Make It Matter: J.D. Hunt on Acting, Inspiration, and Storytelling
This week we are honouring previous special guest, J.D.
Everyone needs a J.D in their life. :) Such a fantastic human being and so full of joy and enthusiasm about his joy of storytelling and creativity.
JD inspires us with his tale from how he first discovered his passion for acting and storytelling to how he got where he is today. Such a beautiful and uplifting story.
When J.D says reach out to him with any questions too; he really means it. You can follow J.D on social media and see his information below.
J.D has such a heart of gold and the most generous spirit. I hope this helps would be actors hiding away and also make many others smile, as that is the gorgeous presence of J.D,. He really is such a huge shining light in the world.
https://www.jdhunt.co.uk
Thanks so much to J.D
I hope you enjoy spending time with J.D as much as I did.
Much love
Aline xx
Transcript
Hello, gorgeous.
Speaker A:And a warm welcome to accepting.
Speaker A:In this episode, we are honoring previous guests who took their time and energy to really kindly share with us their wisdom.
Speaker A:And it was a couple of years ago when I first started the podcast and their episodes were not shared properly to the world on the platforms.
Speaker A:So I've been really feeling it's time to share them properly.
Speaker A:So for cancer season, all the way through July and then into my birthday month, which is August, I'm going to be sharing the beautiful episodes I have with wonderful guests that came on and shared their gorgeous wisdom.
Speaker A:So get yourself comfy, get a cozy drink, and let's dive in.
Speaker A:Hello, and a warm welcome to the Align with Eileen podcast series.
Speaker A:I'm absolutely delighted to introduce you to the wonderful J.D.
Speaker A:hunt.
Speaker A:J.D.
Speaker A:is an actor on screen, on stage and TV, and he has very kindly come on today to share some wise words of wisdom and to share his stories and experiences and hopefully inspire many of you out there.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for being here, my lovely.
Speaker B:No, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker B:It's such a pleasure.
Speaker B:And like, after we met, just to kind of reconnect here is so cute as well.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:So I'd like to ask you about your.
Speaker A:Your passion for acting.
Speaker A:So have you always had that?
Speaker A:When.
Speaker A:When did it start?
Speaker A:Did you know from a young age or.
Speaker A:Please tell us your story.
Speaker B:Yeah, I was actually thinking about this yesterday and I, like, I genuinely think that it is always something that I've wanted to do, like, since I was a child.
Speaker B:I mean, one of my favorite stories about myself, I have so many, obviously, is my mom used to, when she wanted a nap, she'd be like, come and tell me a story.
Speaker B:And she said that she.
Speaker B:She'd, like, go to the chair and she'd lie down and I'd start telling her a story and she'd wake up and I'd still be telling the story.
Speaker B:And I think that, like, I've always just really enjoyed, like, storytelling and creating characters and just that whole kind of experience of communication is something that I've always just really enjoyed.
Speaker B:And like, you know, sort of my journey, I started in primary school, you know, doing school plays and loving them.
Speaker B:I had quite an advanced reading age as well, so I usually got the larger parts, if not the lead in the school plays, because I was quite an advanced reader.
Speaker B:So I was able to read and learn the lines.
Speaker B:And it kind of got to this point and I noticed I was doing right.
Speaker B:I knew everyone's lines and I'D be, like, prompting people on stage and, like, you know, in the year for, like, you know, Diwali play where I was playing the lead, I'd be, like, prompting everybody as the show was going, and.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And that kind of passion and enjoyment just sort of metastasized throughout school.
Speaker B:And when I was in secondary school, I. I sort of.
Speaker B:Because I went to a grammar school, I had this kind of like, oh, God, Like, I'm.
Speaker B:I'm gonna become terribly academic now.
Speaker B:You know, I'm gonna have to, like, you know, I'm gonna be less creative because it's all like, you know, like, math and English and science and.
Speaker B:And the first school play that I had the opportunity to audition for.
Speaker B:I don't know why.
Speaker B:And I think when I look back on it, it probably was fear.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:For some reason, I couldn't confirm with my mom that I was okay to stay to audition for it.
Speaker B:So in my head, I was like, oh, she won't be okay with it.
Speaker B:Even though I was, you know, taking myself home.
Speaker B:So I went home and I was like, mom, I really wanted to audition for the school play.
Speaker B:It was Oliver Twist, but I didn't want you to not know where I was.
Speaker B:And she was like, but you bring yourself home so you could have just done it and then come home.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh, yeah.
Speaker B:And when I look back on it, I think that actually I was just like, oh, God.
Speaker B:Like, I'm.
Speaker B:I've gone from, you know, going through, you know, the school system to being, like, in year six, you know, the eldest in the school plays, like, you know, sort of, like, to then in year seven where I'm, like, the youngest.
Speaker B:And, you know, this is a school play, so know, the.
Speaker B:The eldest people in it will be, like, 15, 17, 18.
Speaker B:And I'm like, 11.
Speaker A:So year six and seven, that's 11.
Speaker A:Is it?
Speaker A:Okay?
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:The year six is, like, 10 to 11, and then I think year seven is, like, 11 to 12.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:So I think that's what it was.
Speaker B:I think I was just a bit like, oh, I don't know if I can do this now.
Speaker B:Like, I want to be an actor, but I don't know if I want to do it, like, in this space, like, in this, you know, incredibly, like, academic kind of.
Speaker B:And, you know, I think the experience of grammar school is very intimidating in the sense that, you know, I remember my granddad saying, you know, you become a doctor, I'll buy you a car.
Speaker B:Just being like, oh, God, I don't think I want to be a doctor, but I do want the car.
Speaker B:How do I get the car?
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:So I.
Speaker B:So I. I missed the auditions for that.
Speaker B:And, you know, I'd sort of been doing the drama classes that were part of the curriculum anyway, so I went to the drama teacher and I was like, I really wanted to audition, but I couldn't ask my mom if I could stay in audition.
Speaker B:So, like, like, can I audition?
Speaker B:Like, like, she was like, well, no, but she was like, but I've seen you in classes and I know what you can do, so I'm going to give you.
Speaker B:So she gave me the part of, like, Paimon in Oliver Twist.
Speaker B:And, you know, she was like, this is the rehearsal schedule.
Speaker B:You know, make sure that your mom's happy with it.
Speaker B:Come along.
Speaker B:And basically through rehearsing, I went from being the pie man who had, like, two lines playing Charlie Bates, who was like, Oliver Twist, like, bestie, and understudying Oliver Twist, and it was.
Speaker B:It was kind of like, bizarre.
Speaker B:And everybody that was in the show kind of like, sneered a bit at the fact that I was like, sort of, like, amassing roles, having not auditioned, like, as the rehearsal process went.
Speaker B:And I think that.
Speaker B:That for me, that was the moment where I was like, no, I. I can do this.
Speaker B:I am.
Speaker B:I have value, you know, and, like, that's been seen, even though I haven't auditioned for this show.
Speaker B:And from there I was like, you know, I want to do this.
Speaker B:And then my school actually canceled drama as a subject, and I went to the.
Speaker B:The deputy head and I was like, well, I want to be an actor and you're canceling drama.
Speaker B:And like, after school, I see myself going to, like, Like, I didn't know.
Speaker B:I didn't know it was called drama school then, but, you know, the equivalent of drama school.
