Jealousy

So this business is tough...
Ha.. NEWS FLASH!

I know, you already knew that. I'm wondering if anyone reads this blog any more? Hmm. Oh well, It's probably more for myself that I write it now, but you never know!

Anyway, So this business, as previously stated, is tough. You get nowhere, and you get there very feckin quickly. The thing is, when you're in this business you're bound to know someone who is more successful than you, no matter how little the success, you still feel as though a sharp little knife is driven into your heart.

Actually, more accurately, you feel as though you've been marked across the face. Because the ever tormented voice in your head won't let the idea that there is something wrong with you go.

For example, recently there have been actors who have come into my work place and their production has paid for their gym membership. And my little heart breaks each time I get a phone call from production to sign a new member because honestly, I feel I should be the one having my membership paid for.. not the one writing the receipt.

So I've decided again on LA or London. I think there are definitely highs and lows of being an actor, and in the low times I always think 'I need to get out of here'. But many have 'made it' and are successful here too! Such as Domnhall Gleeson, Brendan Gleeson, Cilian Murphy, Liam Neeson and so on...

The pond is smaller here, and there is a lot less competition, and maybe one day when I knock on the same doors too many times maybe they will eventually cast me in something!!

But that's not a guarantee is it? I mean I know the pond is massive (more like an ocean) in LA and in London or New York, but at least there are enough people that could potentially hire you, rather than say, the top 3 casting directors here in ireland would. There are more auditions in these places, more acting classes, more of an acting community (i'm assuming)...

So now I wait..  Come the end of this month, I will have decided if the move to California is realistic and doable.

Sorry, I got a bit side-tracked there... anyway, jealousy.. the title of this blog. I can't help but feel bogged down by other people's success, no matter how little, it's still more successful than anything I got going right now...

Bottom line is, I have to grow up.. and if anyone else is in the same boat then GROW UP! We cannot measure ourselves against someone else because everyone is different. And bottom line is, someone will always be more talented or skinner than you and you will always be forever envious of what they have, instead of trying to move on and enjoy your own life.

So get a grip people! Hakuna Matata and all that!

Peach out.

Cutting Room Floor.....

Yikes....

So.. as you have all probably recently discovered (or not), I've been cut from vikings. Now, I kinda knew this would happen as it was a one line character, and it was basically just repeating what someone else had said a moment before.. Still, it's not the greatest feeling in the world to end up on the chopping block.

Naturally all sorts of negativity scrolled through my head, insecurities and what not. But at the end of the day I think it's important for me to remember, that it's probably not personal. In the meantime I just need to keep trucking on with whatever I'm doing..

So. Here's an update. I think other than auditions from my agent, I'm putting acting on the back-burner for now till I can save some money. I have acquired a job as a part time receptionist in a gym and have decided to work hard, save earn some money and work on my body image. I think this is a healthy way to channel all the acting stress, negativity and paranoia. So I'm eating healthy (which costs a tonne by the way!!) and I'm working to get myself in shape.

Once I've all that completed I'm going to start working on a two-actor piece of theatre and hopefully do it well and travel with it. But as I've said, for now.. it's on the back burner for a while. Perhaps a few short films here and there but lets focus on getting healthy, learning accents, reading plays and screenplays, watching movies and just generally being happy.

So stay happy folks.

Peach out! xx

Oscars 2020?

What do you think? Realistic Goal? Well I'd like to put it up there, that this is my goal for the next 6 years! Get to the oscars or any hollywood award ceremony by 2020!

So in other news, I was recently nominated for Best Actress in a Web Drama in the Las Vegas Ceremony of The International Academy of Web Television Awards in Jan! So that was amazing and such an honour! The nomination was for my performance in Cuckoo, the RTE Storyland series I did back in 2011-2012.  Sadly, I didn't win, the award went to Julia Stiles for her role in Blue, but just to be nominated in the same category as her was such a privilege!

And other than that.. haven't had many jobs since Vikings sadly! Although I got a call from my agent today, so things could be interesting.. watch this space??

