Diploma Spotlight: Duncan Hess

We caught up with Duncan Hess, who studied on Central’s Gap Year Diploma in 2018-19. Since then, Duncan has appeared in a variety of roles including a part as a supernumerary in Phaedra at the National Theatre. Duncan has also been featured in the Guardian column ‘A new start after 60’.

Earlier this year, you were featured in a Guardian article where you discussed your roles including appearing as a supernumerary in Phaedra at the National Theatre. What have been the highlights of your acting career so far?

In the way of these things, I went from a non-speaking part in front of 900 people in the Lyttelton every night to a part in a new play put on in an orchard by the A58 just outside Wetherby. 

It was a play loosely based on King Lear and I had the great joy of playing the lead. There were probably only 30 people a night in the audience, but they laughed at the funny parts, and some cried as my character, Alan, slipped into dementia.

I learnt a lot from playing Alan. It was a massive part to learn, and I was pretty pleased with how that went. But probably the biggest learning experience was when I, or another cast member, did make a wrong turn. We managed to dig ourselves out of holes, I believe, without the audience knowing.

Early last year I made my professional debut in two short comedies at Birmingham Rep, one directed by the Artistic Director, Sean Foley. In at the deep end, sink or swim. 

I think I swam! And another fabulous experience working in a huge producing theatre. 

And I NEVER tired of telling people that my childhood hero, Laurence Olivier, also made his professional debut at Birmingham Rep.  (He was my “specialist subject” in the school Mastermind in 1974!)

In the article, you talked about how acting was a ‘teenage dream’ that you had carried with you for many years. How has it felt to turn your dream into a reality?

I wanted to be an actor since I was 15, but I was 58 before I did anything about it. Some people might think, “Well, you can’t have wanted it that much!” But sometimes life, work and family take you down different paths. 

My only regret now is that it took me so long. The joy of being in a rehearsal room and the overwhelming thrill of walking out in front of an audience is simply irreplaceable in any other job. (Even my old job of directing live TV doesn’t come close.)

You were one of the Acting Diploma Class of 2019. What role has the Diploma played in your acting journey so far?

The Acting Diploma at Central was a great way to start my journey. The staff were brilliant and the course structure covered so much. 

In all my training, I’m always at least 30 years older than anyone else in the room. The inclusive atmosphere at Central really helped me build my confidence. The final production was a joy to work on.

What would you say to someone thinking about pursuing their own dream of becoming an actor?

As far as advice for anyone else is concerned, I’m not one of those people who says “never give up“. But, goodness me, you really have to give it a long time. Five years? Ten years? And as anyone in the business will tell you, the constant rejection can be very disheartening. You’re bound to take it personally, and that’s something you have to learn to deal with.

Not to be patronising, but I think you need to consider long and hard why you want to act. If deep down, it’s to be rich and famous, you’re probably setting yourself onto a very painful path.  I know it’s a terrible old cliché, but it’s not a question of wanting to act, it’s a question of needing to act.

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Central offers a range of diploma courses, including the Acting Diploma and Online Acting Diploma. Find out more on our Diplomas page.