Speaker B:Like, how do I do that if you cancel drama?
Speaker B:Like, how do I go to college?
Speaker B:How do I go to university and study, like, drama?
Speaker B:And basically, through gifted and talented with the school, they.
Speaker B:They connected me with the Birmingham School of Acting, where my drama teacher at the time wrote me a reference for.
Speaker B:And it was.
Speaker B:It was really quite lovely and something that I'm sort of working through, giving back when it comes to doing that, because the gifted and talented program actually paid for my.
Speaker B:My drama classes.
Speaker B:They were like.
Speaker B:I think they were £320 a term.
Speaker B:They paid for it.
Speaker B:Well, my mom paid £20 a time, and they paid the rest of it.
Speaker B:And I sort of got there and again, I was like, oh, my God.
Speaker B:Like I'm doing this now.
Speaker B:I'm doing drama classes on a Saturday morning and I'll be doing like an equivalent of like GCSE and A levels.
Speaker B:And yeah, I'm doing this.
Speaker B:And I sort of remember being there.
Speaker B:And I started off doing a summer course and I hadn't, I hadn't met everybody.
Speaker B:I hadn't met the head of part time courses, David Van, who the became my mentor.
Speaker B:And I remember speaking to him in the foyer.
Speaker B:I was 13 by the time I got there and the classes were 11 to 13 and it was 14 to 17.
Speaker B:And he said to me after doing the summer, he was like, you'll be joining the 14-17s.
Speaker B:And I was like, what?
Speaker B:And he was like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:He was like, you'll be joining the 14-17s.
Speaker B:And I was like, I don't, I don't know if I can do that.
Speaker B:I don't know if I'm ready.
Speaker B:And he was like, you're more than ready.
Speaker B:And I just remember being like, oh my God, this, this man believes in me, see something in me, like I just want to be an actor, but here I am.
Speaker B:And they had a gifted and talented program as well, which I ended up a part of.
Speaker B:And as it sort of went along, you know, school, this, my school got to a point where they were like, you know, and we can't afford to send you there anymore because it went up, I think it ended up being like around about 400 pounds a term by the time I finished.
Speaker B:And that was from 13 to 18.
Speaker B:I went there.
Speaker B:And the head of part time courses, I remember him just saying to me, David Van, he was a wonderful man.
Speaker B:And when he passed, you know, I remember being in a theater full of people that he just touched, you know, with his light and his, his passion and his belief.
Speaker B:And he just said to me, he was like, don't worry about the money.
Speaker B:And as I was talking to people, it turned out that so many of us had had similar conversations with him where he was like, you know, this is not about, you know, a commerce, it's about passion.
Speaker B:And if you've got the passion and you've got the talent, come, you know, you're turning up every Saturday.
Speaker B:And, and it was, it was incredible.
Speaker B:And, and I remember just being like, well yeah, I want to do this and you know, like, nothing's going to stop me, but I don't, I don't have that money.
Speaker B:And, and, and you know, through doing that, like I really just found that inner belief and found that like passion and just thought, you know what, I can, I can make a career of this and I can, I can be happy to doing it.
Speaker B:And you know, when I'm at school and I'm doing my, my subjects, like I'm good at it, I don't enjoy them.
Speaker B:Any opportunity I get, I, you know, I, I'll do a presentation or I'll you know, like write a sketch or something like that.
Speaker B:But it's not, it doesn't, it doesn't ignite anything in me in the way that, you know, I lived for those Saturday mornings.
Speaker B:You know, it was, it was like 9 to 1 or 10 to 1 and it was just the best, the most beautiful time.
Speaker B:Like, just like playing and acting and doing scenes and doing plays and you know, I stayed like literally as long as I could there until I went to drama school and you know, it just introduced me to so many like great texts and characters and you know, I just, I had, I had fun and at no point did it feel like a chill.
Speaker B:You know, I, even when I got to the point where I was like, you know, I'm studying six days a week and then I'm going from drama classes at 1pm to my part time job which I do on a Saturday from like 1:30 and then I work all day Sunday and then I work a couple of evenings in the week whilst doing school and I was just like, I just lived for it.
Speaker B:And you know, when it came to drama school and you know, I, my teachers were like, you know, do history, do psychology, do this.
Speaker B:And I was like, no, I'm, I'm gonna do an acting degree.
Speaker B:And you know, if it doesn't work out and I don't get into drama school then I'll do a psychology degree and I'll, you know, join the drama clubs and I'll go back and I'll do an acting degree.
Speaker B:And you know, it, it did.
Speaker B:And the funny thing was is that, you know, I applied for drama school and again I came back to gifted and talented because it's like 30, between 30 and 50 pounds per audition plus traveling to London or Bristol or Cardiff or where else did I apply?
Speaker B:I think it was a Manchester, you know, so it was like, it was like, you know, £50 for a ticket and 30 to £50 for an audition.
Speaker B:And I remember the gentleman who ran Gifted and talented and I've been trying to think of his name for the last two days.
Speaker B:I know his first name was Phil and I don't remember what his last name was.
Speaker B:And I remember him just being like, keep all of your receipts and we will, we will pay.
Speaker B:He was like, you know, we couldn't pay for you to do the drama classes and we couldn't pay for, I mean, I think they paid for my equivalent exams to do the GCSE equivalent and the A level equivalent.
Speaker B:Because I kept saying, you know, this is what I want to do and I'm here and I'm in this system and I can't do it now.
Speaker B:And you have to fix that.
Speaker B:Because I was, I was so headstrong, I thought, you know, you have to fix that.
Speaker B:I have to become an actor.
Speaker B:And, and yeah, they paid for my auditions and I was on my way and you know, just sort of like such a long explanation for a short question.
Speaker A:But no, no, no, it's your story.
Speaker A:And that's so beautiful that you had people that, I mean, obviously it's so much about self belief, but you have those mentors around you.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Nurturing you.
Speaker A:That's just beautiful.
Speaker B:It is beautiful.
Speaker B:And, and to that, you know, what I'd say and what I've been, you know, working on, sort of giving back in a sense of is like, I don't know if you can, I don't know if we can teach ourselves to self belief.
Speaker B:I think some people have that innately and I've always had a confidence.
Speaker B:But I think that, you know, what I would say is, you know, David Van, you know, God rest his soul, he, he taught me self belief, he taught me to believe in myself.
Speaker B:And I saw him do it with so many people.
Speaker B:And I've gotten to a point now where I'm like, I, I want to do that for people.
Speaker B:I want to, you know, I want to see that in people and actually, you know, like, let them know that actually, you know, you never see yourself in the way that other people see you.
Speaker B:And it only takes someone to be like, I believe in you.
Speaker B:You know, this is what you're doing right?
Speaker B:You know, this is how we channel you.
Speaker B:And it can change your life.
Speaker B:It can, it can keep you on a track that, you know, maybe you wouldn't have kept yourself on or your family or, you know, people around you would have said, you know, get a real job or, you know, be sensible or it's never going to work out.
Speaker B:You know, I remember like in English class in year seven, actually, like writing, we all broke down, you know, you know, what we were going to do with our lives and our jobs and our careers.
Speaker B:And I remember like being really embarrassed and writing down, you know, I'm going to be an actor and I'm going to do movies and I'm going to do plays and you know, I might even like go to Hollywood and do movies there and you know, I just want to go as far as like the acting will take me.