What are you all going to do for 2014? Any goals that may seem unachievable?

Vikings!

So as you know I got cast as a minor role, and it was on the history channel television series called Vikings!

And as you will obviously know, I can't say anything about what we shot or the characters or any plot give aways! However, I will tell you that is was possibly the greatest day and a half of my career!

On tuesday, I got picked up for my costume fitting and then I got brought down to the set to see the hair and make up teams to assess what they were going to do for Wednesday's shoot! x

And it was amazing! I was just visiting the set, but it was soooo beautiful! It was really gorgeous and so surreal after watching the first season and now to be on the set! It was just crazy!

I got to meet all the lovely mains and I got on extremely well I think. Everyone on set was so so nice, and when we were shooting on Wednesday everyone was superb! The cast and crew were so lovely to work with! I can tell you honestly, that I think Nathan, who plays Bjorn, is going to have an amazing career ahead of him! And that Jessalyn, who plays Siggy, is possibly one the nicest and most talented people I have ever met! Katheryn, Clive, Jefferson and Travis were all really lovely too! And I am so grateful that I had the pleasure of meeting them and working with them.





It was an amazing day, and so funny really, as we were all in heavy clothing on the hottest days of the year! (as we were supposed to be in Scandinavia in winter).

It was truly remarkable and I loved every single second of it! I didn't want it to end!!!  A long day, as I was collected at 6am and we finished at 6pm approx... but I was dreading the call of 'thats a wrap'...

Hopefully somewhere along the line I could get called back!

Thank you for reading!

Peach out!
xx

I got Cast!!... as Another One liner!!

Woohoo!! Lets hear it for ME! ok no seriously though, since my one line ("Message for you sir") on Titanic Blood and Steel, I have not had a day to top that experience on a professional set. There is something so amazing about being on set and being a minor cast member! (sooo looking forward to the day where I'll become a primary cast member but hey-ho! one step at a time!)

So today I got news from my agent that an offer of a one-line part has been made to me for a tv series that will air on the history channel!! So friggin excited! and I'll take some pics (if i can) and then put them up here once the series has aired and everything is no longer a big copy-right issue.

So excited! How did I get this you ask? Through my agent! A while ago, I was asked to submit an online audition for two minor roles in the series and I hadn't heard back from them in a while! Ah! So naturally I was sad and doubted myself, but overall got over it and realised it wasn't for me!

This is exactly the same as what happened for Titanic Blood and Steel, I auditioned for a role, didn't get it and then some time later got called on for a one-line part!

So now I know that I can at least be trusted to deliver a line! woohoo!! so excited!

Believe in yourself, and always do your best! Because the casting directors will remember you! xxx

Peach out! x

'Godbod'... insanity!

So I decided, in order to get to where I want to get to in this industry i would have to start earning the 'Godbod'....

So what do I mean by "godbod", well, this industry is incredibly shallow. It's all about how you look, and I have definitely learned this! That is why it is soooo hard to be positive in this business, because when you're not cast in something, it is more often than not down to your look and not your acting ability.

I read somewhere that 80% of your audition is simply walking into the room. So I know I want to look my very best, and currently, I don't. I need a few things done before I can ever venture into a room, confident that my body is in tip-top condition! So.. I need to achieve the 'Godbod', so that I know that whenever I am not cast, that it won't be because I wasn't skinny enough..

Now 'skinny' is a term that i very rarely use, and actually what I mean to say is 'healthy' enough. I really don't think this industry should be promoting those very skinny actresses, that look like dolls that would just shatter and break if you touched them.


I would much rather achieve the 'godbod's of Jessica Biel, Candice Swanepoel and Beyonce! Healthy, slim and attractive!

I think more and more of the people out there trying to break into this industry is falling into the trap of trying to be extremely skinny, and taking drastic measures to get there, like surgery or extreme dieting.


Well, thats not me! I absolutely love me food and although I know I should put down the carbs and pick up some veg, I just can't! I'm not a veggie eater, and much prefer fruit and carbs way more. I'm extremely picky when it comes to food, so eating a very healthy strict diet, is definitely something that doesn't really appeal to me (even though one day I know I will have to force feed myself a salad!)

