Sophie Dillman has swapped the sandy dunes of Summer Bay for a life on the stage.
Columnist Sophie Dillman writes for Yahoo Lifestyle Australia. From her time on Home and Away to what it’s like to be in the spotlight and fall in love at work, Sophie will share intimate insights.
I’m traveling to my first day of Breakfast with Johnny Wilkenson rehearsals while I type this. This is my first job since leaving the sands of Summer Bay, and it’s a pretty amusing theater piece being produced by Wanstead Theatre Company in East London.
Sophie is returning to school, and I trust that the readers of this post are mature enough to recognize the allusion to Billy Madison in the title. I’ve always imagined myself as an actress in the theater. My acting instructor actually told me that my best chance would be in theater because of my chubby face, which wouldn’t translate well on screen.
No matter what that guy said, I was a huge fan of stage work. My notion of utopia would be to be able to do a live show with audience participation, a tale told in chronological sequence, and just one take a night to make it perfect.
In equal measure, I was thrilled and terrified when this position was offered to me. Happy because the director, actors, and producers are wonderful, the story is amusing, and the character is a lot of fun. Right now, though, the emotion of being terrified is clearly stronger than the excitement.
I’ve spent the last seven years playing Ziggy, with the exception of one year when I played a retired and jobless Sophie. Suddenly, after taking months and months off, I’m putting myself into a completely different character, attempting to recall how to do my job while surrounded by complete strangers.
It’s not uncommon for people to feel uneasy about beginning a new career. I have solicited numerous recommendations and advice from friends and coworkers, and I am currently implementing some of the suggestions that I have received.
You are not alone
Sophie… get your sh*t together. You are not the first person walking into a new workplace and you certainly won’t be the last. It is normal to be nervous and feel inadequate. All you need is time, so just be patient.
Back yourself
You didn’t hold these people hostage and threaten to shave their heads. They hired you because they believed you had something of value to bring to the team. You DO know what you are doing, you HAVE done it before and you WILL do it again.
Get excited
Starting fresh in a workplace means there are no expectations. No one knows you or how you do things. This is the perfect opportunity to try something new, tweak your style or completely revamp all together. The ball is 100% in your court, and you have the power.
GET IT!
OK, my tube stop is coming up…. I am taking a deep breath… finishing my questionable English coffee and adjusting my bra. I deserve to have a go at this, and I deserve to enjoy the process – so do you.