Speaker B:And I remember a kid reading it and laughing and just being like, you're never going to do that.
Speaker B:And I was like, I am, I am going to do it.
Speaker A:Really.
Speaker B:And you know, sometimes I think about that and I'm like, yeah, you know I, you know I, I say along with that, you know, little 11 year old boy like I am going to do it.
Speaker B:I am going to keep doing it.
Speaker B:I am going to do this audition, do this self tape and book this job and you know, go to this networking party and you know like learn a new skill or accident or I'm going to do it, to do it.
Speaker A:Fantastic.
Speaker A:Because you said at the beginning about, you know, if you become a doctor then I'll get you a car.
Speaker B:Yeah, never got the car but that.
Speaker A:Could, but that conviction that it's so wonderful that you had that just to keep pushing through.
Speaker A:What, what would you, what advice would you give to anybody?
Speaker A:Because it's, I mean obviously you had so much support around you.
Speaker A:Is there any advice you would give to anybody who is very much feels how you feel.
Speaker A:They know that's what they want to do, but they don't have that support.
Speaker A:Yeah, there's they, but they know deep, deep, deep down and all through their system that's what, why they're here.
Speaker A:What would you say?
Speaker A:What would you say?
Speaker B:I'd say, you know, keep, keep looking for avenues that lead you to roads that lead you to, you know, bigger roads and take you there.
Speaker B: e of just, you know, being in: Speaker B:There's so many ways to actually chase what you want to do in life, you know.
Speaker B:You know we talk about like having mobile phones, like you've got the Internet in your hands, you know and, and there's so many ways to find courses and find classes.
Speaker B:Even if you start off with a little part time course or a little AM dram group or you know like something that, that actually enables you to remind yourself that it's what you want to do and you can do it.
Speaker B:And you know, if you're the first person telling yourself you can't do it Then, then, then, then how do you get to the point where other people tell you you can, you know, you have to tell yourself first that you can, and then let other people tell you that you can and believe them, you know?
Speaker B:Yeah, is what I'd say to that.
Speaker B:And I think that, you know, what I'm constantly saying to myself is, you can do this, you will do this.
Speaker A:You know, very much so.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, keep creating these opportunities, keep following threads, keep experiencing.
Speaker B:And, you know, I think that the, the other side of, you know, what I was saying about, you know, what David said to me about it not being about the commerce of things and paying for things, and, you know, that's not always something that everybody's as lucky to go through.
Speaker B:But I think that, you know, I didn't have the resources, you know, from my background and my family to actually say, you know, I want to go and do it.
Speaker B:I'm going to find the money.
Speaker B:But what I said to myself was, when I can.
Speaker B:When I can get a job, I'm going to get a job, and if I have to pay for myself to go to classes, I will, you know, and I think that there is something in that, about actually saying, you know, how much.
Speaker B:How much is it worth to chase the dream?
Speaker B:You know, and not in the sense of saying go and, you know, pay for an expensive course, but there are some things that are incredibly affordable, you know, that you can do just to get some experience, get a little bit of a skill, you know, and equally, there are some things that you can do where, you know, you just give your time.
Speaker B:You know, you join an AM Drum society and you give up your time.
Speaker B:You don't have to pay to do that, but, you know, you're working on plays, on shows with creatives, and that inspire you, and you'll learn, you know, from.
Speaker B:From each other.
Speaker B:And, you know, the beautiful thing about this industry is you work with somebody who's been an actor for, you know, 15 minutes, and you're like, oh, my God, you're just a natural.
Speaker B:And you just take to this and, And I'm learning something from you.
Speaker B:And you work with people that have done it for 15 years, and you're like, you know, you went to drama school and you, you know, you've.
Speaker B:You've worked in all the biggest theaters and you, you know, you've worked on shows, and I'm learning from you.
Speaker B:And you, you know, even if you go and you, you see, or you, you know, work with people that you don't think are Good or great or incredible as much as people that are good and great and incredible, you learn from them and you assimilate and you.
Speaker B:There's just an osmosis there.
Speaker B:So I think what I would say is expose yourself.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Expose yourself to as much creativity as you can.
Speaker B:You know, watch things that inspire you.
Speaker B:Go to the theater, you know, watch, like, TV shows that people are.
Speaker B:Are acclaiming the performances of, you know, and.
Speaker B:And just.
Speaker B:Just be inspired.
Speaker B:Find inspiration wherever it lives, because it's everywhere.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:That's really, really gorgeous advice.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:And also, so once.
Speaker A:So let's say, okay, so the.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:The people.
Speaker A:So they're going to the am.
Speaker A:Dram.
Speaker A:They're.
Speaker A:They're getting more and more experience, and then they get an audition.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Do you remember your first audition?
Speaker A:And I don't mean.
Speaker A:Well, you didn't go to all of a Twist, but.
Speaker B:Yeah, I didn't.
Speaker A:But do you.
Speaker A:Do you remember your.
Speaker A:Your first?
Speaker B:I remember so many of them.
Speaker B:Yeah, I remember.
Speaker B:What I remember that I try and keep alive now is I was.
Speaker B:I was so bold as.
Speaker B:As.
Speaker B:As a.
Speaker B:As a young person.
Speaker B:And, you know, I would do accents that, like, I just heard, and I was like, you know, and I would.
Speaker B:I would.
Speaker B:I would.
Speaker B:I was really.
Speaker B:I was really confident, and I always wanted to be remembered.
Speaker B:And, you know, not to say that I've.
Speaker B:I've bagged every audition that I've done.
Speaker B:I've.
Speaker B:I've had some auditions that have gone horribly, you know, ask you about in a moment, actually.
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, like, But.
Speaker B:But what I remember is I always remember being like, okay, I'm gonna make sure I know my lines.
Speaker B:I'm gonna make sure that I. I know what I'm doing, and I'm.
Speaker B:I'm just gonna do it, and nothing else matters in that moment.
Speaker B:And, you know, I think probably the first audition that I remember feeling intimidated in.
Speaker B:And the reason that I felt intimidated was because, you know, I had experience as an actor, and I had experienced, like, you know, auditioning for, like, Gifted and Talented at the Birmingham School of Acting, and I'd experienced, you know, auditioning for shows.
Speaker B:And at that level, I hadn't not gotten many things I'd auditioned for, which was a gift and a curse.
Speaker B:You know, before I auditioned for drama school, I'd done, like, a short film, I'd done a.
Speaker B:A TV pilot, I'd done a ton of plays in, like, you know, decent theaters in Birmingham, where I'm from.
Speaker B:And my first, like, professional audition was at RADA for their BA Acting course.
Speaker B:And I remember just being like, oh, my God, I'm going to audition for, like, one of the most prestigious drama schools in the country.
Speaker B:In the world, perhaps in London.
Speaker B:I'm going to London for the first time by myself on a train.
Speaker B:I have got my little printed out route from Google that tells me what to do, and I've got to leave at this time, and I'm going to get there at this time.
Speaker B:And I got to the train station and all the trains were canceled, and I had to go from a different train station.
Speaker B:And so I basically, I was supposed to go from one and I went to the other, which took me into a different train station in London.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh, my God, I only know how to get from that train station to rada.
Speaker B:And in my head, because I was young and this made no sense at the time, I was like, so I need to work out on the.
