Episode 22: Evie Coles - Part 2

Welcome to the second half of our podcast with Evie Coles. This episode gives a great insight to how hard work at an early age can impact and guide your performing career. Evie speaks on her time on set and skills needed to become successful in the industry. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello and welcome to Theatre Workshop Talks. My name is Alice and I'm a teacher here at the Theatre Workshop. We are a theatre school based in Birmingham, Bart Green, Blackwell, and Bromsgrove. Here you will gain an insight to what it's like being a part of the theatre workshop. Along the way, we will be talking to TTW students, parents, teachers, and also some very special guests. Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you know when a brand new episode drops.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

Like I was like, this is exactly where I want to be right now. And I think another thing that really um always stood out for me with you was your ability and your desire actually to take constructive criticism. So you would take advice and you would listen to it, and you would you wouldn't always be like, no, I like this, so I'm gonna do it this way. You'd be like, Oh, but we'd talk about things and make often you were like, No, no, I'd be like, Oh, yeah, actually, Evie, that is that is a better way to do it. But sometimes you know, be like, Oh no, yeah, I haven't thought of that. And even now I will hear songs and send them to Evie and go, Oh, I heard this one today and I thought of this for you, or whatever. Um, and I always listen to them, and they're all another playlist called Cows's Playlist. Because that's kind of what you do. There's certain like people you think, oh yeah, they'd appreciate you, kind of like, you know, yeah, absolutely. You you always want to learn, you know, I do never thinking I've made it now. I'm there. I don't think I ever will. Like, even now, I'm in such a privileged position with work, and I still feel like you know, so over like you you can you can never stop learning, especially with something like acting where it's about people. You will never know everything. And my favourite part about like working with you guys and working on set is that I really want criticism. I really don't like it when I go to go to receive training and the only thing I get is praise because I'm not gonna learn anything. If you just say to me, Oh, that was brilliant, that's not why I'm there. I like I've never I think I used to really take criticism to heart, and then I realized that it's the only thing that was making me better was that people were telling me how to improve. And like I now can be done nicely, it doesn't have to be like somebody you know, does it? But no, yeah, but it's like constructive criticism is so such a thing that people are afraid of, but actually, like I look for that in training and I look for that in life. Like, I think it's so important to be able to listen, especially in the TV industry, your part of your job is listening to the director. If the director doesn't like a certain way you've done something, that's their choice, and like ultimately a lot of your performances are down to the director's choice, not necessarily your own. You bring something to the table and then you work on it, and so being able to take criticism or like uh different ideas and not just seeing your own way is so important. Like, there were many times on set where I would do something and the director would be like, I'm not sure how I feel about that, and I'd be like, Oh, why? And then I'd be like, here's why I did this, and then we'd kind of build on it because I feel like it's also really important to explain a choice. If you've made a choice, there's a reason why. And I maybe I explain them too much, but I will always be like, No, this is exactly what I think she would do. Like, I know her so well, and then only if it's a really something I'm really set on will I not budge. Like m 90% of performances I do, we get we work on it, and it's so important to be able to take criticism without feeling hurt by it. Like that's something I've that's a skill I've had to learn, but it's one of those. And I think what's really interesting to hear you there is talk about your characters because it's something we try and do at theatre workshop as well, is to think about the choices we make in performance and why we make them. So, what's their objective, what's their story? Um, and it's quite nice for our students to hear actually how those will be put into practice in a professional role at some point, hopefully. Yeah, like I feel like when you start out, I like I was kind of like, what do you mean? Like, why do I need to like have a reason to pick up a mug? Yeah, exactly. And then you get there and you're like, wait, of everyone has a reason to pick up a mug. It might not have to be something really deep and horrid, but like it does there is always a reason, and then you realise it, and you're like, it brings so much intention and so much honesty to your performance if you know why you're doing things, otherwise, there's no point in doing them. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, like I feel now every choice I make, I know exactly why I've made it, and it makes my performances so much better. Yeah. Yeah. And I can imagine as well on set that you are friendly and kind, and because do you know what that is so important as well?

