"I've even heard that some actors don't stutter because they employ a different part of their brain when speaking to people on a regular basis—their creative side" Yes- Because you are performing as **someone else** the fear of beign judge is diferent because is not you who people is judging but some madeup caracter. You can let go. "Simply put, it's difficult to accept that stuttering cannot be cured and that I must live with it for the rest of my life." It can be cure. Better said it can be disolver you dont cure it like a desease. My advice is go for it. The acting path itself will help you dissolve your stuttering and improve your fluency. The public exposure, expression of emotions, talk on a bigger voice, etc... But be ware and patience because it will be a long way. And hard probably. You will suffer some before you see some results. Dont give up. Lower your expectations because indeed you have an impediment but it can be "solved". Good luck.