Speaker B:On the tube how I get from that train station to the train station I was supposed to come into.
Speaker B:And then from there I can get to rada.
Speaker B:Didn't think, actually, I just need to work out to get from that train station to rada.
Speaker B:But I was thinking about my audition pieces and, you know, getting into drama school and becoming an actor.
Speaker B:And I got to RADA and I was so late, and I was the last person to go in for my audition that day.
Speaker B:I think there were maybe three people left there.
Speaker B:And I walked into the room and the lady on the panel just slapped her motorcycle helmet on the desk.
Speaker B:And I just remember being like, she's ready to leave.
Speaker B:She rides the motorcycle.
Speaker B:And I did my pieces.
Speaker B:And, like, I was so sort of like, like, not centered from the day because I was like.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I was thinking, like, I don't even know how I'm gonna get home because I've got to go back to a different station.
Speaker B:And it was all things that I was so, like, you know, crazy.
Speaker B:And I just remember that motorcycle helmet, like, landing on the table and just being like, I didn't get into rada, like, before I even started.
Speaker B:And I did, I did.
Speaker B:I did the audition.
Speaker B:And then I thought I did a good job, but in my head I was like, she didn't want to see because she was ready to go home because she put motorcycle helmet on the table.
Speaker B:And then I saw her as I was outside, like, sort of trying to work out where I was going, walking with a motorcycle helmet to a bike.
Speaker B:And I remember just being like, oh, I kept her There and she was angry and she slapped a motorcycle helmet down.
Speaker B:And I haven't gotten into there.
Speaker B:But you know what?
Speaker B:I've got another nine schools to audition for and I'm going to get into one of them.
Speaker B:And I got into three of them.
Speaker B:And you know, even to that I would say, like, it sounds easy, but I didn't get into the one I wanted to get into and I went to one that I didn't want to get into, I didn't want to go to particularly, but I was sort of caught up in that.
Speaker B:I want to be an actor.
Speaker B:I want to do it now.
Speaker B:And I actually ended up leaving that school first term of second year and I was like, I know where I'm supposed to go.
Speaker B:And I remember everyone just being like, this is crazy, you're in second year of drama school.
Speaker B:Like, like what?
Speaker B:And just being like, you know, you're going to have to, you're leaving in December.
Speaker B:You're going to have to wait till September, you know, until drama school starts again.
Speaker B:I was like, no, I'm leaving now because I can audition and I can get into where I want to go or a school I want to go to.
Speaker B:You know, I feel passionate and inspired about.
Speaker B:Because I wasn't feeling passionate and inspired where I was.
Speaker B:I was feeling so many things that weren't like that one.
Speaker B:I'm en route to becoming an actor.
Speaker B:You know, the hierarchy and the politics and there was racism and there was, there was sexism and there was all these things that I was like, I don't want to focus on that.
Speaker B:I just want to be an actor and I want to be told what I'm doing well and told what I'm not doing well.
Speaker B:And I want to do better than the last time I did it and.
Speaker A:I want to feel creativity.
Speaker A:Sorry for interrupting.
Speaker B:Yeah, no, no, I know, it's so true.
Speaker B:And, and I remember, I mean, another, another I remember story, but you know, I did, I did my submissions.
Speaker B:I went back to the Birmingham School of Acting and did part time courses on a Tuesday night and, and I was like, I'm gonna go back.
Speaker B:And I remember saying to David, I was like, I'm going back, I'm auditioning.
Speaker B:I quit drama school.
Speaker B:And he was just like, what?
Speaker B:And I was like, I've put you out of school, I'm back.
Speaker B:And, and I was like, I'm gonna go back.
Speaker B:And, and, and I auditioned and you know, he helped me with my pieces again and he didn't charge me, which again, I'm so Lucky for.
Speaker B:And I picked new pieces this time and pieces that fit me a little better than they did the first time.
Speaker B:And, and I remember being on set of a movie actually, and, and it was the first feature film I'd ever worked on which people were like, you know, you'll never do that.
Speaker B:You'll never work.
Speaker B:Like having walked out of drama school and here I am on set of this feature film and my mom called me and she said, you've got a letter from Italia Conti.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh, that was the school I really wanted to go to.
Speaker B:And I was like, as I open it.
Speaker B:And she opened it and she's like, you've got a place.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh my God, I'm going back to drama school.
Speaker B:You know, I, I made this like incredible gamble on myself and walked away from a scholarship that I had at a drama school to like re auditioning to six drama schools, having done like a year and a term of study and, you know, gone through this whole like, process of like, believing in myself and having that belief broken down and then not believing in myself and like worrying that I couldn't become an actor and throwing myself back out into the industry and just being like, you know, I can be an actor because that's what I want to do.
Speaker B:I just can't be an actor here.
Speaker B:And getting back into drama school and going and doing it all again.
Speaker B:And, you know, like, one thing that I'm forever thankful for, and I don't take this for granted and you know, every time that I get in a rut about, you know, not working or feeling like, oh, when's my next job coming?
Speaker B:Since I graduated.
Speaker B:Well, since before I graduated, I've worked consistently every year, whether it's been a theater job, a film job, a commercial, at least one job.
Speaker B:I mean, sometimes it's been, you know, five or six or, you know, there's been presenting gigs.
Speaker B:But what I've done is, is I've.
Speaker B:I've found a momentum that's kept going and, and different, different ways to, you know, be an actor.
Speaker B:And that's so important, I think, and something that I constantly remind myself, you know, of how lucky I am.
Speaker B:You know, this year I got to 10 years since my.
Speaker B:But what I call my first professional acting job that was on itv.
Speaker B:And I'm like, I'm so lucky.
Speaker B:So, so lucky.
Speaker B:And, and yes, I am lucky.
Speaker B:But also, you know, I've worked for it, I've worked for it and I persevered.
Speaker A:Exactly what I just about to say, yeah, yeah, you applied yourself to the nth degree.
Speaker A:You've been.
Speaker A:You've persevered, you've been consistent.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker A:And just going back to your story about leaving the place, that didn't feel right for you.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker A:Just really following your truth and just.
Speaker A:This doesn't feel right for me.
Speaker A:This is where I got goosebumps.
Speaker A:This.
Speaker A:This.
Speaker A:This does not feel right for me.
Speaker A:This does.
Speaker A:And just knowing that power of knowing, that's wonderful.
Speaker A:That's massively inspiring.
Speaker A:And there's.
Speaker A:There's your book.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Honestly.
Speaker B:And, you know, I. I, like, look back on myself and I think, like, there's so much I'd say to myself, like back then, but also like, thank you, thank you.
Speaker B:To thank you to that.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:That young man who was just so confident and so, like, determined because he's the reason I am, like, where I am now.
Speaker B:And, you know, I think as much as I say, like, you know, somebody has to teach you how to be self confident, but you also have to remind yourself that, you know, it's what you want to do, and there are so many ways to do it.
Speaker B:And, you know, for every.
Speaker B:Every time that you have that little voice in your head saying, I can't do this.
Speaker B:I'm gonna fail.
Speaker B:I'm not gonna get this job.
Speaker B:I'm gonna mess this audition up, you know, I'm too tall, I'm too sure, I'm too fat, I'm too thin.
Speaker B:Like, you have to talk back to those voices and you have to say, actually, you know, you're you.
