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Sharon Small - Actor
Sharon is an actor best known for her role in The BBC drama The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. She was a Brownie and a Guide in Glasgow."I believe it is the small things in life that can make the big changes."
Bill Paterson because he's a dream to work with. David Tenant - who I've known for many years. Also Phylidda Law (Emma Thompson's Mum) who is great fun to work with.
I still remember walking into The Royal Lyceum Theatre (Edinburgh) for the first time as a teenager
and thinking wow! I saw the Beggars Opera there and as I watched it thought "that's what
I want to do, that's what I want to achieve". It gave me the direction I was looking for.
No, I haven't seen any ghosts in any theatres - though I wouldn't mind. I think it would
be quite interesting.
It would be Glasgow Kiss, a beautiful love story. I loved doing it particularly as it took a long time to shoot and I was able to spend a decent length of time in and around Glasgow again.
What I particularly liked about it was that it portrayed Glasgow in a really positive light with intelligent professional people in stunning views of the city. That was quite unusual at the time, as particularly in those days Glasgow was often portrayed as a down and out, drug fuelled place, which is not fair.
It would be Plockton in the Highlands where Hamish MacBeth was filmed. It is an utterly beautiful place and amazingly peaceful. It was so quiet you could hear the cows chewing the cod The landscape is so breathtaking and ideallic, looking at it made me proud to be Scottish.
What attributes will they need in order to succeed?
To start - tenacity, resilience and a bit of bravery! Be very sure of yourself because you are going to take a lot of knocks and you have to learn to dust yourself down and start again.
In most careers you might have handful of interviews in a lifetime, but in acting you could be auditioning and rejected three times a week. It's tough and you can't be brittle and let rejection knock you.
Sometimes an audition can go really well and you are right on it and flowing really well and sometimes it goes badly. Okay, give yourself a little debrief as you leave - what can I learn from this, did I do my best etc, but then let it go.
Ultimately your drive to act has to be stronger than anything else, so internal confidence is everything. You have to believe that this is where you should be and acting is what you have to do. So also be enthusiastic about it - you have to love yourself and love what you do.
I also think that honesty is important, being honest with yourself and in your behaviour towards others. This can be quite a devious industry in some ways and keep a sense of self respect and integrity is invaluable.
I'd love to be the Guardian Angel Clarence in It's a Wonderful Life - I'd love to "get my wings"! I really love the film and its message. I believe it is the small things in life that can make the big changes.
The importance of friendship and working together in a team.
However at the same time the value of the individual and being independent. Guiding gave
me the opportunity to experience what it was like being away from home - which stood me in good
stead when I left home later on. I had the confidence that I could exist away from home and
be self-reliant.
Guiding also reinforced the worth of respect: respect for humanity and the community.
Firstly - I'm really shocked and saddened to hear this and that there are so many young girls
not getting the opportunity to be a part of Guiding. I can only encourage anyone who might like
to help volunteer in Units to come on and have a go!
I think it's as popular as ever because after all this time because its still about developing
skills in a positive environment. Through Guiding girls are given opportunities that they don't
automatically get anywhere else - such as the physical activities, the camps, being challenged
through interest badges and community projects.
I think Judi Dench is great - a truly consummate performer. Whether I watch her on film, stage or TV, I don't "see the script". I am completely at ease watching her. What I mean by that is that sometimes you can watch a performance and feel uncomfortable and can visual their words in their script.
Well I hope she would be proud that I managed to make a success out of something I set out to do with a genuine heart. Also respect that fact that I have been able to turn my life around and have achieved something that was not at all expected from where I cam from.
You know what….I'd actually really like to go to do some charity work in a developing country. I'd love to get immersed in a local community, helping build something or run drama classes in the local school. I think the physical challenge and living in a new culture would be fantastically rewarding.
Firstly Cancer Research as despite all the advances in science we still haven't managed to eradicate or find a cure. Also the children's charity - Barnados, Action Aid who fight poverty worldwide and The Environmental Investigation Agency which exposes environmental crime.
To find out more about Sharon please see
Go to main inspirational women page