@Susan Regan Hi Susan, I completely understand how you feel. I re-entered the industry at 62 myself, so I know these things take time. But I also know that age doesn’t mean the opportunities have passed us by. I’m currently ranked number one in the World Monologue Games. I was seen through that competition, and the next thing I knew, I was getting my first casting opportunity for a role opposite Joey King. So please don’t give up—you never know which performance or connection will open the next door. This platform is still in its early days, and it really is me answering you not a robot. As the platform and our community grow, I’ll be addressing much more of this. I believe in the AI support tools we have on our website subscription , but for me, this is about something bigger: building a genuine community where we can support and learn from one another. Can I ask whether you have an agent, and whether you’re happy with them? Finding the right representation has changed my own trajectory as an actress. I’ve actually told my agent that I’m taking 6 months away from acting to focus on building this community, because I truly believe in what it can become. Your life experience is not something you need to overcome. It is part of what gives your acting depth, truth and value—and there is absolutely still a place for you.

@Susan Regan Thank you for saying that about the loneliness. It is real, and honestly it is one of the biggest reasons we built this community. You are not doing this on your own anymore. Now, the agent question. First, please hear this: not having an agent right now says nothing about your talent. Spotlight and Equity are the right places to be, but they are directories and advice pages. What moves the needle is a targeted, personal approach. A few things I have seen work again and again over the years: Stop submitting wide and start submitting narrow. Choose a shortlist of agencies whose client lists actually have a gap you fill, rather than the biggest names. An agent needs a reason to sign you that serves their list, not just your CV. Make every approach personal. One page, addressed to a named agent, with a clear line about why them specifically, and one strong piece of footage they can watch in under 90 seconds. That gets read. Mass emails do not. Give them something to see. Agents sign actors who are in motion. A short film, a fringe run, a staged reading, a cracking self tape. Momentum is the most attractive quality an unrepresented actor can have. And here is a little serendipity: one of the courses I am building right now is on exactly this subject, finding an agent in the UK, because so many brilliant actors are stuck at precisely this point. It will lay out a clear path, including how AI can genuinely assist you along the way, doing the research and the legwork so you can put your energy into the acting. You have just confirmed why it needs to exist. Watch this space. In the meantime, keep showing up here. You are in the right room. Tracey x

@Sofia Reis Sofia, welcome! We are so glad you found us. Lisbon is a beautiful part of the world to be acting from, and it is lovely to have Portugal represented in here so early on. Make yourself at home. Have a look at the calendar too, because Dee Wallace is live with us this Thursday and we would love to see you there. Tell us a little about where you are in your acting journey when you get a moment. We read everything. Tracey and Claire

I’ve just shared my winning World Monologue Games entry from 2023. The competition has become much tougher since then, with more than 7,000 entries in the last World Monologue Games, and although I am still incredibly proud to hold the number one global ranking, there have been some very close calls in the years that followed. But you know what? It is time for somebody else to take the title this year, and I would absolutely love it to be someone from this community. So take the time, make strong choices and really commit to the work, because you never know who might see it. Winning the competition certainly helped me to be seen by casting directors again after spending so many years on the other side of the camera, and it became an important part of finding my way back into acting. Start working on those monologues, guys. It is worth it.

And if you have a monologue you're working on, I'd love you to share it with the community for feedback. Watching each other's work is one of the best ways actors learn, and giving thoughtful feedback is just as valuable as receiving it. This is a supportive space where we encourage one another, celebrate progress, and help each other grow. Every actor starts somewhere, so bring the work you're proud of, the work you're struggling with, or the work you're still figuring out. That's what we're here for.

@Eliza Leonard It's going to be a great session - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was one of my favourite films growing up. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and by the time I walked out of the cinema, I was completely in love with this tiny little alien. That's the magic of great storytelling, and it's one of the reasons I'm so excited to be welcoming Dee Wallace to our Live From The Cockpit masterclass.