Industry professional with over 10 years experience in the business - represented by top-tier UK & US talent - here to share knowledge and skills with those who are keen to learn!

Find out more about Andrew

• When did you start practicing? How did this passion find you?

  I started acting from a very young age and like many people, was immediately taken by it; it's something that I have always wanted to do (aside from being a formula 1 driver for a brief stint as a five-year-old). Throughout my youth I trained first as a classical singer and was an active member of The National Youth Choir of Great Britain for 8 years ( age 11-19). I studied drama and performance all through school and sixth form, engrossing myself in as much extra-curricular performing as possible and then moved on to Exeter University to further my study/training. During my time at University, I gained valuable performance and more importantly, life experience which gave me the confidence to really pursue Acting as my career. During my third year I applied for Drama schools for Masters courses and was lucky enough to gain entry to 3 schools: East 15, GSA and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I chose Royal Welsh and the rest, as they say, can be found in my bio.

• Which artists or works affect you the most?

  Watching good performers work is so innately inspiring and so much can be learnt from observation. One of my favourite actors would have to be Jake Gyllenhaal, he is so incredibly versatile as a performer; his turn in Nightcrawler is just incredible. The subtlety with which he portrays obsession and the lengths a person will go to get what they want is deeply unsettling. If I was to label a favourite production house, it would have to be HBO - they so rarely miss with their material. It is a real aspiration of mine to one day work on one (hopefully many) of their productions. Seeing live theatre is also a must. Both mediums (stage and screen) are so important to forming a totally rounded performer. The best theatrical performance I have ever seen was Mark Rylance as Rooster Byron in Jezz Butterworth's 'Jerusalem'. If you want to watch a true master of the craft, watch Mark Rylance.

• What are the qualities and skill required to succeed in this area?

  For me, the most important quality an actor needs to have is perseverance! You MUST have the will to succeed and a skin as thick as a rhinoceros to build yourself back up after rejection. Be willing to learn: classes are an extremely important facet of a working actor's life. Surround yourself with like-minded people who can help you grow as a performer and aren't afraid to give you truly honest feedback. Be willing to adapt: with the ever-changing landscape we live in, we as performers must be willing to change with it. "Adapt or die" is a phrase with a lot of relevance in today's industry. Be willing to try: we have to keep on trying no matter what is thrown back at us. There are some crazy statistics out there with regards to percentages of auditions to secured jobs, but regardless of the outcome we have to pick ourselves up and DO THE WORK. Who knows, that next one could be what you've been waiting for!

• What is the most valuable advice you can give to help someone stay focused on creative projects?

  Passion doesn't have a time limit. Stay resilient and remember why you have chosen to do this. Have other things in your life outside of the acting world to balance out the work and keep it and your perspective as fresh as possible. Ultimately, when you are approaching your work, you want to find enjoyment in it; if you're not enjoying it, there's no point.

• How would you describe your passion; how does it make you feel?

  My passion is performance. There's no other feeling like it. The rush of nerves before curtain up or camera rolling, to the immense feeling of pride that comes with the audience's applause or a scene in the tank. I live and breathe this lifestyle and I'm always wanting to improve; it's hard, but anything worth doing isn't easy. You have to want it.

• What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

  I am particularly proud of booking a lead role in Netflix series 'Jupiter's Legacy'. The opportunity to work on a large scale/high budget production with top tier industry professionals was amazing and one of the most important learning experiences of my career thus far. It gave me the confidence to trust my own ability and to know that I am more than capable of working on some of the biggest stages in the industry. I am also incredibly proud of my business 'The Blue Backdrop' and that people have trusted me to help them. It is hugely rewarding knowing that you have played a small part in aiding another performer's success.

• Have you ever been surprised by a student; by their ability or quick progression?

  I have been surprised by many of my students and always in a positive way! Whether it's a different inflection on a line or a moment more of stillness to really help a scene land, there have been many such joyful realisations during sessions. For me, the most rewarding thing as a teacher is seeing the moment it clicks for my students and their performance is transformed.

• Being a Superprof is an art! What is your secret?

  One half is down to communication. It may seem cliché, but it truly is the key. There has to be an open dialogue between student and teacher, so that we always know what is and what isn't working. The other half is who you surround yourself with; I am hugely fortunate to have a tribe of people who help me thrive as a professional. My goal as a teacher is to help YOU thrive, whatever your goals may be and I can't wait to get started.