Claire Skelcey

Just thought I would reflect on the past year in my world of acting and add a few tit bits for 2008.

Firstly can I just say that although I knew that pursuing a career in acting was not going to be easy it really hit home this year that it is so, so, so hard. Unless of course you are born of acting/casting/directing parents (the Fox Family or lucky talentless Knightley for example) or you went to RADA, which seem to be the golden tickets to a good place in the industry. So, if you are like me and did not go to RADA and was born of normal parents (and very proud of them I am too) then it just comes down to perseverence and determination. You have to be so willing to accept rejection and not be upset by it, which luckily after a while does become easy, often to the point where if you do get a part you are so shocked you think the casting director has got the wrong person….

Last year I was working for UK Transplant full-time in the communications department and I loved my job and the people I worked with. However I was frustrated by the fact that I was wasting my acting talent and that I had no time to dedicate myself to work or to auditons. So I decided to throw caution to the wind, take a big risk and leave the security of UKT to follow my heart.

Find out more about UK Transplant and the fantastic life-saving work they do at www.uktransplant.org.uk where you too can give the gift of life by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

So, upon leaving and attempting to live the dream, the question is how do you get yourself noticed? And how do you earn money at the same time as being flexible enough to attend auditions? Well this year it just sort of fell into place in terms of jobs, even though I have been skint for a year! I was lucky enough to land a job as part-time marketing administrator at the fantastic venue that is The Rondo Theatre in Bath, which has been a great way of doing a proper job and using my actually quite intelligent mind at the same time as being involved in the industry and networking. I met so many interesting companies and have seen so many amazing shows that it has kept me inspired enough to not give up. So thanks to the Rondo for that. And Ian and Andy of course, and all the great companies who love the Rondo as we do and return year after year with fantastic new shows.

Next it’s find an agent time, which is another feat in itself as you write letter after letter and CV after CV…..the usual vicious circle commences whereby an agent won’t take you on unless they can see you in something, but you can’t get into anything because you haven’t got an agent. Of course you want to get into one of the top agencies which is virtually impossible (unless the family connections or RADA training come into play). So, instead you try and get a part in every show in the Bristol area which you might find advertised in TheatreBristol (what would we do without you) which more often than not returns more rejection!

In the meantime it’s travelling up to London again and again to attend auditions, followed by rejection after rejection…..over and over again. So you think; what can I do that will put me one step ahead of the rest? The answer is not simple but I opted for a personal website as a kind of posh CV - and it worked! Debbie and Dave Edler were impressed enough to audition me and then took me on on the basis of my audition which pleased me no end! Big thanks to Debbie Edler Management.

I was lucky enough to attend Cannes Film Festival this year with the cast of a film I was in last year, which was an absolute riot and we had the time of our lives. Hello all you perfect people! I was also lucky to meet some very inspirational directors and fellow actors. One of these directors was the lovely Alex Fodor who has made some beautiful films and whom I pester constantly for work…..one day you will take me on Alex!

So despite the constant rejection, part-time jobs just to get by and the scrimping and saving the year has been good to me - and I hope that 2008 will be even better. Early next year I am appearing in a show at The Hen and Chickens Theatre in Islington. The play is named The Beau Defeated by Mary Pix and is a restoration comedy produced by Debbie Edler Management. It’s a showcase of members of the agency - come and see it! Then in Summer I get to work with the brilliant director and writer Ian Mcglynn in his latest piece An Act of Twisting. If his past productions are anything to go by it will be BRILLIANT, so look out for details of that here at claireskelcey.com

In the meantime, still waiting for the call from the casting team at Shameless - go on, you know you want me….

Have a great year all, and if you are a struggling actor like me, don’t give up!

Happy New Year!

Check out the fantastic new Rondo programme to see what’s coming up in Spring 2008. Drop in to the Rondo, find one at your local library or tourist info centre or check out the website.

Two days to go everyone, good luck!! Let’s hope we enjoy it.

If you would like to sponsor me to help those suffering from MS (Multiple Sclerosis) to have a better quality of life do visit my fundraising page.

Enjoy it, and if anyone sees Steve Cram, pull his shorts down….!