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Philip Quast, appearing in Stratford-upon-Avon as Archie Craven in The Secret Garden, is well aware of the need to take care of his voice.
He has twice won the Olivier Award for best male performance and has a long range of credits with the RSC.
He is 43 and lives in London with his wife and their three children.
'Illness is the greatest fear for any actor - we are all obsessed by it. Actors talk about 'my voice' as if it was a third person.
'I've just missed about eight performances because of a chest infection. Illness always sweeps through the cast, just like in a school, as we're working so closely together.
'You worry about going back too soon and causing more harm to your voice, but if you leave it too long, the fear builds up.
'I'm in a musical at the moment, which is the most physically demanding type of production to do. It also becomes harder as you get older and less fit.
'Of course, there are lots of old wives' tales going around. I know actors who go on stage with lozenges tucked under their lips. It's a purely psychological thing - but then it can turn into a dentistry problem.
'The irony is that the voice is the thing we have to look after the most, but then abuse because of the lifestyle we lead.
'One of the big problems is eating late at night after shows and going to the pub. But actors are frequently away from home and family, so that is all they have.
'And the more demanding roles tend to carry more stress and lead to drinking or smoking too much.
'But most of the people at the top of their field are very disciplined - they would not be in that position otherwise.
'I eat healthily, keep fit and steam every day. It's always at the back of your mind - you can be at the pub and feel your voice is getting slightly weaker and you know it is time to go home.'
© The Birmingham Post Ltd.
