001. Introducing Viola

Nineteen years old and extremely talented. Viola has all the potential and raw emotional power to make an incredibly fine actress. She's from South Africa and came over to try to get into Drama School but was too late with her applications. Now all she can do is wait though she's booked an intensive course for herself at The Poor School in August and is looking ahead to auditions for the National Youth Theatre in October. In the meantime, she's got me.

Obviously I can help her perfect her audition technique but there's a more pressing consideration where Viola is concerned. Her attitude and mental stamina. Is she positive enough and does she have sufficient grit and determination to succeed in what everyone knows to be a tough industry? She's certainly pretty flaky at times, full of self-doubt, and I find that many of my sessions with her tend to focus on boosting her confidence. She has friends, a supportive family, people like myself who believe in her. So, what fundamentally is her problem? I wish I knew. Maybe it's just being 19. Whatever it is, it's an issue she has to address. A modicum of self-doubt can be healthy. Too much of it can be merely debilitating and an obstacle to achievement.

Viola, you ought to fly! But will you? Watch this space.