Ford described acting as the first experience that allowed him to overcome his shyness and insecurities.
He said stepping into costume and character gave him the confidence he had never possessed in everyday life.
Ford added, “I began to find myself onstage, pretending to be someone else. I had always seen myself as shy, but hiding in character and costume and makeup, I had a freedom, a bravery I had never felt before.”
After performing in summer theater productions, Ford moved to California before graduating, following the head of his theater department west in pursuit of acting opportunities.
Success did not come quickly. For years, he relied on carpentry work to support his family while struggling to secure meaningful acting roles.
Ford admitted that during his first 15 years in Hollywood, he landed only “four or five” parts before finally breaking through as Han Solo in Star Wars.
He said the role changed his life, allowing him to fully pursue his artistic ambitions while eventually leading him toward environmental activism through Conservation International.