Confessions of a Struggling Actor

I have to say that it is gratifying when I get emails asking when the next blog is coming out... Well, there's a simple explanation - illness.  And here was me saying 'At least I have my health...'.  Last week had the making of an interesting seven days, but my weekend stopped on Friday night.

Monday was good - after the dawn jog, a quiet day at work followed by a win at 5s and then off to watch Italy beat Ghana with Mikey, Mark and Jen.  Interesting looks as I walked through Soho in my Day-Glo green 5s kit...

It was excellent to see Mr Bates (STOP SNIGGERING AT THE BACK) who was on fine form, regaling me with stag stories and family news, as well as postulating on the chances of each nation in the current sporting tournament.  Mark seemed refreshed after his month or so away - as well he should - and Jen was on great form as always.  I nipped off not long after the final whistle to do work on the script for Friday and got a good night's sleep, unsurprisingly.  I also found the script and official offer from R&J.  Good day!!

Tuesday brought more hype in the office about the TnT game with the announcement that the parent company were coming over to watch it on our big screen.  Joy!  My plan of not getting lynched while sitting at the front chanting 'I am a Soca warrior' was fading fast.  The evening was one of culture and reunion as most of the cast from Richard III joined me in watching our colleague perform Chekov.  Short, amusing and she was very good.  Good chat in the pub after and then back to work on the script again.  Didn't as I fell asleep again as soon as I got home.  Making up for the sweaty nights of the weekend...

Wednesday was quiet - nothing on that night, so read and re-read the script for Friday as I knew the next day would be something of a write-off.  Best thing was I received a package with one of my short films in it.  It looks good and is about a father walking out on his son.  Showed it to the new flatmate Denis.  Mistake as it was very similar to his recent past.  Must be careful in the future about that kind of thing...  Also spoke to Biz who asked me if I would do a reading at the service.  Very honoured...

Thursday and England were playing.  Get and email from Biz with the reading he asked me to do.  very beautiful and I'll have to do it justice.  Essentially stop work at 3 as asked to help set up the room for the hordes about to join us.  We get free beers and I go down front.  I don't stand for God Save the Queen, but do a dance to the TnT song.  Jeers and a plastic cup off my head make me sit down.  Spend most of the time asking the guys around me why England are playing so sh!te.  Sitting smugly til the last ten and England spoil it by pulling the defender's hair to score and then letting Gerrard have a shot from 20 yards.  Jump up and down when it seems Stern John has scored only to be mocked by the scores of people behind me.  I go out and am offered a smoke, which takes the edge off.  I then have to go for dinner with my department - not something I was looking forward to.  As it was it was harmless, if a little boring and the food wasn't up to much.  Still showed my face and then dashed off talking about scripts and readings.  When home, had another smoke and fell asleep.

When I woke on Friday, I had the feeling the day wouldn't go as planned.  Busy at work, then had madness trying to get to the afternoon rehearsal.  First I get collared with a 20 quid fine after being misinformed by a guy at the barriers at Victoria, saying my pass was valid when it wasn't.  Then I am hit (and very nearly get knocked down) by an Espace that was haring down a bus lane.  I should have looked harder, but he shouldn't have been there for a start.  Anyway, 30 mins late for rehearsals, but I'm not the last one they're waiting for.  Eventually read thru it all and head to RADA.  (RADA and the Royal Court within 4 months - this is a good acting year so far....)  I'm feeling a bit rubbish by this time, so buy some Lemsip to have beforehand.  Reading goes well, but I'm feeling bad throughout it.  I then have to go to Harrow to see a screening of a short I did.  Probs on the tube, but get there just in time and it's very good!  Miss the last train home however, and that means I have to go to a house party and wait for the tubes to start or crash somewhere.  End up crashing after an hour's walk to this girl's house - nothing happened, she's a nice girl and has a boyfriend, unlike some of the others there that I was frankly too ill to chat up.

Saturday felt awful and got worse.  It meant I was in bed (away from the footy) all day and I missed the Rob Roy Race Night, which I was really looking forward to.  I did manage to go into work for a couple of hours as I had a certificate presentation to do at 830 on Sunday morning.  Spoke to Dom and caught up on his news, but can't meet him on Thursday as I'm rehearsing.  Home to bed, then up to present the certificate and a photocall (I looked dreadful) and then home and back to bed again.  I was supposed to see Geir's play that night, but couldn't face it.

Monday and Tuesday were both off work ill, but had interesting evenings. Monday was the first reading of R&J.  Everyone seems cool and I get the same feeling as I did before Richard3 - that it's going to be a lot of hard, but fun, work.  I was hoping that there might be a chance of chatting up Juliet, but as it happens I know her.  I worked with her before on a short film where I was a child abuser and she was the child.  Not. Going. To. Happen.  Nice girl and we had a giggle about it.  No ladies for Scotty over summer - never mind... 

Tuesday night I went to meet Simon Farquhar.  We hadn't met up since Rainbow Kiss finished and, with rehearsals and weddings coming up, we weren't likely to catch up in the near future.  He was on fine form and chatting and honest as ever.  After apologising too much for missing R3, he told me about some very exciting projects that are in very early stages - one TV, one play and the film of Rainbow Kiss.  There are some details on the P&J website - supposedly they a$red things up by calling the production company despite him telling them NOT to do that - bloody journos.  He talked about getting me and Laura involved, which would be amazing.  He's dead set on making everything as NE Scotland as he can.  Met a friend of his, Louise, who was born in the Deen and still has family there.  VERY cute, but probably out of my league.  Simon did mention she was single though and she was loving the accent...hmmm...

Wednesday I was back in work - joy of joys - and facing a massive pile of tasks.  Did as much as I could and had a few words with my manager, who doesn't have the first clue of the amount of stuff I take on in the office.  V. glad I'm out of the office on Friday and Monday.  My nut is being done in...  After that our first rehearsal proper and then home to bed.  Rehearsing tonight then home to pack for Biz's wedding.  Sue's picking me up at silly o'clock in the morning and I'm certain I'll catch up with a few of you over this weekend...