Mumsnet Logo
My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AMA

I'm an actress. Ask me anything

68 replies

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 11:22

I work in tv, film and theatre. I've had some amazing jobs but I've also had very long periods of no acting work...
Don't know if this will be of any interest to anyone but I've enjoyed reading the other threads so much and thought I'd throw my hat in the ring!
Smile

OP posts:
Report

AveABanana · 13/07/2018 16:21

I was in the same year at school as an actress who is now 4 years younger than me. She was on telly recently and FB was awash with school friends commenting on how they'd celebrated their 40th way too early Grin

Report

PoisonousSmurf · 13/07/2018 16:25

I've been on an extras list for a few years and I find it ridiculous that they expect someone in rural West country to turn up for a costume fitting in central London with less than 18 hours notice!
Do you get that kind of thing where they 'pencil' you in and then when you make travel arrangements they drop you?
Or are they kinder to the actors?

Report

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/07/2018 16:32

Albus - that’s too intrusive. It rightly won’t be answered.

Report

AlbusSeverusMalfoy · 13/07/2018 17:08

Fair enough ...

Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 19:16

@AveABanana
That's bloody brillaint! Hahah

OP posts:
Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 19:19

@PoisonousSmurf
Oh I'm sorry, that's so shit. I do hate the way that extras are treated on set.
As for the 'pencil' - yes, it's a nightmare. I was booked on a flight to Spain for a fiat commercial last year. Massive money job. The night before I was due to fly, thhwh went with someone else. That happens a lot. It's really gutting. Fortunately we get a £50 recall fee for commercials 😂

OP posts:
Report

SongforSal · 13/07/2018 19:39

Don't mean to hijack your thread OP, but the casting couch made me wince in memory. When I was 15, after many auditions I was down to the last 2 for a really good part. The other older girl got the part..... And continued to see the man in question for a few months. Well. As long as the run lasted. I'm 36 now, Dp is still in the industry and signs his NDA's.... But still manages to ruin my perception of certain celebs
Grin

Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 19:56

@SongforSal
Not at all!
Totally hear you. Eugh it's awful isn't it 🙁

OP posts:
Report

Mailfuckoff · 13/07/2018 20:53

What do you think about am dram performers and extras. Would you do am dram or extra work if you couldn't get paid acting or would you rather do something completely different?

Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 20:59

@Mailfuckoff
I love am dram and think it's a fabulous thing to do but no, I would do it now and I wouldn't do extra work.

OP posts:
Report

TopBitchoftheWitches · 13/07/2018 21:04

Have you met Tom Hardy and is he as gorgeous as he appears to be? Smile

Report

Processedpea · 13/07/2018 21:06

i knew someone that went to RADA then completely turned his back on the job citing how crap it was for self esteem is this common?

Report

IrmaTooth · 13/07/2018 21:11

What kinds of parts do you typically get considered for? How important is attractiveness? Which actor's career would you most like for yourself?

Also, is there anyone you used to keep running into at auditions, who always got 'your' parts and has hit it big? My husband used to teach a very nice girl who is of the same 'acting generation' as Keira Knightley, and was always up for the same parts up to and including, I think, Bend It Like Beckham. (Her one big breakout film tanked, despite a wonderful cast including a Hollywood big name and two British national treasures, and she quit acting to run a vineyard, and is very happy...)

Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 21:22

@TopBitchoftheWitches
I sadly I haven't met Tom hardy but I have met Tom Huddleston (my favourite Tom) and he was a dream 😍😍

OP posts:
Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 21:24

@Processedpea
Really
Common. There were 38 on my year and only about ten of us are still working. Your self esteem take a massive knock at every audition so you have to have a very thick skin: uou also

OP posts:
Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 21:24

@Processedpea
Sorry! Sent too soon.
I think you need to have another outlet that you really enjoy so it's not your entire world.

OP posts:
Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 21:28

@IrmaTooth
I tend to play younger than I am and I tend to play two extremes either girls next door or sex worker/ battered wife😂😂

Attractiveness is a tough one. I won't beat around the bush, if you're tall skinny and gorgeous, yes, you'll probably work more.
I'm average height and a size 12-14 with a good face so I tend to be the 'big girl' parts. It's not okay but it's what it is. If I want to work and I don't want to lose weight: that's what I have to expect.
I'd love Kate winslets career 😍

I have a coupe of girls that I always see at auditions. Nobody's made it massive yet though hahah

OP posts:
Report

TopBitchoftheWitches · 13/07/2018 21:29

@whatacarryon2018

Let me know if you do ever meet him. I have high hopes for that man Grin

Congrats with Huddleston !

Report

DancingDot · 13/07/2018 21:29

Do you ever suffer from imposter syndrome? I have an actor friend who couldn't get over the fact that other people thought she was good!

Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 21:30

@TopBitchoftheWitches
I'll message you if I ever do. I'd bloody love to!!
Yes, hiddlestone was just lovely and I met him at the time he was with Taylor
Swift and he was so lovely about her.

OP posts:
Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 21:31

@DancingDot
I think that's quite common:
I still find it astonishing that people pay me to 'pretend'.

OP posts:
Report

huggybear · 13/07/2018 21:38

How lucrative is it?

Report

DancingDot · 13/07/2018 21:42

Do you think that anyone with enough confidence could be taught to act brilliantly or do you think that people have an innate talent?

Report

Ginger1982 · 13/07/2018 21:44

Have you ever been in The Bill? Seems like everyone has! 😆

Report

whatacarryon2018 · 13/07/2018 22:01

@Ginger1982
No. Sadly I was just a little too young 😂

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

We're all short on time

Log in or sign up to use the 'See Next' or 'See all' posts by the OP (Original Poster) and cut straight to the action.

Already signed up?

Sign up to continue reading

Mumsnet's better when you're logged in. You can customise your experience and access way more features like messaging, watch and hide threads, voting and much more.

Already signed up?