At what stage in your career did you realise that acting could be something you do professionally?
At about age 6, when I saw Snow White and asked how did the cartoons talked. And it was explained to me about voice overs.
When I first earned some money by performing. I had been making art for years, where I had no guarantee that it would sell. Perform on the fringe or at an event or for the Irish Tourist Board - and you start making money.
when i was made a extra in a tv series
I received a lot of encouragement from my teachers, friends, family and the volunteers who ran our local pantomime group. With their support I started to audition for bigger productions on the amateur circuit in Glasgow, where I eventually moved to. I was fortunate to start getting bits and pieces of extra work from this amateur work, giving me more experience and gradually leading to better paid jobs.
Ihad always done acting as a hobby. It wasnt untill I was 21 when I had done alot of courses and jobs in such stuff like travel n tourism, Digital publishing , Factory work that I realised Acting was the only thing I wanted to do and I wouldnt want to do anything else. so I went to Aberdeen to study it.
When I decided to go Drama School full time.
A few years ago, when I realised I could stay 'in character' for longer & longer timescales, and also switch off very quickly too.
From the very beginning. I've always been one of those people (rightly or wrongly) who believe that they can do anything the want to do if they try hard enough and be in the right places at the right time. So that's what I worked very hard at doing- being exactly in the right places to be seen, and talking to the right people. I always knew I could be a professional actress if I wanted. I still believe there's a BAFTA Fellowship on the way some day- how vain is that [laughing out loud].
When I got accepted into the Actors Studio Drama School in New York after auditioning for it.
It was probably in my first supporting role in a movie. Everything just felt natural. It was like things were happening very slowly and I was able to do things correctly and connected well with co-actors, directors and the camera.
I think knowing this was something I have always wanted to do meant that when I turned 30 a realised I was not pursuing that dream spurred me on. I think everything happens for a reason at the right time - I feel that I was ready for the Postgraduate course I did and that since then the roles and jobs I have done have all come through a belief in myself and my ability. There are times when your confidence takes a knock - in my case having my first proper agent dumping me - however you then meet other professionals who tell you that actually you are doing the right thing and to keep on at it - that was the right lift at the right time and just re-focuses your energy, self belief and confidence.
It was after I took the part of 'Andrew' in 'Beyond a Joke', a Herbert Benfield farce, as an amatuer. The audiences were so enthusiastic and supportive that reports in the local newspapers believed that I must have had professional experience.
But more importantly, it was a chap called Christopher Wilson, a friend from my early teens and totally honest about everything, who told me I should turn 'pro' who finally made my mind up for me. He has been forced to see all of my work since I 'blame' him for all this hard work!!
To be honest, I think the fact that I got cast as the lead role in most of the school plays fooled me into thinking it would all be easy. From aged 16ish I don't think I ever considered anything else. Except maybe writing.
Thats hard to say. I stil get people asking me would I like to act 'full time' giving the impression it's currently a 'hobby' and thats because in reality many actors have day jobs they need to pay the bills. I guess I started acting 'professionally' once I was professionally trained and that became my career ie other work fits in around that and not the other way round. You can judge professionalism by being paid or by a standard that is set. Obviously I like getting paid to act, and rightly so, but if there is a good quality short film with like minded professionals us actors are suckers for it especially if it's an exciting role or you get more material for your showreel. I just love doing what I do but sometimes it's hard because especially for screen work there's more opportunities that are paid than are not. Truthfully, when you go through bouts of not having much work, it can be very difficult to feel 'professional.'
About five years after I graduated from drama school and had been trying to get acting work while juggling other jobs, regular work started coming in. Up until that time I had always had a 'proper job' and acting had been something I had done as a hobby or a sideline but I hadn't earned any money from it. |
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