Coronation Street actor Sydney Martin, 24, returned to her old sixth form to inspire A Level Drama students pursuing careers in TV and film.
Former Haslingden High School and Sixth Form student Sydney, who plays the rebellious Betsy Swain on Coronation Street, took a break from her busy filming schedule to visit the school.
From being shot in the arm by her mother to getting into trouble at Underworld to being run over several times, Sydney has had some very interesting storylines over the two and a half years she has been on the show, and she was keen to share her experience with current drama students.
The young actor studied Drama at GCSE and A Level at Haslingden, before being accepted into Arden School of Theatre.
Here, she completed three years of training before spending eight months auditioning for roles, going up against tens of thousands of other aspiring actors, to eventually land a top role in Coronation Street.
Having been in the students’ position just a few years ago, she was asked about the process from A Levels to national TV and how to know whether it’s the right path to choose.
When asked how to deal with rejection, Sydney said:
“It can be brutal. A lot of the time you don’t get feedback after receiving a no, which can be hard, but you just have to say ‘right, okay, move on’ and go on to the next thing. My main advice to you would be to think if it’s something you can deal with. If you have the passion and determination to do it – do it. But if there is something else that is sitting in your mind, try that, because it is hard. My passion is what keeps me going. I’ve gotten to the point where I can back myself so much. You’re the only one who can back yourself – no one is going to do it for you. The rejection isn’t personal – it could be something as simple as you don’t have the right colour eyes – it is just one opinion. It’s not like Maths, where you can be really good at it and that’s it. Drama and the arts are subjective – one person might love it and another not so much”.
When asked about keeping motivated to pursue her dreams as an actor, she said:
“I just think about that little girl that absolutely loved performing. I always want to improve. I’ve gone from after-school clubs to professional classes; I’m still training. The storyline I am working on now is quite a big opportunity for me as an actor. It’s been really interesting because we worked with a lot of charities to create the storyline and I’ve learnt a lot from it”.
Sydney praised her former teachers, Jade Brady and Andy Anderson, for their positive influence on her career.
“It’s been wonderful to welcome Sydney back. This conversation has been incredibly insightful and a strong reminder about the importance of self-belief. It’s key that our students pursue their passions in life. If there is something that interests them, we always want them to go out there and just do it.”
– Andy Anderson, Drama Teacher.
Sydney is one of many former drama students who have gone on to star in shows such as Coronation Street.
The school would like to encourage former students to keep in touch and share their successes with current students.