Any other actresses here? If so, how are you coping with work?

[TREBUCHET]

I am having the worst year of my career so far after giving birth to my DD almost a year ago. Just got offered a theatre job for 9 wk's and had to say No Thanks as it was not do-able. Never ever turned down reasonable work before and I feel like I might never work again. V depressing, as I love it.

Not an actress, but bumping your thread to see if anybody famous is here...

i don't think anyone will admit to anything....

Don't worry - there's f* all out there at the moment, baby or no baby. I don't know that many women working right now, and I'm talking well-known, respected actresses. It's been a bad year. Hope that helps!x

Thanks LB horrid as it is to be pleased, it does help to know that. I think it can be quite an isolating career, you start thinking you're the only one not working, that everyone else is sailing onwards. Had a great meeting just after losing all my baby weight then didn't get the job coz they wanted someone bigger....

Yes, on thinking about it afterwards I did realise that post was a bit immature

Yep, this year has been pants. Ive had three auditions this year, a new small but regular character in waterloo road (they went with someone older) and 2 adverts. (Got none of em) Luckily my other job is as a writer, which keeps my head above water and takes my mind off waiting for the agent to ring. Is there something else you like doing that you could focus on? x

Thanks Bg I have started writing, actually, so far I'm onto chapter 2 of a novel, I guess the only way to find out if its any good is just to write it and see!

what sort of stuff do you write?

Trebuchet - I spoke to Anna Wing about this(name-dropping shamelessly). When she was on tour with two babies in the '40s she had them backstage. She would BF them, go on stage leaving them with a friend and then go back to them in between scenes. She was a single mum as well for her first - truly shocking at the time - but the cast and crew wherever she went were really happy to join in bringing up her two sons so that she could go on stage. It must be bloody difficult though, and I don't think in general thesps are that supportive now.

oooh ! have we seen/heard of you actresses on tv or anything ??

Not an actress but a stage manager. Have barely worked since having DD1, had planned to work a lot less but hadn't thought it would end my career. Like you've said Trebuchet, jobs that I want to do often turn out to be really un-doable in practice so have needed up missing some nice projects. To be honest I don't think I will work again full time in theatre. Have basically now embraced my SAHM status and like it a lot but every now and then I crave working. I think its just one of those things as every other female I know who works in theatre at the moment and has had kids is not working-it seems to be getting less tolerant and family friendly (not that it ever was).