Having put my toe in the water of "Supporting Artist" (never quite sure whether it should have an e on the end or not), I got a call to be part of a certain detective series for two days. I turned up at this very wet & muddy place somewhere near Broadgate From a very muddy place we were transported to offices to play office workers. Having been pampered for my first two roles, I was suddenly told to sit in this cold & draughty bus. Everybody was eating so I ambled across to where the breakfast was being doled out. I wasn't quite brave enough to stand on the steps of the van to order breakfast - after all, I didn't know what I could have or couldn't have and what if I ordered the wrong thing - if I didn't like it I didn't know where to dispose of it - AAARGH! I opted for the nice and safe fruit salad and a coffee. Of course, I pretended that I knew exactly what was going on. I began talking to a lovely man and his wife who proceeded to take me under their wing(s) for which I will be eternally grateful for. We were 'travelled' to location (no I have no idea why they use that word either but they all do) .This was to be my first time experiencing the "A.D". I think ours was number 3A.D but by the way he acted I believe he thought he was in charge of everything....For the majority of the morning we ran from desks, screaming as a maniac came towards us wielding a gun full of acid. Shoes were flying in all directions, people were disappearing under desks, some were knocked to the floor - and some were stood at the sidelines not being used. We had coffee (I nearly offered to get the main actor a coffee and had to be restrained - well, I didn't know who he was with his ipod firmly glued to his ears, I thought he was one of us.) It was then that things took a turn for the worse. The A.D decided that my time for fun had come to an end. At first he did this by standing just a few inches away from me, whilst choosing people to be on set, and totally ignoring me. In the end I gave up and went and sat by a window and got out a script I needed to learn. Nope, that was wrong as well. He assumed I was sleeping on set! I got told off for that and he didn't want to listen to anything I said. After lunch we were told to go to the right if you'd eaten, left if not. I suddenly felt this hot breath on my neck "And where do you think you're going? " I explained that I'd eaten and was standing on the right. Well, this just seemed to anger him even more! In the end he became so petty that he would actually whisper to people to be on set just so that I would miss my cue. I believe to this day, that he honestly thought I was someone else that had maybe upset him in the past but thats one person that I hope I never bump into again!!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Interesting life this business. When I first decided to go for this, little did I know what was ahead of me! I remember being terrified on a Ryvita test ad, my first ever job and a walk on / feature at that! - I had to mimic the woman in the advert - but everyone was completely wonderful! Make up sorted, every whim catered for - a runner asking if I needed anything - Fabulous!
After that came my first casting for Barclays Bank. Imagine, if you will, a completely empty room except for a desk and a railing in the middle of the room. I had to imagine that I was being attacked by a bear and hold a pose for 20 seconds. Now I know that sounds easy, but when it' s your first casting & a bit nervous it's amazing how many twitches seem to crop up!! Anyway, it was worth it and I got the job - forever remembered for the huge amounts of a certain hairspray which triggered off a migraine & not one person on set or from security had a pain killer....so I mainly remember it for throwing up in copious amounts once home.
It all went pretty quiet after that although of course, I did appear in the odd play or two but I digress, this is a blog about life as an extra. This year has gone just a little mad and I'm about to take on my 14th job this year. I have met some wonderful people, who I am still in contact with and some awful bitches - especially when it comes to outfits! There was I wearing my River Island suit when "Oh, I suppose you've gone for the casual look" which was said sneeringly from a young girl wearing her best Primark! However, I have found those sort of people to be, thankfully, very rare. Anyway, I had the last laugh as it was very quickly realised that she couldn't actually act, so she went to the back whilst I was given a close up :) I am now, very used to being the oldest on set but as I'm not over the 50 mark just yet, I still find it peculiar how make up artists talk to me as if I'm 92 or older! Is this something they learn in make up school?
I now try to avoid them by making myself up at home and have never yet had to remove it. However usually the hair has to be 'fluffed' and fluff they do until I look more like a 1960's version!