unknown 5:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

Because I was a casting director with two people who are equally talented, but they've heard a rumour about you from another job where you're a bit of a pain. They're gonna give it to the nice person, aren't they? Absolutely, like it really is so important to remember that people are people, like everyone's human, and like it's respect is a really big thing that I like try and practice, obviously. Um, but like I find like on set, you're gonna be working with these people for every day for three months. You're gonna see the best of them, and you're gonna see the worst of them. And if you don't get on, or if you don't try, give them the time of day, they're not gonna want to give you the time of day. And it made such a difference having so many wonderful people on set, like the crew, the cast, and like as a lead, I was really, really trying to not have that hierarchy. Because some in some shows, you know, the lead knows they're the lead and they act like the lead in the sense that they people can be quite I guess it's not like it's like a diva mentality, like you the people have really. Susie just whispered that would be her. She would be the leader. Fair enough, Susie. I respect it. She's probably on camera. Yeah, she'd want her own her own trailer.

unknown 6:31

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

Oh yeah. Um, what was I saying? Oh yeah, but um everybody on set plays a massive role, and you can't lose a single person. You can't the trainees, the runners, like people who some people won't give the time of day to because they're maybe not known as like a really important person on set are the people that make it work. They're like the cogs of the machine. Yeah, and everyone deserves time. That runner's probably their gaming experience because they want to be a custom director at some point. So you may walk into a room with them in five years. Exactly. And they might be like, Oh, you were actually really nice. Everything is built on relationships in this industry. Like, I know directors who will reach out to other directors when they're deciding between two people and see what they work like, if they're nice people. Like, I know stories about people not getting season twos or season threes because of the behaviour of one actor. It is so important to be a nice person because it doesn't cost anything to be kind, does it? And it's so like, especially if you're playing a role where you're gonna be a role model for younger people, which I am. I I find it so important that I reflect the values that I would want people to look up to, even in real life. My character, yes, but especially in real life, because yeah, everyone's human and everyone makes mistakes, and no one deserves to be put down just because they're beginning their career. Definitely, like that's not an excuse. What advice would you give our students? I'm just thinking we've got quite a few at the minute, Alice, haven't we? Who have been auditioning for colleges and things who haven't been successful, and I think I know you've touched on this a little bit today, but I think it'd be really good for them to hear from you. Yeah. Like Absolutely. Yeah, I would say what would you say to them? Obviously, I'm in a s was in a very similar boat and I'm doing okay now. Um, I would say I really am a big believer that everything that is meant for you will not pass you by. I didn't get into drama school two years in a row. And if I had gone, I would not be anywhere near where I am in my career right now. I've just booked my like my dream role. I'm doing what I love every day, and that is a result of things that might have been hard to deal with at the time, but now I reflect on it, it was so important for me to go through because I wouldn't be where I am today without them. And also, rejection is a really big part of the industry, but it's not you. It's really important to remember, it's not a reflection of how good you are or how talented you are or what kind of person you are. It is so, it's never personal, and that's a really hard thing to like learn and understand. Like it takes a lot of trust me, I've been rejected hundreds of times, and it is quite hard to sit there and be like, it does feel like a slap in the face at the start, but you'll realise you might not have gotten into drama school because they had someone who just auditioned sooner who looked exactly like you. Or you might not have got in because you're too good. Sometimes they don't let people in because they don't see them at the school. It it might just be a the way of training, and like you might not be able to be trained in the right way. Or you know, I've I've not gotten roles because I'm got the wrong size nose. It's like it's not it's not personal. It's so but it's really hard to learn because it feels personal. But don't ever let a rejection make you think you're not going to be able to do it because you can. Trust me. Like, I fear I am good enough proof. Like, you don't need someone to tell you you're good to start doing living your dream. You're you should be your own flag person, like you should be your own the only person you're ever gonna have at all times is yourself, and it's important that your self-belief comes first. So many people have over the years have told me I will never be able to do it, I'm not good enough, I'm not this. And my one thing that I ran with was I am going to prove them wrong. And I did, so but yeah, I hope I hope our students really take that on board. Do you, Alice?