Speaker B:And, you know, if you've gotten an audition or you've gotten asked to do something where you've gotten given an opportunity, someone believes to a greater or lesser degree that you can do it.
Speaker B:And you have to say to yourself, you can do it.
Speaker B:There's a world, there's a.
Speaker B:There's a place, and there's a time where maybe you are doing it.
Speaker B:But the only way you're going to get there is by telling that little voice, you know, to shut up or asking that voice, you know, is that practical?
Speaker B:Is that realistic?
Speaker B:Is that true?
Speaker A:Are you scared?
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Are you scared?
Speaker B:You know, are you rational?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, but, you know, something that I've.
Speaker B:I've grown to.
Speaker B:To think about when it comes to auditions is not booking the job, but, but, but, but making an impression.
Speaker A:But, you know, the experience.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Enjoying the experience and, and just showing people that, like, I'm an actor and this is what I do, and, you know, Maybe this job or this role or this opportunity isn't right for me or isn't meant for me, but actually, I'm meant to be in this room.
Speaker B:I'm meant to show you that I'm an actor, and of that I'm creating and I'm fostering and I'm.
Speaker B:I'm filling out an opportunity that, you know, those people, you know.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, when.
Speaker B:When you go in and audition for something, that's not the only thing you'll ever audition for or the only thing you'll ever audition for for that person.
Speaker B:You know, they're constantly thinking about things.
Speaker B:And I get calls and I get emails all the time.
Speaker B:You know, I'm like, whether it's from my agent or it's, you know, directly from a director or producer or, you know, whatever, being like, we saw you for this thing, we'd love to see you again for this thing.
Speaker B:Or, you know, and, you know, people that have seen me do things, you know, do shows or do TV that, you know, say, like, I remember you doing that.
Speaker B:It was really lovely.
Speaker B:You know, it touched me.
Speaker B:It moved me.
Speaker B:Like, it's, it.
Speaker B:It's about just enjoying it and remembering that it's a singular moment, but it lives forever in, in, you know, just as much as a job does, an audition does, an opportunity does, a conversation does, you know, it lives forever because people remember it and, and.
Speaker B:And memories outlast us all.
Speaker B:You know, impressions outlast us all.
Speaker B:And now we're in this digital age.
Speaker B:You know, the movies will outlast us all and the TV will outlast us all.
Speaker B:And, you know, those little, you know, when you do a show for the first time and you end up getting printed in the playtext and that's written down, that lives forever.
Speaker B:And, you know, one day someone opens that book and they go, who's J.D.
Speaker B:hunt?
Speaker B:You know, or, you know, they.
Speaker B:They watch something I've done and they're like, oh, my God, you know, Recognize him?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And as much as, like, it's wonderful and it's a goal and it's things to aspire to, but, you know, if you're telling a story to one person or you're telling it to 100,000 people, the beautiful thing about acting is the storytelling and the experience and the sharing of.
Speaker B:Of humanity and life and experience.
Speaker B:And that's, that's why I'm doing it, you know, And I, you know, we've all had the.
Speaker B:I'm gonna be so famous and I'm gonna, you Know, do this, I'm gonna do that.
Speaker B:But actually, what's kept me, you know, going and wanting to do it and passionate is the storytelling.
Speaker B:And, you know, like, for example, like, you know, little anecdote.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, I was recently doing, like, one of my side hostel jobs and I was working at a food festival sampling vegan meat, and this woman just went, I know you.
Speaker B:And I was like, hi.
Speaker B:Because, Because.
Speaker B:Because my first thought is, oh, my God, like, have we met before?
Speaker B:And I've forgotten who you are.
Speaker A:What's your name?
Speaker A:What's your name?
Speaker B:Yeah, I always.
Speaker B:I always like.
Speaker B:Or pretend or go along with it.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And she said.
Speaker B:She was like.
Speaker B:So we were at that moment in time, we were in North London, and she said, you were in rice and peas at the Queensborough Theatre in Hornchurch, which is in Essex, you know, which is, like, east of East London.
Speaker B:And I said, yeah.
Speaker B:And she said, you were really good.
Speaker B:I remember you.
Speaker B:It was such a good play.
Speaker B:And I just remember, like, being so touched, like, because in that moment when I was, you know, giving her some vegan pea protein, poor pork, you know, she remembered.
Speaker B:Actually, you know, this is where I know you from.
Speaker B:You know, I remember you.
Speaker B:Yeah, telling that story, which, you know, was a beautiful story that I felt so lucky to tell.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And that's, you know, what I kind of think about as my legacy and my goal as an actor.
Speaker B:To keep telling great stories and, you know, not so that people will come up to me and be like, you're amazing and I am you.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But so that people are moved and they're experiencing other cultures and other stories and other experiences and things that, like, make them think about life and the world they move through.
Speaker B:And for me, that's.
Speaker B:That's my aspiration as an actor, to keep telling stories and to keep doing things.
Speaker B:And, you know, reaching levels of fame and acclaim mean that you have greater opportunities to do that and, you know, a wider audience.
Speaker B:But what I want to do is I want to keep, you know, inspiring, you know, little boys like myself.
Speaker B:But, you know, it sounds silly to say, but, you know, I remember watching, like, Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey music videos, like, and just being like, wow, this is so incredible.
Speaker B:Like, this is like a show.
Speaker B:Like, you know, I remember vividly Mariah Carey's Heartbreaker video, you know, where she goes to the movie and, you know, her boyfriend's there with another woman and they have that little cat fight in the toilet and she comes back and, you know, I remember, like, the Billie Jean Musical music video where the floors lighting up and I, I just remember being like, like feeling entertained and.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And, you know, they were like, such, like.
Speaker B:And I don't think they would.
Speaker B:They would like, you know, light or silly.
Speaker B:And, you know, when you look at, like, for example, like, Mariah Carey as a storyteller, like, you know, like, how she wrote, you know, her first marriage and the frustration and.
Speaker B:And the abuse she went through and how she turned that into, you know, music that will live forever.
Speaker B:And, you know, the videos that went with it.
Speaker B:You know, I remember the Honey music video where she dives into that ocean and she swims away and like, you know, like, finding out that that was, you know, metaphor of her escaping from a marriage to a man who ran a record label that she felt suffocated by, you know, is.
Speaker B:Is the power of, you know, doing what we do that, you know, and not that I'm saying that, you know, Mariah Carey is an actor that, you know, wants to do that, but.
Speaker B:But it's.
Speaker B:It's the medium of.
Speaker B:Of storytelling and the medium of, like, entertainment and experience and how, you know, there are people that, you know, just connect with.
Speaker B:With music and theater and film and art, and it moves them, it helps them through things, and it.
Speaker B:It teaches them about the world.
Speaker B:And I think that that's incredible.
Speaker B:I think it's incredible.
Speaker B: t I am so lucky, you know, in: Speaker B:As an actor who has a plain age of 20, 20 to 28 or may not be older, but that I'm able to, like, to do that, you know, and, And.
Speaker B:And just, you know, able to tell stories.
Speaker B:And I, I look back on some of the jobs I've done and some of the, the work that I've.
Speaker B:I've.
Speaker B:The flies out to get you.
Speaker B:But, you know, I think about some of the.
Speaker B:The things that I've done and the conversations I've had with people about them.
