Mr Dickens and the Actors was AMAZING!
We arrived at 1.30 to a champagne reception, which was so surreal. The champagne was refilled before you’d even drunk the whole glass, I had two but I hadn’t eaten since 9am so I got a little tipsy - enough to make me brave enough to talk to some very big names!
I chatted to one of my favourite actors, Simon Callow, who has played Mr Dickens himself for Doctor Who. He was absolutely charming and had the most fantastic hearty laugh. When he heard of my hopes of becoming an actor he advised me that “You don’t just have to want to be an actor, you have to need to be one. If you think you could be happy being anything else then it’s not for you.” To which I replied, “Well I’d rather be a poor actor than a rich anything else” and he gave another of his chuckles. He was standing with none other than the Governor of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, so I managed to introduce myself to the Governor of my prospective future drama school. He told me they’re building a 6th theatre at the school so will be increasing their intake of students, which is good news for me!
I also spoke to Barbara Windsor and her partner, she advised me to develop my singing and dancing as well as acting, as although I want to be a straight actor, “You have to be able to do everything these days.” Her partner told me to audition for as many drama schools as possible, he mentioned RADA, LAMDA, Central, Guildhall, GSA and even ArtsEd.
However the most UNBELIEVABLE meeting was between myself, the other Redmayniacs and Eddie’s mum and grandmother! Good old Tracy (misskooky) found her in the crowd of champagne-swigging rich people and told her about all of us (there were 8 or 9 of us in total) so she came over for a chat. I walked into the conversation halfway through but she was very smiley and the absolute SPITTING IMAGE of Eddie. My mum told her how talented we thought her son was and she positively beamed. She was very tall and elegant and of course, very beautiful. She told us all about Eddie, how tired he was from all he’d been doing lately and how he’d been a good singer since he was young boy. He’s currently rehearsing for Les Mis and is so excited! His grandma also said she was worried about him losing weight from doing Richard II. His grandmother was incredibly sweet and tiny, she and my mum got along very well and had at least a 10 minute chat! She asked me about my plans to get into acting and I told her I was currently working and saving up to go to drama school. She wished me all the best of luck and told me she’d be looking out for me.
She also said I was beautiful not once, not twice but three times, what a babe. Hopefully she’ll put in a good word with Eddie for me ;)
The Livery Room where the show was performed was magnificent, with beautiful paintings, stonework and stained glass windows. The Queen and Prince Phillip walked right past us down the aisle to their seats at the front, she was tiny and very pale whereas Phillip was very tall and tanned.
The show itself was splendid and very well acted, Eddie looked incredibly handsome in a tux with a white bow tie. Sadly we didn’t get to see him afterwards as he hurried off, probably due to the fact that his mum and grandma were waiting for him. Naturally family comes first with Eddie, we understand :) Little bit sad not to have got a Valentine’s picture with him though, but there’s always next time.
All in all, honestly one of the best days of my life.
