I was at RADA – the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – the most prestigious place to study acting. Back then only one in 200 girls was accepted each term, and on top of that I was awarded a scholarship. The gods were already holding my hand. RADA was vibrant, busy, demanding and thoroughly challenging. I knew I was really lucky – I’d found what I wanted to do with my life and I’d landed in the best place to do it. I was completely immersed. Mime, music, dance, speech, diction, fencing, studying playwrights – and balancing a budget. I could afford either a lipstick or cigarettes or lunch. On the days I chose lunch, to save time I used to pour soup on top of mashed potato on top of a salad, gobble it up and get back to studying. I never drank and I didn’t know of the existence of drugs. My life was down to earth and full. One day, hot, sweaty and in my leotard, having just finished a movement class, I went up to the roof for some fresh air before voice class. It was an ordinary day of back-to-back classes, enjoyable but nothing special.