Speaker B: You know,: Speaker B:I, I did.
Speaker B:I. I did a commercial for Ministry of Sound that was just like, you know, fun and light and exciting, you know, and it was.
Speaker B:It was on TV and people were calling me and tagging me and things and, you know, like.
Speaker B:And weirdly, like, it was.
Speaker B:It was literally a commercial, like, where it was just mouths and they were singing songs and people actually were like, I've seen your mouth on tv.
Speaker B:And I was like, what?
Speaker B:And I remember, like.
Speaker B:Like I was working in Harrods at the time, and I remember A client messaging me and being like, my wife said that she saw your mouth on tv.
Speaker B:And I was like, yeah.
Speaker B:And then I went on and I did a commercial for Lloyds bank, which was in collaboration with macmillan, the cancer charity, about how macmillan staff train Lloyd's bank staff to.
Speaker B:To, to deal with and to look after customers who have cancer.
Speaker B:And, and, And I remember just, like, auditioning for it and just being like, like, because.
Speaker B:Because I'm the child of a cancer survivor and, you know, just going into it and being like, oh, my God, I can, I can bring this to it.
Speaker B:But it's a commercial.
Speaker B:It's like 30 seconds.
Speaker B:Like, I'm not going to be able to, like, like, like tell my story playing a hairdresser in a hairstyle on giving a cancer survivor a wig.
Speaker B:And I remember going in and just like, like, you know, just kind of building this character that, you know, like, really just felt for this woman that lost her hair, you know, because she had cancer, and just wanting to give her a moment of joy with this wig that he was giving her.
Speaker B:And, you know, it was so weird because I'd auditioned and when I talk about, you know, audience auditioning being an opportunity.
Speaker B:The commercial was cast by Hammond Cox, who are like a massive casting agency.
Speaker B:And they called my agent and my agent called me and he.
Speaker B:And before I'd auditioned for it, and he said, what have you done, Hammond Cox?
Speaker B:Really want to see you for this, this commercial.
Speaker B:And I said, oh, I auditioned for a Swedish energy commercial for them, like, last year, and it was really bizarre and I never got it.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And he was like, they really want to see you, so make sure that you're available for this audition.
Speaker B:I was like, well, I mean, I'm never not going to be available for.
Speaker B:Always, you know, always available.
Speaker B:And I went in and I did this audition and I, you know, I thought about what I could bring to it and, you know, like, you know, my Oscar winning moment of being this hairdresser that was giving this wig.
Speaker B:And, And I took a.
Speaker B:And I took a walk away from.
Speaker B:I walked from that audition, like, just like into central London to, like, get my train back.
Speaker B:And my agent called me and he said, they penciled you for the commercial, like, within, like, 20 minutes.
Speaker B:And I was like, what?
Speaker B:And he's like, and I actually remember I took my mum with me to that audition because she was in, she was in town at the time and I took her with me.
Speaker B:And I remember walking in and it was literally every shape and size of, like, human that you could have thought of.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh, so they really don't have like a.
Speaker B:Like a plan for who they want to play this role of hairdresser.
Speaker B:And I'd sort of like, worn like this kind of peach jumper I had that just felt like something a hairdresser would wear.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I.
Speaker B:And I got penciled for it, and then I got recalled and I went back in and they said, oh, you know, you're going to.
Speaker B:You're going to.
Speaker B:You're going to go in with two out of the three women that were considering for the female part.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And there was another guy there, and they said, oh, you know, you're going with one of them.
Speaker B:Like, are you okay with that?
Speaker B:And are you okay going with two of them?
Speaker B:And I was like, yeah, sure, and went in and did my thing.
Speaker B:And then.
Speaker B:And then I left.
Speaker B:And again, I walked across central London.
Speaker B:And for some reason, I don't know what the reason was, but my phone didn't have a signal.
Speaker B:Might have gotten the tube.
Speaker B:Maybe that's the truth of the story.
Speaker B:I don't remember.
Speaker B:And I came or I looked at my phone and I had all these missed calls from my agent.
Speaker B:So I called back and my agent's assistant was like, are you still in central London?
Speaker B:And I was like, yeah.
Speaker B:And she was like, go back.
Speaker B:Go back to the studio.
Speaker B:And I was like, okay, cool.
Speaker B:Like, like, I'm going.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I got back and they're like, oh, we want you to go in with the third lady that we're considering.
Speaker B:And I was like, oh, my God, this is so weird, because I went in and they were like, you know, like 40 people maybe.
Speaker B:And now there's two of us, and I'm going in with all three of these women.
Speaker B:And I got that commercial, and it was such a beautiful commercial.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And I never.
Speaker B:You never think that about commercials.
Speaker B:You know, actors rarely say that about commercials because they usually like, you know, something light and fun and, you know, you get like, that's, like.
Speaker A:Really beautiful.
Speaker A:Yeah, it was a really, like, fate.
Speaker A:I'm a huge believer.
Speaker A:I'm a huge believer.
Speaker A:So, for example, there was a reason you.
Speaker A:The trains went wrong Ferrada.
Speaker A:That wasn't the place for you.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:And there's a reason that they saw you in the Swedish Energy commercial.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think so.
Speaker A:I've got goosebumps again.
Speaker B:So I'm doing.
Speaker B:I'm just, you know, I've got goosebumps as well.
Speaker B:And just.
Speaker B:Just thinking about these things and, you know, How I went into that audition, I was like, this is so ridiculous.
Speaker B:The Swedish Energy Commercial 1.
Speaker B:I'm literally, like, drawing, like, symbols with my fingers and.
Speaker B:And, like.
Speaker B:Like, I don't know what's going on.
Speaker B:And, you know, it was so silly.
Speaker B:And I remember emailing my agent and I was like, that was ridiculous.
Speaker B:And he was just like, welcome to the world of commercial casting.
Speaker B:And I was like, okay, like.
Speaker B:And then to, like, come in for something that was so meaningful.
Speaker B:And, you know, that year, like, you know, after I did that, I did.
Speaker B:I did a play at the Young Vic Theater in London.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And it was.
Speaker B:Again, it was just an incredible, incredible show.
Speaker B:And by virtue of the fact that this commercial came out, I think, in the July, and the show opened in the October, November, so the two things kind of overlapped.
Speaker B:And this play was called the Suppliant Women.
Speaker B:And it was basically, like the third oldest play and it's the oldest record of democracy and what we now know democracy as now.
Speaker B:And the story is basically that these women are supposed to be married to their cousins, and they don't want to marry their cousins.
Speaker B:So they flee and they go and they seek sanctuary in Greece.
Speaker B:And the king of Greece doesn't want to take these women in because he knows that their cousins are going to come and get them.
Speaker B:And he says to the women, like, if we take you in, it means war.
Speaker B:But if we.
Speaker B:If we give you back to them, you know, you'll be raped, you'll be murdered.
Speaker B:It's death.
Speaker B:Like, how do we reconcile the conscience of this?
Speaker B:And, you know, the women, they just want shelter.
Speaker B:They want safety, they want autonomy.
Speaker B:And, you know, they're fleeing from these men, and the men come to get them, and the king puts it to a vote of the people, and the people vote to take the women in and to.
Speaker B:And to keep them.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And it means war.
Speaker B:It means war.
Speaker B:And it means that, you know, Greece will be destroyed, but they flee from Egypt.
