To find it sad that privately educated actors dominate telly/film?

[chulast]

6% of the population go to private school yet the majority of successful British screen actors have been privately educated.

I just find it quite bleak really and makes it feel like it's nigh on impossible to make it in that industry without a leg up and connections.

@Neemie It’s a bit off topic but since it’s been mentioned, I have to say although I’m fairly left leaning I do worry if parents are unable to provide a healthy breakfast for kids.
What does that say about the state of affairs?

That either means wages/benefits are far too low, or food is too expensive, they are clueless about what food to buy or they’re just feckless and irresponsible. Or any combination of the above. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Something is deeply wrong and the breakfast clubs may just be a sticking plaster for this.

It's true that those from less advantaged backgrounds wouldn't be able to pay London rents or cope with sporadic work and unstable income. However, the barriers start well before that stage.
Theatre tickets are too highly priced for anyone from such background to be able to take their kids, and vast majority in London or city centres, so those elsewhere don't have opportunity without additional transport costs. Schools have cut drama provision so such kids won't have chance to even try.
If despite this they have an interest and talent, youth theatre groups may exist for them and be affordable, but the one near us is quite expensive and all middle class kids with professional, quite well off parents. NYT and similar are accessible but they need to find out things like this exist.
Then, if they've got that far, they need to pay ££ (and/or navigate complex bursary processes) to apply for, audition, and travel to drama schools which are mainly in south east. Overnight stays and rail fares from all over UK to several schools is £100s.
Then if they get in, there's everything they need to buy on the kit list, equipment, dance shoes, etc.
These are all barriers before that decision about actually choosing it as a career.

Performing Arts has been talked down and devalued for years now. Remember the Con Gov advert about ballet dancer retraining to be a computer programmer??

There is also a huge SE/rest of country divide here. Notice all the private schools listed above are in the South. And stage and screen investments need to be made elsewhere in UK, not just London. Arts Council and Lab Gov I think are taking steps to address this.

From my experience of working in schools with large numbers of children on free school meals, most parents do provide their children with breakfast. I have no idea if it is healthy but as I grew up on Frosties for breakfast, I’m in no position to judge.

I suspect it is a way of easing the financial burden on parents (undoubtedly cost of living is tough on most people) without upping the welfare bill. It also makes the government look like they are spending money on education and helps hide the fact they have no education policy.

Unfortunately, it's the same for many careers where it helps enormously to have a financial cushion, particularly in the early years (those that require free/very low paid internships, training periods or 'buy in' capital). If you come from money, it's easier to take career risks, not to mention the benefit of your own and your family's social circle in terms of networking/introductions to those that can help in your career. Of course it's not impossible for those who are brave, passionate, skilled and willing to sacrifice a lot to follow their dreams...but the reality is that very few of us are like that.

My DS was not privately educated, but we have provided a financial cushion for him as he has made his way in the creative world. He is now just self supporting at 23. There is no way he would have made it without our financial help.

As a young teen I attended a theatre school for young actors. Even then (late 80s), it was tough for those of us without money and parental support. My family's situation was more precarious than most as my Mum was severely mentally ill, meaning I became the household 'adult,' even though I was still a child myself. Simple things were an issue, like getting to and from the theatre on public transport, often as a lone female after dark. We had to buy our own costumes for performances and were required to sell a certain number of tickets to family and friends for shows. When you're on the breadline, as we were, these issues seem impossible to overcome. Rehearsals and performances took place in the evenings and at weekends, meaning that alongside school it wasn't possible to get a part time job. I ended up leaving so I could work and pay my way through sixth form. I don't regret my decision, but it had nothing to do with my acting talent (or lack of it!) and everything to do with practical obstacles. Unfortunately I don't imagine that things will have improved for working class actors since then.

I saw it advertised yesterday looks good. It sent me down the rabbit hole of the Mitford sisters they were an absolute riot😀

Artists can't starve in garrets any more, because even the tiniest, coldest garret is marketed as a studio flat and costs a bomb.

Exactly!

