Actress Christina Baily talks to Cassie Powney about acting in Hollyoaks and onstage, and how her studies helped her achieve her dreams
In an era where reality TV shows are seen as a fast track to fame, and where the line between celebrity and actor has been severely blurred, it’s refreshing to meet an actress who got her degree, trained hard and paid her dues to get where she is today.
27-year-old Christina Baily graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2002, with BA honours in drama and sports science. She then went on to gain a masters in professional acting at the Arts Educational Drama School, before embarking on a successful television and theatre career. We met up with her to find out exactly how much hard work goes into staking a claim in one of the most sought after industries…
Did you always plan to go to university?
No, I didn’t think I was clever enough! I thought I was going to fail my GCSEs but then I did quite well. So I did my A-Levels and realised I could combine two things I really enjoyed at university – drama and sport.
What made you choose the university you went to?
There weren’t many universities that did drama and sports science as joint honours, it’s a bit of a strange combination! I went to view Manchester Metropolitan and from the moment I walked in I was like, ‘I want to go here!’ Also, their courses were very practical, so I knew I’d be doing more acting, which was important for me.
How did you decide which subject to pursue further? Did you enjoy both?
I enjoyed the practicality of drama and sport - apart from gymnastics, which I hated. I don’t know how I did the required headstand and vault to pass! So I knew I was never going to be an elite athlete, and I also knew I wanted to enter the acting industry well trained. That way if people ever judged me I could say, ‘Well I’ve got a degree and a masters actually!’ and give them the V sign…
As an actress, how do you feel about reality TV?
Don’t get me wrong, I find reality TV really entertaining and I can’t help but watch it, but it does sacrifice other stuff on the television. There aren’t as many good dramas any more, which means actors aren’t getting as many auditions.
Did life after university meet your expectations?
I didn’t have any expectations. I’ve always thought, ‘I’ll give what I want to do a go as far as I can, and if I can get work out of it, brilliant.’ I was very lucky, I went straight out of drama school and into my first audition for Hollyoaks. I turned up in black, with my hair scraped back, no makeup on, and there was literally a corridor of blonde girls in short skirts. I must have been in and out of there in about three minutes! But a few weeks later I got a recall and was told I was good, but needed to be more glamorous for the role. So I borrowed all my friends’ stuff - designer clothes and perfume - and finally got the part of Danni Carbone.
What have you been up to since (Hollyoaks)? I landed a role in a play called ‘Looking For JJ’, which was based on a book by Anne Cassidy and re-written and directed for Pilot Theatre company. The show ended up winning a TMA London Theatre Award and was also nominated for a Manchester Evening News award, which was amazing! I’ve done various other bits too, an episode of Holby City, some outdoor Shakespeare. That’s what I love about my job, the variety.
What’s your fondest memory of university?
Getting my independence I guess, meeting new people in a totally different city. Oh, and falling in love for the first time!
Do you have any advice for people about to graduate?
Stay at uni! No, seriously, just stay true to what you enjoy and remember the reasons why you chose the degree you did. At times this industry can be tough, you have to accept down time and that’s what I struggle with the most, but I never doubt my career choices. That’s the joy of having a degree and a masters behind you, it’s a reminder of how hard you worked to get there and that you were good enough to graduate in the first place. Always keep the job you really want to do in your sight and stay passionate about it, because that way you have more chance of success and contentment in the future.
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