“I am 21 years old and I’m currently living in Essex. I am of mixed race heritage: Caribbean and Italian. I have been fortunate enough to visit my family in Jamaica and regularly visit my aunt who lives in Naples. Both cultures have taught me so much about people and have definitely impacted my love for food! I am a lover of sports and have participated at a regional level in cross country. Despite leaving that behind I keep fit by regularly running. I am also a competent dancer specifically in modern jazz. I have recently set up a theatre company with four other graduates and we’re in the works of devising our own play. We’re creating projects and have already procured a dedicated space to create new work.”
What kind of actor do you aspire to be?
I aspire to be an actor who can tell stories that resonate with people. An actor who can spark conversation.
As well as this, I want to continue being a playful, vulnerable actor who thrives on working with an ensemble. I also want to be a new face of representation and hopefully being in this industry will continue to inspire minorities to step into the arts, whatever form that may be.
What performance piece did you choose for the showcase and why?
For my live performance, I chose Meredith’s monologue from William Boyd’s play The Argument. This monologue stood out to me because it was about human relationships, communication, and trust. It reflected on the meaning of trust and how it takes years to build, yet seconds to break. I felt drawn to the monologue because it highlights how your mistakes can quickly degenerate into hostility and have a damaging effect on those you love around you. It also felt very personal because it resonated with my own parental situation and felt close to home. I understood what trust feels like and the effects it can have when it is broken.
What book, theatre, film or TV production has most inspired you?
Jodie Comer in Prima Facie.
Jodie’s performance was commanding yet tender and highlighted the severity surrounding how our courts address victims of sexual assault. It left my friends and I speechless, yet thankful for her work and it highlighted what needs to be done to fix this broken system. Her production inspired me to read more surrounding the subject matter and the specifics of the law dealing with cases of sexual assault and the challenges women face.
I read that a full audience of female lawyers were invited to watch the play. The writer, Suzie Miller, was later invited to lunch with a judge from the Old Bailey. This showed me how much theatre can impact and change our society whether that be small or large. This play and Jodie’s work will stay with me and continue to inspire the work I want to make.
How do you keep creative?
I really enjoy writing, specifically poetry and free writing. I randomly pick plays to read on drama online as well as use the website Poetry Foundation to discover a variety of poems.
Recently, my selected short film Powder Room was screened at Leicester Square Theatre. It was a really proud moment to see my script come to life and has spurred me on to develop the script further.
My housemates and I enjoy going for long walks around Epping Forest which helps me relax and embrace nature around me; which is often how I come up with new ideas. I also enjoy listening to chilled soulful music, which helps me deal with stress and keeps me musically creative.
What is the dream role you’d love to play?
I would love to play King Lear at the Globe / National. And for TV/ film, I would love to be part of a gritty, crime thriller; either playing a detective or a lawyer.
What do you hope to be doing this time next year?
This time next year, I hope to be in and out of casting rooms/ sending in self-tapes; whether I land a job or not, I want to be networking and meeting new people. Gaining experience and continuing to develop my craft. I plan to attend acting workshops in my spare time such as Gohub and Lonesome to keep the acting muscle active so I am ready for auditions. As well looking into writing workshops. I have a one-woman show called Symbiont at the Vaults Theatre in early July 2022, working with Caged Bird Theatre Company. This is my first job since leaving drama school so I want to learn from this experience and hopefully this will help me progress working on future projects.