About my current job
As an actor, I perform both on stage and screen. Most of my time is spent auditioning (!). Most recently, I can be seen in Ted Lasso (Apple TV), Years and Years (BBC 1). Before lockdown, I had completed a tour of 'The Gift' across London, Oxford, Southampton and Coventry. During the pandemic, I have taken up the position as Broadening Horizons fellow - programming arts and education for disadvantaged children in NYC.
Something important I learned during my time at EP
I learned that I was very interested in Education and Psychology which has carried me through in the tutoring I do alongside acting. My appreciation of statistics and how evidence/'findings' can be manipulated also ensures that I have my wits about me in everyday activities such as reading the news.
How did my education influence my career path?
There are many links between acting and psychology, understanding a 'character' is the same as 'understanding a person' and why they do what they do. My study of psychology influences how I prepare for a character and how I break down a scene. I find that I often have an easier time figuring out what's underneath the character due to all of those essays attempting to seek answers to behaviour. My study of EP is also hugely advantageous in my work as a tutor/teacher; I often bring in Milgram or Zimbardo when engaging younger students!
How did friends made during your time at EP influence your life?
My flatmate and one of my closest friends is a fellow St Anne's EP student!
Do you have a lesson or advice that you'd give to current students/researchers at EP?
Make the most out of this time - really take the course content in and use the libraries! It will honestly go by much sooner than you think and you want to really leave feeling like you learned as much as you could.
With the benefit of hindsight, do you have any advice you'd give your younger self?
Do less acting and more studying! Give yourself more time to enjoy the present and engage with the work at hand.
Other reflections
I remember sitting in Prof Kate Watkins office in the summer of my first year asking if I could take a month off to film my first TV show, sweating and hoping for the best. Kate (amazingly!) agreed and honestly, that support was vital. It really allowed me to 'do both' and kickstarted my acting career.