SPEAKER_00 10:44

100%, because like you said, we've got some students who have auditioned for drama school or colleges, and they've not got in, they've been unsuccessful, and like you said, it's really hard to not take it personally, and you automatically go to the idea of it's because I'm not good enough. And I know I did like there was drama schools that I didn't get into, auditions that I haven't been successful with, and it's just a natural thing just to think I'm not good, like I'm awful. But yeah, like you said, there's so many different factors, um, especially auditioning for shows. I think I mean there's been shows that I haven't got because I'm not tall enough.

SPEAKER_01 11:25

Like yeah, it's so it's so nothing to do with things you can change. Yeah, yeah. Like, don't change yourself for there's a ro I believe there's a rollout there for everybody. You shouldn't feel like you have to change yourself to fit a mould because one of my favourite quotes is no one is you and that is your power. Yeah, and it is so important to never lose hope. You get so many no's. It's so normal, and it feels like you're alone. But I will tell you now, I relate to you. You are not alone. I've been there, I've done that, but there will be one yes waiting out there for you, and you've got to fight for it.

SPEAKER_00 12:03

I saw something online the other day where it was someone who said, Imagine if someone told you you have to get a hundred no's before you get that yes. Imagine how excited you would be every time someone said no. Yeah, I heard that too.

SPEAKER_01 12:18

It's fab. Because you would be, and like realistically, that is what's happening.

SPEAKER_00 12:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Like you are just counting down the no's to a yes because I think it's I there's some statistics about it. I think it's the average amount of auditions before you book a job is about 70.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

