way he’s also dropped into the Thor, Transformers and Mission: Impossible Franchises.
But perhaps his best work of all was for 2020’s The Father, in which he earned his second Best Actor Oscar for his role as an octogenarian losing his faculties. He does almost everything in a role that an actor can do. His long list of awards includes four BAFTA Awards and an Olivier Award, as well as being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
Hopkins, 86, was also excellent as an immigrant grandfather in 2022’s underseen Armageddon Time. His latest work includes Freud’s Last Session, in which he plays Sigmund Freud, and he just starred in Netflix’s new film Mary as King Herod.
Clint Eastwood
Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O
Remarkably, Clint Eastwood isn’t just a star of the 1970s who is still going strong — he was a star in the 1950s, when he broke out in 1950s films including Francis in the Navy, The First Traveling Saleslady and Ambush at Cimarron Pass.
The 1960s brought a steady role on the TV show Rawhide, and he became one of the most iconic stars of the 1960s in Sergio Leone’s “Man With No Name” trilogy: A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966).
He loomed large in the 1970s with the Dirty Harry franchise, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and Escape from Alcatraz, but he also notably launched his directing career in 1970 with 1971’s Play Misty for Me, in which he also starred (above).
His stunning filmmaking career includes two Oscars each for directing and producing The Unforgiven (1993) and Million Dollar Baby (2005). His other outstanding films include Mystic River (2003), Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) and American Sniper (2014).
Now 93, he continues to star in and direct films — his latest was 2021’s Cry Macho, and last year he released his latest film, Juror #2.
Jane Fonda
United Artists
Jane Fonda broke out in 1960s hits like Cat Ballou, and buoyed her reputation with films like Barefoot and the Park and They Shoot Horses, Don’t They before the decade was over. (She also ended up on a lot of dorm walls thanks to 1968’s Barbarella.)
But she owned the next decade, becoming one of the leading stars of the 1970s — and most acclaimed.
In 1971, she won her first Best Actress Oscar for a daring turn in Klute, and won her second for 1978’s Coming Home (above), in which Fonda, one of Hollywood’s most outspoken progressives, acted opposite Jon Voight, who in recent years has become one of Hollywood’s most outspoken conservatives. It gives the movie and added layer of curiosity.
She was nominated for four additional Oscars in a stellar career that also included 9 to 5, On Golden Pond (in which she starred with her father, Henry Fonda), The Morning After, Stanley and Iris, and Luck.
Jane Fonda seems somehow busier than ever: She recently starred with Sally Field in 80 for Brady and Diane Keaton in Book Club: The Next Chapter, and just wrapped up a long TV run on Grace and Frankie.
Steve Martin
Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O
Steve Martin seems like he hasn’t aged since his hair turned prematurely grey — and because his frantic comic energy seems boundless.
After years of struggle, Steve Martin scored a Saturday Night Live hosting gig in October 1976 that finally won mass audiences over to his absurdist comedy. From there he packed arenas and made his first film, 1979’s The Jerk (above), a huge hit despite many critics’ failure to recognize its brilliance.
From there he went on a run of hits that continues to this day, including Three Amigos (1986), Roxanne and Planes, Trains and Automobiles (both 1987), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), Parenthood (1989), Bowfinger (1999) the Father of the Bride films, the Pink Panther films, and It’s Complicated (2009).
Now 79, he’s currently starring with his Three Amigos pal Martin Short on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, and will appear this weekend on NBC’s SNL 50: The Anniversary Special.
Michael Caine
MGM
The 91-year-old winner of two Oscars, for 1986’s Hannah and Her Sisters and 1999’s The Cider House Rules, broke out in the 1960s with films including Zulu, Alfie, and The Italian Job, and kept in stride throughout the 1970s with classics including Get Carter and A Bridge Too Far.
Decades later, the dashing actor gained a new generation of film fans in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy — an experience he discusses in the new memoir Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life, on sale March 25 from Mobius. You can read an excerpt of it here.
His most recent film was 2023’s The Great Escaper.
Jacqueline Bisset
Columbia Pictures – Credit: C/O
British star Jacqueline Bisset broke out in 1968 with roles in The Detective, Bullitt, and The Sweet Ride, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination as Most Promising Newcomer. She spent the 1970s decade making good on that promise, starring in films including Airport — the second highest-grossing film of 1970 — as well as Murder on the Orient Express, St. Ives, and The Deep, one of the biggest hits of 1977, a crucial year for film.
She also earned a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe, and made the ageless masterpiece Day for Night (1973), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and feels as fresh today as it ever did.
She has never stopped working, and thriving, in both film and television. Her latest film is the new Western Long Shadows, in which she stars with Dermot Mulroney.
Harrison Ford
Universal Pictures – Credit: C/O
You knew this one was coming, right? After breaking out in The Conversation and American Graffiti (above), he wasn’t yet one of the biggest stars of the 1970s. But Harrison Ford legendarily snagged the role of Han Solo in Star Wars while agreeing to run lines with actors auditioning for the film.
Soon he was starring in Blade Runner, Working Girl, two Jack Ryan movies and of course the Indiana Jones films, the latest of which, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, opened last year. Ford promises he’s done with the whip and fedora, but given his seemingly boundless energy, who can say?
Ford also stars on the hit Yellowstone prequel 1923, and, as we mentioned, appears this week in Captain America: Brave New World, playing the president of the United States… who turns into a red Hulk.
Like This List of 15 Stars of the 1970s Who Are Still Going Strong?
