Poppy Roe

1. When you were at Brighton & Hove High School, and what is your fondest memory of school?

I was at Brighton & Hove High School from 1996-1998, and had a brilliant time. The atmosphere was encouraging, it was cool to be smart and curious – and the teachers were excellent. One of my fondest memories was joining the choir, led by the music teacher, and then forming a singing group – we created a brilliant show and performed it to parents and teachers.

2. Who was your favourite teacher and why?
My favourite teacher was unexpected – I wasn’t any good at maths, and Ms O’Callaghan, the maths teacher worked so hard to shift my confidence with the subject, it was like a personal mission of hers – she gave me a solid foundation of understanding. The feeling of being championed by someone who believes in you at that age (15/16 years) is so impactful – it lead me to believe in myself. I would love to thank her for that.

3. What were the benefits of being in an all-girls school?
From my experience of coming from a mixed school – I found all-girls to be much calmer, more focused – and I felt more supported by my peers and freer to make mistakes.

4. What did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
I always wanted to be an actor – from about 5 years of age. I loved theatre and stories – and had a big imagination that I loved to get lost in. I didn’t know any actors so I had to forge my own route into the profession – no easy task!

5. What do you do now, and what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your job?
I am an actor – It’s one of the most non-linear, unpredictable careers that exists! I performed in mainly theatre for ten years which really gave me a core grounding in the craft of acting, before moving into film and TV, and commercials work. The most challenging aspect is getting used to not getting the job – shrugging it off and moving on to the next audition. The most rewarding has been creating my own work (acting in and producing short films, then a full length feature) – and getting to work with talented, imaginative, like-minded people. Turning up on set, meeting great people, getting into a character and pretending for a living is pretty special..

6. What are you most proud of so far?
Apart from my wonderful children, I am so proud to have survived in such a difficult career!
Also I’m proud that my production partner and I managed to make our own short, and a feature film – from just an idea on a page – to raising the funds, gathering a fab cast and crew, shooting it, learning to edit (over two years work), and getting it distributed worldwide – and the bonus of winning awards (and getting BAFTA and BIFA long-listed!) for it. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and was the steepest learning curve – but I’m so proud that we did it – and can’t wait to do it again!

7. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at Brighton?
My maths teacher taught me: You can be really good at anything – if you focus on it, and do the work. Best. Advice. Ever.

8. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
Stop thinking about the next step and just enjoy the present fully. And don’t try and be perfect at something before you do it, learn as you do it – get it wrong and learn as you go along.

9. What book, film or piece of music would you recommend to your younger self and to your fellow alumnae?
I recently re-watched Paul Thomas Anderson’s film Magnolia – such an inspiring piece of work – beautifully acted, directed, and written – total imagination – and a reminder to break the mould and do it your way!

10. How would you like to be remembered?
Gosh…I’ve never thought about that before…

As a loving parent, a kind human being – as someone who enjoyed life, and inspired others to do the same.