So how to achieve the 'Godbod'?...

well I started looking at some fitness programmes online, and a friend had recommended Insanity Workout Series. He's in the army and gave me a lend of his copy and told me this would be intense!!! Ah!! And he was very very very correct!

Even though I love Casey @ Blogilates, and I definitely saw results working her calendar, i wanted more. And I got it through Insanity! I am now on day 23, and I am definitely seeing results! So if anyone is in doubt, don't be! the results will surely start coming!!

My biggest result has been around my stomach and love-handle area! I'm much slimmer now and can wear a bikini without thinking about any unattractive folds or love-handle muffin-top disasters! I have noticed a little bit of a difference in my arms and backside too, however I do feel that with Casey's blogilates calendar i noticed far better results in my booty than i do with insanity! But hey, my 60 day series is not over just yet!!

I have not lost weight on Insanity, I've stayed roughly the same at 54kg (which is correct for my 5'4" height), but I don't judge by the scale anymore! It really is just a number, because even though 23 days ago I was still 54kg, I can definitely see how then and now differ completely by just looking at my stomach!

I'm so proud to be on this workout series! And no, I don't stick to their diet plan, which is probably something I should be doing, and I'd probably see more extreme results. But I just can't force myself to eat leaves, and tomatoes or anything just yet. So I try to stick to 1200 calories most days, but try never exceed 1800 cals. I eat cereal every morning, I also try eat at least two pieces of fruit a day, I eat peanut butter on wholegrain toast and bananas, and my dinner is usually harder to control as I live with my parents. So basically, whatever they have made or prepared is what I eat, but just less of it. I try to make lunch my biggest meal of the day and just have something small for dinner. And I always try and have a dessert of a low fat, low cal mouse or yogurt! Because life is just no fun without dessert!

Anyway, I hope this helps any of you who are thinking about doing this workout series! I do also recommend Blogilates workout Calendar which you can find through her website here!

http://www.blogilates.com

Also I am not taking any kind of protein supplement with my training... should I be? I've heard different answers everywhere but if anyone here wants to offer some advice I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks again for reading!


Peach out!
xx

Movie set extra! Not fair city... thank goodness!

So this week I had two days as a movie extra, one on a film called "Love, Rosie" and then on tuesday was another day on Fair City.

Now you know the deal by now on Fair City so I won't bore you with that! But on monday I got to spend the day in beautiful Enniskerry in Wicklow on the set of Lily Collins' new movie "Love, Rosie", based on a book by Cecelia Ahern.

Turns out, I've actually read that book! I hadn't known that until a friend I met on set started talking about the plot, and then it all slowly started coming back to me! So anyway, even though I did not sign any NDA form, I'm not really supposed to tell you what happened or what we shot on Monday... so sadly, I won't!

But I can tell you I had to wear all black for one seen and very summery formal outfit for another scene! It was a lovely day with a bit of wind and as the evening drew on it just got colder and colder. Sadly for the actors, the scenes were set during spring and so that's not good news when you're in a dress and freezing cold on the side of a hill in Wicklow! Luckily the wonderful crew provided blankets and I know the mains had some water bottles and heavy jackets available too.

Although I never met any of the mains personally, they were all extremely wonderful on set. Christian Cooke was very chatty with some extras, and Sam Clafin was quite humorous, practically falling around the place. Lily looks beautiful in real life, petit, pale, perfect, like a doll! and Jaime Winestone looked fantastic in her character hair and make up!

Overall this looks to be a very cute little film and it was such a pleasure working with everyone on set. I recognised a few people in costume and hair from Titanic Blood and Steel, as well as the Jimi Hendrix film too! It's always nice to see familiar faces and of course I'm very happy to see them all working hard!

I think I definitely want to do some work experience behind the scenes too! I would love to be an AD or an assistant producer! I'll definitely have to look into that one! any advice!? or do any of your readers have similar desires?!

Thanks for reading!

Peach out!
x