Wow. That's average before you book one job. That's such a good fact to know because we've got so many of our children are on agency and are still, you know, are self-taping and doing everything they can and are still waiting for that that one role that is the right one for them. Um, so to hear that I think will be quite reassuring to a lot of them. Yeah, and like it's easy to look at someone's career and only see the jobs they have booked, but behind that are hundreds and hundreds of jobs they haven't booked. Like, I audition two or three times a week sometimes. You've never seen me booking those jobs. Do you know what I mean? I've booked some, and do you know what I'm so grateful for that? But there's so many behind that. There's so many years of rejection, there's so many years of trying. It's just a matter of time. Yeah. So obviously you've got Lady Grace, which we know about. Um there's something else coming out this year, isn't there? There is. There's a little I'm doing um an ITV show, a crime drama called Winter. Which I is gonna be right at my stream. Yes, it's really cool. It's with um Richard Armitage and Annabelle Scholy. They're the two leads, and I play Annabelle Schole's daughter in the show. And yeah, it's it's really I'm 16. Okay. Yeah, I I don't think I've auditioned for anything older than 18 yet. Wow, okay. I I think I auditioned for young because I'm quite sure, and I have a baby face. I look I look like a child. Um that is that is great, I guess, isn't it? It is good. I used to hate it growing up, but now I'm like actually it's really handy because paying the pills. You don't have to be licensed, and you can still play a young child. It's great, it's paying the pills. Um but yeah, it's a really exciting show. It's so different to Lady Grace, it's a polar opposite. Lady Grace is like this beautiful costume drama, and it's like so full of hope and fun and good vibes, and it's such a beautiful message. And winter is this dark, murder-filled crime drama that's very adult, and it's so it was so different being on set. I was like, this is a shock. Like, there would be like wounds just like in makeup and like costumes with like like injuries on them and like skulls and skeletons, and I was like, these are looking very real. Like you wouldn't see that on Lady Grace set, absolutely not. But it was such yeah, it was such an incredible experience. It was also filmed in Brussels. Um Lady Grace and I seem to be doing a lot of work in Brussels at the minute. Um, but Lady Grace and Winter were both filmed in Brussels. Winter was filmed in Antwerp, and every day I was on shoot was a night shoot, which I'd never done before. And I think, yeah, I learned so much from the experience because it was an adult show, and I'm used to being in a cast of everybody my age, and then I was suddenly in this cast of like adults, and it's it's a very different environment. It's a little bit more car it's karma, I'd say. And it ITV I think operates in a different way as well. Like on Lady Grace production, we would do 10 scenes, 12 scenes a day sometimes, whereas on winter it'd be about four or five, which is tends to be the standard. Um, so it was actually I viewed it less as work and more as just a great experience. It was so enlightening. I learned so much about the industry, I learned so much just by being in a different environment and doing the same work. Um and the scenes were written beautifully, and the writing is brilliant, and I loved my character, and yeah, it was just fabulous. Like I'm so lucky, I feel so lucky. Like it was such a beautiful I've said experience so many times, but I'll say it again. It was such a beautiful experience. I love it. Because I know you said with Lady Grace you were like working 12 hours a day, and then when you went back to your hotel at night, you were having to learn all your lines the next day. Yeah, wasn't it? It was a really intense shoe, and I I mean I it's been described by many as a baptism of fire, which is it's what it felt like. It was a lot, it's very hard to go from never being on camera before to being on camera for 12 hours a day, every day, learning lines. I'm quite lucky that I find it all right like quite easy to learn lines, but you know, it was still a struggle, like eight scenes, that's what 15 pages of text sometimes a day, and on top of that, learning them in the evening as well, and it was non-stop. It was we had to film 10 half hour episodes in eight weeks, which is not normal. Normally you'd get at least four months for that. So we had to squish it in in a really short amount of time, and it was yeah, it was a lot. There were days where I was I really struggled because I was knackered, I was so tired, and then forced it and healed. No, I I didn't reply to messages. I didn't reply to a month. My moms would be like, We need science of life, Evie. And I was like, Oh yeah, sorry, forgot about that. Like you you lose like that job, I you only have like the job is life, and like I am like that's I think why you if you want to do this, you have to want to do it because there are days that are not fun, and there are days that are really you're tired, and it's not a result of anybody's actions, but you just are people get tired, do you know what I mean? And it is it is hard, it's so much fun, and it's such a privilege, but it is hard. And at the end of the day, the only thing that would get me kind of back in a good mood would be the fact that I know how much I want this, and this is my dream, and I cannot let this opportunity go to waste. Um, and it was a beautiful set, like I have made friends for life on that set, and I have made such good relationships, and I genuinely had the best two months of my life. But it is that's not to say it was easy, you know what I mean? It was still it was it wasn't a reality check so much. I knew it was gonna be hard work, but it people a lot of people think that the TV industry is really easy, you get handed everything, and that's actually not the case a lot of the time. It's really glamorised, and you've got to really be willing to put in a lot of work, not just whilst you're on set, but offset as well. Because