Acting lessons and Audition coaching. Audition panellist 15 years .Award nominated actress Drama school prep and mentoring. Scene study and analysis. RCSSD trained. High success rate of drama school

Find out more about Lorna

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

  I'm first generation black British. My parents came to the United Kingdom many years ago and they both loved the arts in their own way.
  My mum came here to be a singer and my dad a tailor.
  When I studied my first Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice, at secondary school, he was able to help me understand it as he had studied the same play back in Jamaica. Lucky me!
  This gave me a bridge into that world, a real understanding of the complexities of the play and a love of the language, so i never felt that it was outside of me.

• 2) Which artists or works affect you the most?

  I'm a truth seeker in life and in my work and that's really what i most admire in other artists.
  Cate Blanchett, Angela Bassett, Amy Adams, Helen McCrory, Nicola Walker and Tamara Lawrence are some of the artist's that often leave me inspired.
  I guess the thing that connects them all is the courage that they have, but also the truth.
  They make it look easy, there's no sense of 'and now i am going to act'.
  I also love fine art and painting in particular.
  You can often find me in the portrait or National gallery looking for characters and inspiration.

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

  If anyone had told the younger me the journey i would go on to be and maintain being an actor, i would never have believed it!
  I was never a confident person, but i knew i had something to give to the industry.
  Over the years my career has included nominations and long periods of unemployment.
  Acting is a lifestyle.
  The most important qualities and skills required to succeed, i feel, are talent, tenacity, confidence, patience, kindness, wisdom and the life long journey of self love. Always remembering that we do this because we love it and that you can be creative with or without a job.
  My prayer is and always will be to fulfil my greatest potential.

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

  Always go back to why you are doing it, because we have choices and could be doing something else, despite life telling us the contrary at times.
  Remember to play, keep drilling for deeper answers and enjoy the process.

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

  My passion fuels my purpose.
  There is a reason that art is in every culture in some form or another.
  It is important.
  In recent years, many actor's have been made to feel that it isn't.
  Art is intrinsic to human happiness.
  This drives me on.

• 6) What creative achievements are you particularly proud of?

  I am proud of being nominated for best supporting actress in my very first feature and last year being put forward for an Emmy.
  Above all i am proud of pursuing my dream of being an actor, now living that and working with incredible artists.
  Every job has the ability to transform us, if we are open to it.

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

  I am always surprised by my students, but two especially come to mind:
  One who was pregnant when she came to me and wanted to retrain from a choreographer to an actor.
  She planned to work with me on her audition monologues, have her baby, audition for drama school, gain a place and become an actress.
  She did it all!
  Another student spoke very little English when we met, but by the time she left me, she had 3 Shakespeare Monologues, two moderns and a place at the Royal Central school of speech and Drama

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

  I think the key/secret is to love teaching my craft.
  Also, to see each student as they are and at the same time the dream of who they want to be.
  Enabling them to bridge that is the privilege.
  I absolutely try to respond to the person in front of me and what their specific needs are. This is the joy of teaching .
  Blocks can be a really essential turning point for both the student and the teacher.