knew that she was only one name on a long list of actors represented by Alana, but now she felt as if she’d gone from minor to minuscule.
Alana carried on: ‘I’ve been approached to put some clients forward for a new comedy drama for the BBC. I threw your name in as a last-minute thought.’
‘Great,’ said Jess faintly.
‘And, I’ve got you an audition. Tomorrow. Nine o’clock. Off the Charing Cross Road somewhere.’
‘Nine a.m.?’
‘Of course nine a.m. I’ll send an email with details. Good luck. And
try
to look the part.’
‘How do they want me to look?’ But Alana had already rung off.
*
‘
Konnichiwa
! That’s Thai for hello, isn’t it?’
‘No, Em, that’s Japanese.’ Desperate for a friendly voice to lift her spirits and distract her from her woes, Jess had phoned her sister. Emma was younger by three years and lived in rural chaos somewhere in Kent with her musician husband Dan (who never seemed to have an actual paying job) and a headstrong five-year-old son called Max.
‘How’s my favourite nephew?’ asked Jess.
‘That’s because he’s your only nephew. Oh, you know, the usual. I heard one of the mums at school refer to him as Mad Max the other day. Might have been something to do with the little horror locking the reception teacher out of the classroom and leading the kids in a mini revolt.’
Jess laughed. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be Prime Minister one day.’
‘If that happens, I’m emigrating. How was Thailand?’
‘It was amazing …’ Jess’s voice wavered.
‘You don’t sound too sure of that.’
‘No, no, no,’ Jess protested. ‘Ryan was great, really attentive, made me feel like a princess.’
‘About time too,’ said Emma.
‘He’ll be off shooting
Venini
again soon.’
‘Ah. And you’re feeling – what, exactly? Wish you were going with him?’
‘No, it isn’t that.’ Jess hesitated, wondering how to put it into words. ‘I mean, I will miss him, but … I’m feeling so rootless. It’s been ages since I had a decent role to get my teeth into and I just don’t know if it’s ever going to happen for me. Ryan says I should get a job as a school secretary.’
‘What?’ Emma spluttered. ‘Well, that’s just typical! Look, I know you adore the pants off the guy and always have – hell, we really like Ryan too; he’s fun when he remembers not to take himself too seriously – but selfless he ain’t. God forbid he’d have the time or the energy to support you in the same way that you’ve been there for him.’
‘He does support me. He took me to Thailand, didn’t he?’
Emma’s voice softened. ‘Look, Sis, you are a bloody amazing actress. You’re not some bimbo starlet, you’re the real deal. Remember how Mum and Dad helped you get through stage school, paying for all those extra acting lessons? They weren’t just indulging you because it was what you wanted, they did it because they believed in you, because you had a talent that was worth nurturing.’
Despite herself, tears sprang into Jess’s eyes. Mum and Dad had been gone over a decade now, both having succumbed to cancer within a few years of each other, but not a day went by when she didn’t miss them.
‘Don’t quit yet, Jess. Something will happen for you, I’m convinced of it.’
Jess swiped the tears from her eyes. She didn’t know what she would do without Emma. It felt good to know there was someone in her corner, loving her unconditionally.
‘In the meantime,’ said Em briskly, ‘when are you next coming down? It’s been months since we saw you. Dan’s got a big jam in a couple of weeks – he and some of the other layabouts have got a mini music festival going on at the local pub. There’ll be beer. And possibly fags.’
‘Em! I thought you’d quit?’
‘Yeah, well, that would make me too perfect. See if you can persuade Big Head to join you.’
‘He’ll be filming. I’ll come though. Can’t wait to see Max.’
‘OK, but don’t
Alana carried on: ‘I’ve been approached to put some clients forward for a new comedy drama for the BBC. I threw your name in as a last-minute thought.’
‘Great,’ said Jess faintly.
‘And, I’ve got you an audition. Tomorrow. Nine o’clock. Off the Charing Cross Road somewhere.’
‘Nine a.m.?’
‘Of course nine a.m. I’ll send an email with details. Good luck. And
try
to look the part.’
‘How do they want me to look?’ But Alana had already rung off.
*
‘
Konnichiwa
! That’s Thai for hello, isn’t it?’
‘No, Em, that’s Japanese.’ Desperate for a friendly voice to lift her spirits and distract her from her woes, Jess had phoned her sister. Emma was younger by three years and lived in rural chaos somewhere in Kent with her musician husband Dan (who never seemed to have an actual paying job) and a headstrong five-year-old son called Max.
‘How’s my favourite nephew?’ asked Jess.
‘That’s because he’s your only nephew. Oh, you know, the usual. I heard one of the mums at school refer to him as Mad Max the other day. Might have been something to do with the little horror locking the reception teacher out of the classroom and leading the kids in a mini revolt.’
Jess laughed. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be Prime Minister one day.’
‘If that happens, I’m emigrating. How was Thailand?’
‘It was amazing …’ Jess’s voice wavered.
‘You don’t sound too sure of that.’
‘No, no, no,’ Jess protested. ‘Ryan was great, really attentive, made me feel like a princess.’
‘About time too,’ said Emma.
‘He’ll be off shooting
Venini
again soon.’
‘Ah. And you’re feeling – what, exactly? Wish you were going with him?’
‘No, it isn’t that.’ Jess hesitated, wondering how to put it into words. ‘I mean, I will miss him, but … I’m feeling so rootless. It’s been ages since I had a decent role to get my teeth into and I just don’t know if it’s ever going to happen for me. Ryan says I should get a job as a school secretary.’
‘What?’ Emma spluttered. ‘Well, that’s just typical! Look, I know you adore the pants off the guy and always have – hell, we really like Ryan too; he’s fun when he remembers not to take himself too seriously – but selfless he ain’t. God forbid he’d have the time or the energy to support you in the same way that you’ve been there for him.’
‘He does support me. He took me to Thailand, didn’t he?’
Emma’s voice softened. ‘Look, Sis, you are a bloody amazing actress. You’re not some bimbo starlet, you’re the real deal. Remember how Mum and Dad helped you get through stage school, paying for all those extra acting lessons? They weren’t just indulging you because it was what you wanted, they did it because they believed in you, because you had a talent that was worth nurturing.’
Despite herself, tears sprang into Jess’s eyes. Mum and Dad had been gone over a decade now, both having succumbed to cancer within a few years of each other, but not a day went by when she didn’t miss them.
‘Don’t quit yet, Jess. Something will happen for you, I’m convinced of it.’
Jess swiped the tears from her eyes. She didn’t know what she would do without Emma. It felt good to know there was someone in her corner, loving her unconditionally.
‘In the meantime,’ said Em briskly, ‘when are you next coming down? It’s been months since we saw you. Dan’s got a big jam in a couple of weeks – he and some of the other layabouts have got a mini music festival going on at the local pub. There’ll be beer. And possibly fags.’
‘Em! I thought you’d quit?’
‘Yeah, well, that would make me too perfect. See if you can persuade Big Head to join you.’
‘He’ll be filming. I’ll come though. Can’t wait to see Max.’
‘OK, but don’t
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