nobody's gonna make you learn your lines, you've got to do that yourself. No one's gonna tell you how to act unless you're working actively with the director. You've got to do that yourself. And that's where your work ethic will have really helped you. Yeah, because I I would just be like, I wouldn't even think about, I wouldn't be, I never was I never once thought I don't want to do this. I would just be like, I'm doing this next. This is the next thing I have to do. But take it hour by hour, step by step. And I think it is really helpful to have a good work ethic because it is you don't have time not to. Do you know what I mean? Like it is, it's intense, but it was And being prepared is so important. If you turn up and sit the next day and when you're lines, you're in trouble, aren't you? You've yeah, like I would say my number one skill that I would hone in if I was someone else is line learning. Because my audition for Lady Grace, my recall, I got recalled, I go in, I originally auditioned for the character that plays my best friend, and I got recalled for her, or so I thought, until I got there on the day, and they were like, We're really sorry, we sent you the wrong email. Can you go upstairs for an hour and a half and learn five of these scenes and then come and audition for Grace? And I was like, Oh, I'll I will do this. Like, okay, yes. Obviously, I'm not gonna say no, but I just sat in that room and I hunkered down and I learned every single line and I learned, went in the room, and I think I did it. I did I must have done an okay job. Um, but yeah, like line learning is something that people don't think to practice, and it's so important if you want to work because you'll be put in situations where you don't have you don't have a week. You have and I've I would have the director come to me at lunch break sometimes and be like, We forgot to write this scene on the call sheet, can you learn it now on your 20-minute lunch break while she's doing everything else? And I'd be like, you have to, because that's your job, I guess. And also, it's your passion. You've got to want to work for this, you know? Like, it's hard and it's not something that's gonna be handed to you. It is like if you want it, you can get it, but you do have to work at that. Um, so yeah, line learning is something that really goes understated that I would say is really important. And like the best way to do it is just learning your lines that like you guys give you. Like, I would go home after every theatre workshop session and I would learn my lines. And I'd always know them. And it's just a good habit to get into making sure you're showing up for everyone else because acting is so much about the other people in the scene, it's not about you. And if you don't learn your lines, you're doing everyone else a disservice. So it's so important that you go in and you give your best to everyone else so that they can give their best to you. That's how I view it, I think. Yeah, I think Pete, a lot of people don't realize the importance. Impact it has when one person and sometimes it can't be helped, can it? You know, that things like that mean you you can't be there for whatever reason. Absolutely. But but it does impact, it really does. It does, and it's such a giving like industry. Like you you have to give yourself over to these characters. And I really struggle to act in a scene if I'm with someone and I love you, mum. This is not personal, but if I'm with my mum in a scene, she like just reads the line like Alexa. And I'm like, okay. I'm like, can you shout? And she's like, shouts like Alexa. And I'm like, she's got other skills, hasn't she? She's got many other skills. She's a wonderful woman. However, I'm not sure reading in for self-tapes is one. It's like it's so it makes such a difference if you have something to react to that's not a brick wall. And like, not that she is, she's a beautiful human, but um, yeah, like in a scene, my favorite thing to do is to act with people who give everything, and in turn you will, but sometimes you have to be that person first, yeah. And like it's important if you're in a class, like I found a lot growing up, I would be embarrassed sometimes to give my all, or like I'd be I'd be like, I want to be like the cool kids, like I don't wanna like give everything, but it's such a skill to have, and it's not embarrassing. Like you're doing what you need to do, and you're actually putting the effort in that other people might not be, and it's only gonna benefit you. I think that's hard when you get to like we see it, don't we, all the time, Alice? When like when students hit about 10, 11, the inhibitions start to curve, like they're like they get a bit more. Yeah, yeah, it's natural though, like it is a vulnerable thing, and then they and then you do start to come out the other side, yes, as you get a bit or most people do, um, and I think that's such good advice to just know that you you do have to just feel like sometimes you just have to do it. Like, yeah, there's so many times on set where I made a fool of myself, and to be able to stand up and laugh about it is so important, to be able to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously. Like, there was one day I literally decked it in the middle of a really intense scene, and I fell over and I I broke this like vase and I was like, Oh, this is awful, and everyone was laughing, and I was like, it's actually quite funny. Like, yeah, yes, I yes, I it was a little bit embarrassing, but I feel like it's such a skill to be able to take yourself with a pinch of like humour. Like, you don't need to take it too seriously, you know what I mean? Like, it will it will make it harder for you if you are like, oh my gosh, my entire reputation depends on how I say this line. No, it doesn't. You're okay, it'll be absolutely fine in the long run. Yeah, no, absolutely. And you I mean, I you've I know you've got other things up your sleeve that we can't talk about today. Mm-hmm. I do, I do. She's a busy girl, isn't it? Aren't you? I'm a busy girl, I've got a busy year ahead, guys. Um you know I will. I'm really sad that I can't do West End experiences.