Absolutely. And as funding for the arts continues to get slashed and cost of living continues, I can’t see it getting any better.

Privately educated and/or nepobabes
what effing talent does that kid of Bradley Walsh/roman kemp have that kids of us mere mortals don’t?

This is an interesting thread. I remember an interview with Gwyneth Paltrow - she said that her family got her in front of some very important / influential people … but she had to be twice as good as everyone else once she got there otherwise she would have been out.

I wonder if being privately educated is a bit of a red herring. Having friends / relatives in the industry and a bit of cash would be just as much help. It isn’t just acting - also true of journalism and politics.

Barney walsh is in casualty isn't he? and Roman kemp are tv/radio presenter i mean he probably has as much talent as say Rylan or Fearne cotton who do their jobs fine imo

I googled Barney Walsh apparently he went to the, Guildhall of Music and Drama .so I guess he at least trained 🤷 you are always and forever more get nepobabies its not new.

Exactly this

Absolutely 👍

Michael Sheen is very vocal about this-talking about the free opportunities that were open to him that are just not there for kids now.

I absolutely agree with you. It’s shocking

@CurlewKate if that’s what you think, isn’t it hypocritical of you to then provide a financial cushion for your own son, as you stated upthread?
You disapprove of it yet do it yourself.

It’s not about how they are educated. It’s because they have enough wealth to support them when they are trying to succeed.

@chulast also music industry . Even in the teeny indie music scenes . It is hard to make it when you have to juggle full time work etc . So much easier when you have connections . So many people I know who are making a 'living' so to speak in music were already very comfortable in the first place and were privately educated. Meanwhile, I have to treat music as a hobby and work full time. Such is life. They also know how to apply for Arts Grants whereas I wouldn't have the brass cheek to apply for stuff like that. Honestly, the liberties that I have seen taken, @chulast !

This is true, but there are other things in play as well. Many kids have great potential that sometimes goes somewhat to waste because they have grown up in an environment where many live by the adage that if you put your head down and work hard you will achieve whatever you want. In reality, working hard and doing as you are told won’t get you noticed as much as having the confidence to challenge the status quo, to debate interpretations or to put your own ideas forward without feeling you are disrespecting the boss. I have seen this repeated a 100 times during admissions interviews at RG universities. The students have the talent but they are so focused on pleasing the interviewer and answer as they think they are expected to do that they don’t let their intelligence shine.

I attended primary at a private school and moved into state school for secondary school. The thing that I found more shocking of the change was that someway it was seen as disrespectful to put your hand up to ask a question that included the word “but” like asking “but would you think things would have been different in Vietnam if Kennedy had not been elected?” These kind of conversations are encouraged and openly debated in class in private schools from a very early age but this is seldomly mirrored elsewhere, obviously, everybody had a teacher who was amazing and encouraged this to a great success but that teacher is often more of a one off.

All the children I did ballet with were poor - except us (used to compete against - and lose to - Sheridan Smith). Parents scraped together cash to manage. I assume this is no longer possible due to the way in which living costs have changed, which is a shame as I knew a number of really talented people who I imagine would never have the chance if they were children now.

Edit: not saying SS was poor - I don’t know - meant all the girls at my dance school. SS not at my dance school just saw her at competitions

I agree op. Also that theatre is not accessible to a lot of people.

I am a teacher and have always taken groups of students to the theatre including coach trips to the West End which they absolutely love but they probably don’t go as adults.

I was reading recently about unemployment benefits and support in France for artists, dancers, musicians, performers and technicians in the arts and film. They can receive an income during periods without work. It recognises how unique and unstable the jobs are.

Of course it’s hypocritical. Did I say it wasn’t? But the shocking thing really is that the opportunities that used to be available to everyone are just not there any more. My DS helps run a youth theatre group that is actually free- the only one with it reasonable travelling distance of us that is- and it is bursting at the seams and has a waiting list.

Of course it’s hypocritical. Did I say it wasn’t?

Ok, but then why criticise something when you do it yourself? Actions speak louder…….