#Hollyoaks

                 

I'm at Wembley, England are playing Moldova (well more thumping them really - not terribly British) and I'm all packed for a trip to Sunny Spain with friends. I'm just contemplating whether it's even worth going to bed tonight given that we're on the first flight out of Heathrow in the morning, when the Batphone rings:

Incoming Call

"The BWH Agency"

Somehow, I know before I've even answered, I've been offered the role I read for yesterday - an episode of Hollyoaks). I pick up:

AGENT

They'd like to offer you the part!

TRIS 

(Cheery)

My girlfriend's going to kill me

AGENT

Errr...?

At this point two things become clear: 

1) I have neglected to tell my agent about my holiday ... and 

2) I will be spending more time in the air than I'd anticipated. 

Several days later (I've been to Spain & back) & my taxi (which arrived 20 minutes late) is stuck in traffic en route to the Hollyoaks set. I'm acutely aware of the fines imposed on Hollyoaks actors for late arrival so I mentally chastise cab drivers all over the world for ...

Depriving me of my much-needed caffeine hit...

Not accepting card payments, & ultimately... 

Ruining my career.

My 'cabbie voodoo doll' (patent pending) is already in tatters by this point but this doesn't seem to phase the driver one bit since it turns out, HE'S not late for anything. Thankfully though I needn't have worried -and we screech in just in time. 

The filming experience was unlike any other I'd done. Normally some poor over-stretched runner is responsible for your whereabouts, your appearance, in short your every movement. It was refreshing not to be constrained by any of that. I checked in at reception and was directed to the Green Room. I took a load off and met some of the other actors; longer-term stalwart Nick Pickard (Tony), as well as Connor Wilkinson (Finn) followed by, well everyone else - after a while it felt like the communal room back at uni halls. Everyone was really friendly asking what I was in for/who I was acting with. Some had already completed their scenes and were off to the gym for a training session before lunch.

After a bit of a wander around I found a call sheet tacked to a board. I was scheduled for the second scene of the day onwards. As the time was fast approaching I thought it a good idea to locate my costume (more asking of directions) and I was given a couple of options to choose from. I found myself changing alongside one of the long-term regulars. It then seemed like I should maybe check in with the folks of hair and make-up (around a few more corners) and hey presto I was almost ready. I knew that 2 of the characters' names had changed since my audition so I asked and was furnished with the updated script and was good to go on in the nick of time.

On set, the actors I worked with (James Sutton and Stephen Billington - John-Paul &  Danny) were humble, welcoming and self-less; and the production team even shuffled things at the last minute to shoot all my scenes together so I could swan back off to Spain.