SPEAKER_00 25:23

Oh, we are good, we are good.

SPEAKER_01 25:25

That's the highlight of my year, genuinely. I love it. I love it more than the kids have been sometimes. Won't you? You have the right dates this year. I do, yes. So Caroline wouldn't have told you the wrong dates again. Oh, yes. Yep, that was quite funny. Getting that phone call I sat up, I was like, oh my gosh, I am on my way. I will be there. I love that that you dropped everything in came. Oh, I I I love it, it's so much fun. Like, I feel like like my favourite part about playing Grace is that I know that little kids are gonna look up to her. And like I love seeing how much children love it, like performing. It's so ingrained in every child I like see coming to theatre workshop. They just love being there, and it's like I feel like my inner child is healed a bit every time I come. Like they're just the most beautiful, hard-working kids, and like you really root for them, and I feel like I'm sat there and I'm like, this is so magical. Like these kids like are finding their feet in what could become their dream, and you can see it happen on their little faces. They're like, Oh, like I actually really like this, like, this is my thing, and they're like finding their passion, and I'm like, I've I remember feeling like that, and it's so like full circle for me to like go back and see what you guys probably must have seen at the time, and it's so inspiring, it kind of reminds you like we all can learn something from everyone.

SPEAKER_00 27:04

I can't wait to tell the children to watch it because they'll be like you were in their position at one point, and they can see what they can achieve, so it's gonna be really nice for them.

SPEAKER_01 27:16

It's such a privilege, like to be in the position. Yeah, so many of them do. Like, I'm really close with a lot of them, and it's so exciting for them. So excited, like it's so important to me that I'm a good role model, and I feel like I'm so glad that this job was my first because it's she's such a powerhouse, you know, she's so independent and she's so fierce, and I love that about her. And I feel like I'm really excited for little people to feel seen by that and to feel like they've got this sense of confidence, like that just makes my heart feel whole. And like the fact that I can stand there and tell them it does happen is such a blessing, but like so important to me that I can like when I got the found out I got the job, I balled. I don't know if you remember, I was in floods of tears. I remember you calling me, I remember where I was. I was at Bromsgrove School and I was just about to go into a singing lesson, and you rang me, and I think you found out about 20 minutes before. Yeah, I was just you were just about to like you were just able to speak again, I think. It was crazy, like to think like, because I spent so long thinking, oh, this is doesn't happen to people like me. Like, this happens to people whose parents are in it, or who do this, like it won't happen to me, it's not real. And then it did, and I was like, Oh my gosh, like I can go out and tell people now I am proof that it does happen and can happen if you don't give up. Like, I feel like that's so important to me, like inspiring people because it's tough, and I want people to know that someone's rooting for them, and that person is me. You've got you've got this, okay. You do, I promise you.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

I think that's such a good message for our students as well. Um, and I can't I'm I'm honestly, and I know Susie and Caroline will as well. I'm gonna make them listen to this episode. Because they will learn so, so much, and it's gonna be so useful for them. All the advice that you've given, your experiences, and you know, just things like being awesome.

SPEAKER_01 29:29

I think all of them Alice, not just the old ones.

SPEAKER_00 29:32

Yeah, all of them. Yeah, 100%. Thanks, guys.

SPEAKER_01 29:36

Well, hello if you're listening.

SPEAKER_00 29:40

So, yeah, Eva, we are so so proud of you. And it just shows that even when you are at theatre workshop, the work that you put in now will, you know, it will help the foundation. Yeah, it will build that confidence and build those skills for when you do get a job when you're older. So, you can't do it now, and it will definitely pay off.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Yeah, yeah. Completely agree. I don't regret ever any day, any day of it. I love you guys so much. We love you.

SPEAKER_00 30:16

It's been an absolute pleasure talking to you today, Evie. Thank you so, so much. And give us one more reminder. When is Lady Grace coming out? Monday.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

Monday, 20th of April.

SPEAKER_00 30:28

Woo!

SPEAKER_01 30:29

On BBC I Player, on BBC I Player.

SPEAKER_00 30:31

At what time? What time? Do we know yet? We'll let you all know on our socials when we find out.

SPEAKER_01 30:38

I'll give I'll give you a break when I find out. Don't get told much.

SPEAKER_00 30:44

Thank you, Evie.

SPEAKER_01 30:45

Oh, thank you, Evie. Thank you. Thank you so much, guys. It is such a pleasure. And we'll love to see you soon. I will catch up with you soon. Thank you so much for everything. I love you too.

SPEAKER_00 30:58

Hi, thank you for listening to TTW Talks. We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode and look forward to hearing the next one. Make sure to follow us on Instagram at the Theatre Workshop Birmingham and TikTok at the.theatre.worksbam to see all of our class and show content and all of the exciting things we get up to. Once again, thank you for listening. This has been TTW Talks.