How did I first get started in acting?
My earliest memory of wanting to break into the world of acting was being sent off for a term to Stagecoach at age 11. I distinctly remember to this day being influenced by a family friend’s little girl in my cul-de-sac, who was a talented dancer already attending Stagecoach. My grandparents made the sacrifice to scrimp and save for a few months so I could attend the weekly three hour workshops at Durham school.
Whilst Stagecoach didn’t propel my childhood acting career, it certainly gave me lasting memories and unlocked my confidence as I was a painfully shy youngster. I wasn’t the most talented kid in the class but I certainly got an A* for my enthusiasm and contribution. Following Stagecoach, I briefly dabbled in acting classes as a teen at the Washington Stage School, which was the stomping ground for North-East based talent scouts casting for the likes of Byker Grove.
After StageCoach… My grandparents weren’t overly thrilled at the idea of me trying to pursue acting as a career, so it kind of went on hold during my teens right up to my A-level years. I was always creative in some shape or form and went down the artistic route in terms of my subject choices, both at GCSE and A-level. It wasn’t until I started studying for my A-levels that I wanted to reignite the acting flame, so I enrolled at Durham Dramatic Society (DDS) and did a play or two before leaving home for university.
Edinburgh University chapter I joined a French language theatre society called ‘Les Escogriffes’ and I am proud of the fact that I performed in French in ‘Les fourberies de scapin’ by Molière. However, one of my biggest regrets is not getting involved with Bedlam (the equivalent to Cambridge Footlights for Edinburgh students, who take shows to the Edinburgh Fringe). I lacked confidence at the time and just didn’t think I was good enough. I had never mixed with kids outside of my own background before, and I was rather intimidated by all these posh southern kids who would probably go off to RADA after they finished their first degree.
Post-University I moved back to Durham when I finished university feeling rather lost and not sure of the next chapter. I got a job in university admin while also managing to do the odd amateur production on the side and going to Newcastle on weekends to see the latest play. I was introduced to another theatre group Royalty Theatre in Sunderland where I re-connected with like-minded folk and performed in a few plays such as Calendar Girls and some new writing.
The London chapter I made the decision to move to London in 2015 and have never looked back. I enrolled on a part-time acting course at Rose Bruford where I studied acting over two years from 2016–2018. Moving to London was a rather dramatic separation from my past but also accelerated my career. I have been in London for over six years now and it has been an uphill struggle juggling my acting dreams with holding down a full-time job. At age 34, I feel as though my journey is just beginning, having recently left full-time work to go self-employed to give me the flexibility I need to take my acting career to the next level. It’s certainly true that if you are dedicated and passionate, you will keep yourself going and cope with all the rejection from agents and industry professionals. Acting is truly about playing the long game, and I have a feeling that I might just get somewhere if I keep focused and play true to my casting type.