Speaker B:And, you know, at that time, there was all this discourse about, you know, refugees and, you know, and the autonomy of women and, you know, sexual assault and forced marriage.
Speaker B: ke, here I am in this year of: Speaker B:And now I'm like, thinking, yeah, to have done this play and done this commercial.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:And these two things mean so much to so many people.
Speaker B:And, you know, there were people coming up to me in the theater, and, you know, like, my son said that he saw you in this commercial, and, you know, he cried when he saw that commercial.
Speaker B:And, you know, and then we're doing this play, we know, with this amazing, you know, cast of people that have taken this place from, like, Manchester to London, and then they went, like, to East Asia to tell this story.
Speaker B:And I just.
Speaker B:I remember, like, just pinching myself and just being like, I'm an actor.
Speaker B:I'm telling stories that mean things to people.
Speaker B:And, you know, one of them's a commercial.
Speaker B:And I just always thought commercials were, like, big paydays and one of them to play in, like, an incredible theater in London.
Speaker B:And I never thought I'd be here.
Speaker B:You know, I was there two years in a row, and I was just like, what does this mean for my life and my career?
Speaker A:And, you know, you deserve it, my lovely.
Speaker A:That's why.
Speaker B:And, you know, what it means is.
Speaker A:That it's a privilege that was.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:To, you know, on so many levels, I've been trusted to tell these stories, and I've been able to help tell them, you know, and I've not told them by myself.
Speaker B:It's been a community, a force of people that have been telling these stories.
Speaker B:And, you know, it inspires me to write and to want to tell my own stories that I can.
Speaker A:You know, what I'm coming to.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I can bring to life with people.
Speaker B:And.
Speaker A:And because you're a writer as well, aren't you?
Speaker B:Yeah, I do.
Speaker B:I do write.
Speaker B:So I'm currently putting.
Speaker B:I say putting the finished finishing touches.
Speaker B:I'm not putting the finishing touches.
Speaker B:I'm redrafting a feature film and a comedy, and I'm going to start getting things into production because, again, I've got stories in me that I want to tell, and, you know, I want to tell other people stories.
Speaker B:I want to tell my own stories, and I want to tell you stories to people that look like me.
Speaker B:And I want to.
Speaker B:You know, I just want to be in every room where it happens to quote, you know, Hamilton, and.
Speaker B:And I just want to just keep doing it forever.
Speaker B:And I don't take that for granted, ever.
Speaker A:And you tell a story so beautifully as well.
Speaker A:You know, it's a.
Speaker A:It's a privilege to speak to you anyway, and it's.
Speaker A:It makes so much sense.
Speaker A:You're such an incredibly gorgeous, shining light for you to be.
Speaker A:Don't you set me up.
Speaker A:For you to be in.
Speaker A:You know, in.
Speaker A:In that commercial, for you to be telling the story of democracy.
Speaker A:It makes so much sense, and it's your humility.
Speaker A:That's what I.
Speaker A:That's What I feel with you, it's your humility.
Speaker A:You're, you're not chasing fame.
Speaker A:And I can see you being famous, but I don't really think it matters.
Speaker B:And it doesn't.
Speaker B:And, you know, I think that's such an important thing to remember, like, to act as at any point, coming into it.
Speaker B:Like, like fame doesn't mean anything.
Speaker B:You know, it doesn't.
Speaker B:It's an intangible thing that you chase.
Speaker B:You know, if you want to be famous, go on reality TV, you know, you can, you can do it in five minutes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, five to 15 minutes.
Speaker B:But what, what this industry or this, this career is about is storytelling.
Speaker B:And not everybody in it is in it to storyteller.
Speaker B:Not everybody, you know, will do that.
Speaker B:And we'll want that.
Speaker B:But that's, that's the beauty of it and that.
Speaker B:And you know, when you meet people that want to do that or you work with people that want to do that, like, it just, it just sets the world on fire.
Speaker B:And that sounds like such a cliche to say, but, you know, like, waking up is a joy.
Speaker B:Go into, you know, that theater or that set is a joy.
Speaker B:Like, you know, watching the finished thing is a joy.
Speaker B:Like, and, you know, you won't always have the privilege of doing that.
Speaker B:You know, I've done some things that I'm just like.
Speaker B:But, you know, you just remember that it's not your story.
Speaker B:You are a vessel for it, good or bad.
Speaker B:And you know that.
Speaker B:It's a stepping stone.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You never know who's going to watch it, who's going to see you doing that, who's going to remember that, you know, what it's going to mean for you to say that, actually, you know, I'm doing this thing and what's the next thing you know, where does this grow?
Speaker B:What does this become?
Speaker A:Is what I, what I keep going back to is that incredible mentor that you had because you've, you've, you've, it feels like you've just followed his legacy through.
Speaker A:And you're, you know, you're creating that and your core value.
Speaker A:And again, I'm getting goosebumps.
Speaker A:But your core value is the joy of creativity and the joy of story storytelling.
Speaker A:And that's beautiful.
Speaker A:That is so incredibly beautiful.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And, you know, I, I, like, I, I, I have so much to thank David for.
Speaker B:David Van, an incredible person.
Speaker B:And, you know, one of the things that he, he said to me and I had this written in a draft in my phone for so long was make it Matter.
Speaker B:He said to me, I want you to write this down and I want you to remember this, and I want you to take it with you wherever you go.
Speaker B:Make it matter, whatever you're doing.
Speaker B:And I think it's.
Speaker B:It's a life mantra, but it's also, you know, it's also like such an important thing to actors and to acting into storytelling, like, is to make it matter.
Speaker B:Is to.
Speaker B:Is to think about the mark that you're leaving on, you know, a person, a place, the world.
Speaker B:Like, you know, what does this mean?
Speaker B:What does this mean to.
Speaker B:To do this, to.
Speaker B:To.
Speaker B:To say this, to tell this story, to be this character, to, you know, to be in front of these people, you know, make it matter.
Speaker B:And that's.
Speaker B:That's just a beautiful piece of advice.
Speaker B:And it's not mine, David's.
Speaker A:It's so beautiful.
Speaker A:And I think that's a really beautiful place to end as well.
Speaker A:Make it matter.
Speaker A:It's like, don't count days.
Speaker A:Make the days count.
Speaker A:It's.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:You know, I love that.
Speaker A:Make it matter.
Speaker A:And like you said, as a life mantra, that's.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:I was going to ask you, do you have any final words of wisdom?
Speaker A:But I think that sums it up, really.
Speaker B:I mean, that is.
Speaker B:It's a wonderful one.
Speaker B:And, you know, to that, I would also say as well, you know, keep.
Speaker B:Keep going.
Speaker B:Keep going forward, keep chasing.
Speaker B:You know, whether it's acting or it's anything like, keep chasing that dream and chasing happiness.
Speaker B:Because if it makes you happy, then it's worth doing.
Speaker B:It's worth exploring, it's worth giving a chance, giving time to.
Speaker B:Giving money to within reason.
Speaker B:You know, it's.
Speaker B:It's worth the investment of time, of self, of.
Speaker B:Of belief, because it will pay off.
Speaker B:The universe will pay you in some way, shape or form.
Speaker B:You know, even if it's just at the end of a day, a show, a film, whatever it is saying, I did that, you know, I proved to myself, I proved to this person, I proved to that person, you know, that I wasn't going to give up and that I kept going.
