Just back from our whirlwind 24 hour trip to Belfast on the first leg of the Don’t Worry About Me UK tour. When David asked me to accompany him on the tour (during which he delivers a master class on filmmaking, acting and directing) he told me that my job would be to talk about the realities of being a jobbing actress in London today. My response was, are you sure? My brief was to talk about expectation versus reality. The reality of my experience of being an actress is, to be frank, more jobless than jobbing. I have plenty to say about the gulf that exists between how you think things will be when you head for the bright lights of London and how things actually are. David qualified his request for my contribution with an email saying, “but don’t be too negative!” So I should say that making this movie has given me endless joy, invaluable experience and a hunger to work that keeps me here and trying to do so. I feel very lucky to have been a part of it.
Being half Irish I had a great many family members in the audience at the screening, all recruited by my Granny, who entirely missed her calling and should have gone into PR. Great to have so many friendly faces there. Stayed in the Fitzwilliam in Belfast, a hotel so swish it took me ten minutes to turn on the lights. Gorgeous dinner, though a point deducted for the inclusion of mushroom “foam” in my main course. I am averse to foam in food on the grounds that you are paying for air. Amazing soda bread for breakfast, the like of which you can only get in Northern Ireland! I expect this is too food-based and David would prefer me to talk about film! We were looked after brilliantly by Jenny at Bafta, Moyra at Northern Ireland Screen and Susan at QFT – thanks to you all. It was a great day and a wonderful start to the tour. Looking forward to Bristol…
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