Interview with English Actress Megan Relph

My earliest memory of acting was when I was 11, in my primary school leavers’ show. We were putting on ‘Oliver’ the musical. I was cast as the understudy for Nancy. Due to the first actress playing Nancy not earning her lines I was altered to the 1st actress for Nancy. It was then that I realized how much I love acting and how freeing it was. I was a very shy child but I felt a sense of release when I could become someone else.

As I got older, acting became a larger and larger part of my life, until I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I ended up going to Sheffield University and studying English and Theatre. When I left university I needed money so had to get a regular job. After a year and a half of retail work, I got an agent and left to focus fully on my dream career. I am filming a feature length Independent film later this year, called ‘Following the TruFors’ and have a few other smaller projects lined up.

Behind the scenes on #HIVE
Me being my usual charming self 😂😂😂@megan_relph @ThirdMan_P @BCunningham06 #actor #actors #actorslife #film #movie #trilogy #thriller #art #music #BehindTheScenes pic.twitter.com/QXQLDGjh6s

— Steven Gidwaney (@stevengidwaney) June 24, 2018

indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Megan Relph: I consider acting to be a constant study, something which we can always learn more about and should always be doing. If you don’t have a film/tv/theatre show lined up then you should be attending workshops and seeing film and theatre pieces. It’s like fitness, you need to keep it up. I trained at the University of Sheffield, doing English and Theatre. I couldn’t afford drama school, so this was my best option. I am currently training at David Johnson Drama in Manchester, which is camera based, unlike my university training. Keeping in touch with other actors’ is also important. There is an ‘Act on This TV’ group, full of like-minded actors at different stages in their career, who are great to meet up with and talk to.

indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Megan Relph: I believe in creating a full 3-dimensional character for any role you play. This means thinking about the characters’ past, their relationships, their desires, their thoughts etc. You should know your character so well that you can place them in any situation and know instantly how they would react. Improvisation can often aid this.

indieactivity: Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Megan Relph: Yes. I currently attend David Johnson Drama in Manchester.

indieactivity: What acting books do you read?
Megan Relph: There are a few set books that most actors’ have on their shelves. These include; ‘An Actor Prepares’ by Stanislavski, ‘On Acting’ by Meisner, ‘Respect for Acting’ by Uta Hagen and ‘Audition’ by Michael Shurtleff.

indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Megan Relph: I try and go to the gym at least three times a week. Mentally, I try and keep my mind active and busy. There can be big waits between auditions sometimes, so it is important to make sure you are keeping busy with reading, research or another hobby.

indieactivity: How do you prepare for a role?
Megan Relph: When I get an audition I will always read the whole script if it is given to me; even if I am only in one or two scenes. It can help you establish your character and the mood of the scenes you are in. When I prepare for a role, I will always rehearse and go over lines until I am very comfortable with them. I don’t want to be performing a scene and have to be worrying if I will remember all of my lines this time or not. There is a saying; a bad actor rehearses until he gets it right, a good actor rehearses until he can’t get it wrong. I really believe in this!

indieactivity: How do you create a character ?
Megan Relph: As said before, I will develop the character to create a believable, complex, realistic person. Every aspect of the character should be decided on. Whether fully by you or as a collaboration with a director.

indieactivity: How do you stay fresh on a production set?
Megan Relph: Before a take I will remind myself of the character and their situation in this scene and allow myself to slip into the required emotions for when ‘action’ is called. Having energy is very important, or you will begin to lag after a few takes and the rawness of the emotions will disappear.

indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Megan Relph: My first camera role in 2011 will always be prominent in my mind, from the short film ‘The Protectee’, in which I played Blair. It was filmed at Lime Pictures, where Hollyoaks in filmed. Being around that television atmosphere was great to see.

indieactivity: Explain one creative choice you took on set?
Megan Relph: If a director hasn’t given you clear instructions on your character, I will always fill in any gaps and allow this to affect my character’s movements etc. However, when acting for camera, if you make a certain movement, you will need to do the same movement at the same time for every take for continuity reasons.

indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Megan Relph: A collaboration is important. I lose to be directed but it’s sometimes great when the director allows you a certain amount of freedom to explore options too.

indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Megan Relph: I have a few heroes in the acting world. Julie Walters and Leonardo DiCaprio are among the highest for me.

indieactivity: Why?
Megan Relph: They both commit themselves fully to the character they are playing, and each character in every film is completely separate from another. I admire that originality and the hard work that must go into that.

indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Megan Relph: Keep acting! Just act and do whatever you can in the industry. Take the opportunities given to you and live like there is no tomorrow. It takes a lot of work to become a successful actor, but if you love acting then it is definitely worth it.

indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Megan Relph:

2017, Feature Film, Saphron, Following the TruFors, Clouded Sight Pictures, Anthony Sebankis
2017, Rehearsed Reading, Michelle, TREMOR, King’s Arms, Alice Brockway
2017, Rehearsed Reading, Phaedra/Pea, JERUSALEM, Straight Acting Theatre Company, Alan Stuart Malin
2017, Rehearsed Reading, Victor/Charlie, THE MASH, Manchester ADP, Noa Nikolsky
2016, Rehearsed Reading, Fidelia/Lucia, WIDOWS, Straight Acting Theatre Company, Alan Stuart Malin
2016, Feature Film, Muslims with Talent Fan, LOVE EVENTUALLY, British Muslim TV, Oz Arshad
2015, Stage, Chorus, THE ORESTEIA, HOME Theatre, Blanche McIntyre
2015, Stage, Pistol, HENRY V, Scott Corbett
2015, Event, Tracy Roundim, WHO DUNNIT? – MURDER MYSTERY, Erika Larsson-Fowler
2011, Short Film, Blair, THE PROTECTEE, Daniel Dockery