Speaker B:Like, keep.
Speaker B:Keep going, keep finding those avenues, keep finding those roads.
Speaker B:Keep being curious, you know, keep.
Speaker B:Keep chasing and believing and make it matter.
Speaker A:And the universe listens.
Speaker B:It does.
Speaker B:It does listen.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And, you know, you never know.
Speaker B:You never know where.
Speaker B:You know, any.
Speaker B:Any place you go is going to lead you.
Speaker A:Absolutely gorgeous.
Speaker A:Speaking of any place, where can people find you?
Speaker A:I'm going to share all of your.
Speaker A:All of your social media so people can follow You.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, I'm always living in the, in the world of social media because we have to do that, you know, as adapters and brands.
Speaker B:But currently I am, I'm in a Show on Channel 5 in the UK, which is on the My5 Catch up service called Embarrassing Sex Story of the Year.
Speaker B:We talk about the legacy of storytelling and, you know, great things.
Speaker B:And then we have Embarrassing Sex Story of the Year.
Speaker A:That's Life Story as well.
Speaker B:Yeah, It's a top 10 countdown of Britain's most embarrassing sex stories.
Speaker B:And it's all through comic reconstructions and it's, it's, it's an interesting time.
Speaker B:I, I was in five of those sketches.
Speaker B:No, sorry, I was in four of those sketches and three of them made it to the final, the final cut.
Speaker B:Um, so that's, that's in the universe.
Speaker B:Um, and come in to see what.
Speaker A:What that's all about.
Speaker B:It's, it's, it's a treat.
Speaker B:It's a treat.
Speaker B:It's one of those things that I'm like, sometimes you, sometimes you have to do an Embarrassing Sex Story of the year and sometimes you do the suppliant women.
Speaker B:You know, life doesn't always give you, doesn't always give you things in balance.
Speaker B:Similarly, I'm also on Amazon prime in episode one of a show called Patterns.
Speaker B:The first episode is called Reverse Catfish.
Speaker A:Reverse Catfish.
Speaker B:Reverse Catfish.
Speaker B:So I pop up in, in episode one of that.
Speaker A:Wonderful.
Speaker B:And that is, Is that now?
Speaker A:Is it on now?
Speaker B:Yeah, it's, it's, yeah, it came on Amazon prime earlier this year and it's still there as well.
Speaker B:So those are the things that I'm in now.
Speaker B:And I mean, other than that, I'm just really excited for whatever comes next.
Speaker A:You know, I know there's so much for you, so much.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:I really appreciate that.
Speaker B:And you know, I'm, I'm excited for what comes next.
Speaker B:I'm excited to, to see, you know, what the next thing is, the next play movie, TV show, whatever it is, commercial maybe.
Speaker A:And your, and your story as well, that you're writing your screenplay.
Speaker B:Yeah, I'm getting, I'm gonna get them out there.
Speaker B:It's gotta happen.
Speaker B:So I'm, I'm saying it now, I'm saying it on the Align with a Lean podcast.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's gonna happen.
Speaker B:So look out for those.
Speaker B:And I, I sort of, you know, I'm, I'm gonna plan, My plan is to keep my social media, my website up to date with what I'm doing.
Speaker B:And who knows, who knows where I'll be next, but it'll be somewhere fun.
Speaker A:And I think that it's the joy of non expectation as well that you have.
Speaker A:That's wonderful.
Speaker A:So I wish you all the love and all the luck in the world, my lovely.
Speaker A:Not that you need it, because you're amazing, Amazing, amazing.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:And thank you so much for having me as well.
Speaker B:Like, it's honestly a privilege and beautiful just to kind of come and talk to you and talk about me and.
Speaker B:No, we love it.
Speaker B:We love it though.
Speaker B:And, and, and just, you know, to be able to hopefully inspire someone and you know, similarly, if anybody has any questions off the back of this or you have any questions like, you know, send me a message, send me an email, you know, form on my website or, you know, drop me a message on social media, you know, I, I wanna give people advice and help and, and, and you know, I won.
Speaker B:Acting to be an industry where people feel like there's a community and we are all pulling each other up and walking together.
Speaker B:And you know, I sometimes think about, like, would I be where I am if it wasn't for, you know, Carol Aubrey, who was my, my secondary school drama teacher that, you know, sent me in all these directions.
Speaker B:And then there was David Van, who believed in me and there was Joe Foley who was at Birmingham School of Acting and believed me, and Cindy Millichip who believed in me and, you know, Rhea Richardson and like all these people that just inspired me and, you know, introduced me to things and people and techniques and, you know, sent me on this journey and how do I have not met them and been inspired by them?
Speaker B:Like, would I be here right now?
Speaker B:Maybe.
Speaker B:But my point is that, you know, I don't want acting, I don't ever want to have acting feel like an industry where people can't ask for advice and, you know, feel supported and inspired and, and feel like doors are being opened and are open, you know, so that's what I try and do, you know, I try and, you know, mentor other actors and, you know, help people with auditions for drama school and for things.
Speaker B:And you know, I coach and we audition as well, which again, is another beautiful opportunity to just give back and, you know, bring other actors forward with me.
Speaker B:And you know, it's all reciprocal and it's all, it's all just the way that it should be in the way that the world should be, that we should create opportunities and we should give people the benefit of our experience and our wisdom and our knowledge.
Speaker B:And I Hope that that's, you know, what I'm doing here and.
Speaker B:And what I can continue to do.
Speaker A:So beautiful.
Speaker A:Because there's so much of this competitive attitude, isn't there?
Speaker A:It doesn't really.
Speaker A:Doesn't have to be that way.
Speaker A:I feel that we're going so much towards the divine feminine.
Speaker A:And everything that you've just said, everything that you've just said, I love.
Speaker A:Gorgeous.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker B:But, yeah, you know, I did want to say as well, like, please ask me questions, you know, like.
Speaker B:Like, ask me for advice.
Speaker B:If I can give it, I will.
Speaker B:If I can give you my time, I will.
Speaker B:I won't always be able to, but as much as I can, I will.
Speaker B:And I will point people, you know, in directions of places and people and things, and, you know, I will make.
Speaker A:Sure all the information goes in the.
Speaker A:In the comments underneath so everybody can get in touch with you, my lovely.
Speaker A:So thank you so, so much.
Speaker A:So much.
Speaker B:I look forward to, like, you know, speaking again soon and.
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker B:Thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you so.
Speaker A:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker A:So, so.
Speaker A:Thank you again, so much.
Speaker A:I'm gonna say thank you.
Speaker A:Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker A:I'm gonna pop all JD's information there because as he's kindly said, you can get in touch, which is incredibly generous.
Speaker A:And I really hope this has inspired thank you to JD for his beautiful, beautiful heart and generous spirit.
Speaker A:And I really hope this just reaches one person who has got that passion.
Speaker A:And just listening to jd, I really hope that really helps you just go, do you know what?
Speaker A:I've got this.
Speaker A:I'm gonna make it matter, so.
Speaker A:Oh, I got goosebumps again.
Speaker A:So, so much love.
Speaker A:I'm gonna finish it now.
Speaker A:Thank you so much.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker B:Have a wonderful rest of the day.
Speaker A:Have a gorgeous rest of the day, my lovely.
