I’m a UK-based actress who is a MetFilm School grad, and I’ve spent the last two seasons filming Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale (with Season 2 still to be released) Basically, I went from classes where we cried in circles and overanalysed Chekhov to a professional set where things had to get done before lunch. It was a shift. A beautiful, chaotic and slightly terrifying one. I thought I’d be prepared. And in many ways, I was. But the real learning started when the cameras rolled… So, here’s what I actually took from training that helped me, and the stuff I had to figure out on my personal journey.
What I Took from Acting Class
The Collaborative Nature of Film Sets
At drama school, we were constantly shoved into groups and told to make something brilliant by 5 p.m. It was stressful, but now I get it. On a real set, you’re surrounded by an army of people from ADs, DOPs and runners to lighting techs, sound, wardrobe and many more. Everyone has a job to do. There’s a strict schedule and no time for ego. Having experience working with different personalities under pressure helped me slot in and focus on the work.
The Techniques
When it comes to the practitioners and techniques we learn at drama school, it’s completely normal to hate some of it. Not everything will click, and honestly, some of it might never make sense for you and that’s fine. Everyone’s acting journey is personal. You’ll end up keeping the bits that feel useful and quietly ditching the rest. For me, there was one technique in particular that really stuck and changed how I approach emotional work. We were learning Stanislavski’s “magic if,” and something clicked. Imagining myself in the character’s situation worked way better for me than digging through old emotional trauma, like the emotional memory technique. Personally, once I’ve experienced something intense, I tend to emotionally detach from it, so memory recall doesn’t do much for me. “What if” gave me access to honest reactions without all the mental gymnastics. It came in especially handy when I had to deliver a vulnerable, emotionally layered arc in Sanctuary, where being present in the moment mattered more than anything else.
Self-Assurance
One thing I definitely took from acting school was performance confidence. After doing so many scenes in front of my classmates, taking feedback, trying things that felt odd, failing and figuring it out, I learned how to stop being so self-conscious. That’s helped me so much on set. When you’re filming, there’s a large group of filmmakers and of course they’re all focused on getting the shot. It’s easy to spiral and get in your head, but I’ve learned to block that out and just stay present. Trust the work. Take the note. Keep it moving.
What I Learned on Set
Research is great but don’t lose yourself
I love research. It is great for context. A timeline, a backstory, a niche historical reference, etc. I’m all in. But there were moments where I realised I was performing what I thought someone like my character would do, instead of what I would do in their shoes. And that’s a trap. Because nine times out of ten, you’ve been cast to bring you into the role. Not a textbook version of someone else. Over-researching can easily become a disguise for doubt. Trusting your instincts is harder, but it’s way more authentic and therefore watchable
Networking is on you
There’s no class on how to stay connected to a director or bump into a casting assistant on purpose without it being creepy. On set, I quickly learned that building relationships and staying visible is completely up to you. It’s not about “selling yourself”, it’s just about being a kind, switched-on person who’s present and respectful. Even with training, I am the one who gets me to the gig so what happens after, that’s also on me.
No one warned me about the importance of admin work
Seriously. Why was I spending so much time learning how to cry on cue when I should’ve been shown how to handle the business side? The admin side of acting is real. Sorting tax, managing your money, updating your headshots, sending your availability, making self-tapes on short notice – It’s all very much part of the job.
Communicating with directors matters
One of the most useful things I’ve picked up is how to have a quick, clear conversation with a director. Sometimes the note makes sense, sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, if you need clarity, speak up. Just do it kindly. Directors want you to succeed because then everyone else on the team does. If something doesn’t feel right, try a take their way and then offer something else. Sometimes the best takes come out of those in-between conversations, where neither of you is fully sure but you find it together.
A Moment from Sanctuary
The first day on Sanctuary, I remember meeting the cast and crew and feeling that mix of nerves and “yes, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.” The long days flew by. It was a set full of people who cared about the story, about the work, about the little details. And when that’s the energy, the job doesn’t feel like work. You lose yourself in it, in the best way.
Final Thoughts
Acting school helped me give myself a foundation. Being on set taught me how to stand on it, wobble a bit, and not fall over. The biggest lesson? You’re never done learning. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to stay open, adaptable, and ready to laugh when things go weird (because they will).
And honestly, that’s when the real acting happens.
