From Actor to Voice Over Actor – how acting was, and remains, in my blood
Having trained at accredited drama school The Oxford School of Drama, before moving into film, television and theatre, and now an accomplished Voice Over Artist, my career has been an incredible journey.
Some say I have always been a “drama queen”, pursuing every dramatic opportunity available at school. But it really is ‘in the blood’ – my mother was the first Cadbury’s Flake Girl, along with being a top commercial model in the sixties, and my father is an executive music and film producer still to this day, who now specialises in documentaries for classic artists such as David Bowie, Guns N’ Roses, BB King, Nat King Cole to name a few.
Thanks to my acting roots I never had the dark side of the industry hidden from me, and was fully aware of the ups and downs. Often asked why I wanted to become an actress in such a tough and challenging industry, my answer is simple:
“The passion inside. It’s hard to describe, but it’s like this big ball, which fills you with an almighty buzz and excitement when performing and truly makes me happy. It’s my passion!”
I had a passion, and I had to act on it
I recall one of my early memories, one of the best times was playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Player Queen at school. I’ll never forget the power I felt in that role, and how I really connected to the part of Queen Elizabeth and how she really was. Since then I have always had a keen interest in that period of history and would love to play her again, but I also seemed to end up playing a lot of male roles too (was someone trying to tell me something?).
I was fortunate to be awarded several drama prizes and was also asked to represent the school in a performance at the Globe stage at the tender age of fifteen, with London luminaries Mark Rylance and Jane Horrocks.
After being awarded a scholarship through the Surrey Arts Council (only eleven were given for the year across all the arts!), I went straight to the Oxford School of Drama where I trained for three years. It was a rollercoaster ride, but definitely worth it – I learnt so much.
But it’s been more of a rollercoaster ride since I finished drama school. Nothing prepares you for the reality of the industry. It’s hard, but if you work hard and persevere then you will get there in the end.
My showreel shows some of my acting work, I’ve played a wide variety of roles in TV and film.
My launch into voice work came with the animation project Ultra Guardians and for BBC Radio, performing with some great all-round actors and performing in several theatre plays. I continue to work in all fields, along with a lot of voice over work with the BBC, TV commercials and also with leading brands like Morrisons (yes that’s my voice, when you put that loaf of bread in your bag at the self-service checkout!).
Doing even more behind the scenes…
I have been a long-standing member of WFTV and was on their Board of Directors and part of the Events Committee, producing several big events for WFTV’s members. I also founded VOX National Events (voxevents.co.uk) which produces VOX (the annual Audio & Voiceovers Conference) and VOXMAS.
I recently took some time off from stage and screen to have a family. But my voice over work continues in my own broadcast professional studio based here in Guildford. Now the kids are a little older I’m also keen to get back on stage and on the film or TV set.
As you can tell, I really do have it in the blood, and plan to stay in this industry as long as I live!