My Start As An Actor

Our team at IPM have seen many actors ask what it is they can do to keep themselves ready for the first audition call during these unprecedented times. Our training actors have taken our advice and have kept their creativity flowing by doing monologues, keep their training going and even writing for our blog! Take a look at Academy Member, Harrison's journey as an actor!

'Since I was really young, I have always taken a real passion to films, theatre, TV and anything to do with acting. I have and always will love everything about this profession'

I would like to say that my acting journey began where I was cast in a major movie, but that kind of stuff doesn’t even happen in fairy tales. I started acting about 9 years ago, it was mainly based around the theatrical side of acting (which I personally don’t prefer to screen acting) but I instantly knew that this is what I want to focus on and pursue as a career. After my first performance at my stage school I felt incredible, when I had finished I knew that I had given it my absolute best and with this being topped off by the applause of the audience, there really is no better feeling than that.

Luckily, I have extremely supportive parents so when I told them that this is what I want to do for a living, they didn’t even think twice or take into consideration I was only a little lad, they put me forward for an acting agency linked with the stage school and started looking for places where I could improve my skills and achieve this dream of being an actor. When I was accepted into the agency, they constantly put me forward for many things and I had many auditions and the result of nearly all of them was a no. At first, I didn’t know how to feel because it is upsetting when you have worked hard to perform for someone and these people just to tell you no, especially being young. 

I can remember thinking “Why won’t they pick me?” “Am I not good enough?” “Am I just setting myself an unrealistic goal of being an actor?”, it made me feel awful at first and I will admit it, I did cry quite a few times. But these thoughts in my head just fuelled me to get better and keep pushing to get this goal that I so badly want. I said to myself “If they think I’m not good enough. “Am I just setting myself an unrealistic goal of being an actor?”, it made me feel awful at first and I will admit it, I did cry quite a few times. But these thoughts in my head just fuelled me to get better and keep pushing to get this goal that I so badly want. I said to myself “If they think I’m not good enough then I’ll train and improve until I’m better than just good enough and they might not pick me right now but they will all want me someday” and I’m happy I did because it motivates me every day to hopefully one day catch my ‘big break’.

The more I worked for and performed under the stage schools the more I realised that theatrical acting wasn’t for me and I was not liking it as much as I used to. Thankfully, my mum had found a local place that did screen acting and I’m so happy that she did because this place re-sparked the passion I have for the art of acting. It is called IPM (Imperial Personal Management) Acting Academy in Leeds and it has really improved me as an actor over the 7 years I have been there, and I can honestly say it is the highlight of my week. I have learnt so many skills and techniques when it comes to performing and I enjoy going to every lesson and socialising with everyone and learning together as a collective. IPM's agency put me forward for lots and lots of opportunities and I have gained a vast amount of experience with them. I feel at home when I am on set like it is where I am meant to be. I enjoy focusing on the character’s life, story and meaning in the scene as I feel like I can forget who I am, become this different person and see the world through their eyes. I still hope to one day get that one shot at a major roll and prove to myself and everyone else that I can make it.

Obviously in the current lockdown with Covid-19 it may seem difficult to be an actor, however I am still pushing through and working on myself as much as possible. The weekly classes are now online so we don’t miss out on our teaching during this tough quarantine time. Also, all the free time has given me the chance to record myself act a scene or monologue at home and criticise myself to improve my performance. 

I definitely know that I am not perfect, no one is, but I am working as hard as possible to make sure that I can achieve the goals I have always dreamed of. I want to take this small part of the blog to thank my very supportive parents and IPM for being there for any help I need and assisting me on my journey as an actor. One day all the hard work will pay off and my dream will come true.

Harrison's training has led to shortlisted opportunities with beloved series like 'Fantastic Beasts', CBBC's 'Jaime Johnson' and BBC's comedy 'Ladhood'. His film work has won multiple awards for awareness in Domestic Abuse alongside the many commercial roles with Harrison's name attached!

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