Why a former actor is becoming a nutrition scientist

I spent my teen years and early twenties training as an actor, learning about voice, movement, character, and how to inhabit a role. What nobody taught me was how to actually fuel my body for the physical and mental demands of the work. Now, at 42, I'm about to start a PhD in nutrition science. Here's why.

I was an introvert and found solace in being part of a group, creating something that nobody else could, because it came from us. Whether it was a devised piece or scripted, it was special… but challenging for me. I spent hours commuting to college, fueled by my youth and enthusiasm. The hours I spent travelling early in the morning and getting home late at night left little room for wellness and nourishment. Looking back, I’m pretty sure I was living on pure sugar and practically no protein!

When I finished college, I realised quickly that I needed money. Money for training, travel, auditions, headshots… all that fun stuff that you don’t realise costs a lot of money. I wrecked my brain trying to figure out a way to make money while keeping myself free to do all of these things. I figured that photography was a good compromise; creative and flexible. I studied photography for a few years to make money to act. I did headshots to stay in the acting world. However, photography is expensive! I needed lenses, studio hire, a camera, editing software, etc. So, back to the drawing board. I needed something to pay for the photography… to pay for the acting.

While I was studying photography, I started going to the gym. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I liked lifting weights… and running (kind of). I hired a personal trainer (£15 at the time), and she taught me how to lift properly. It never occurred to me that I could study the human body, given my perceived intellectual ability (I didn’t do well at school), but there was a gym instructor course at a nearby college, so I signed up. I did well and was encouraged to go for the personal trainer certificate.

That was 17 years ago! I worked as a personal trainer (on and off) for around 10 years, until COVID-19 hit and essentially destroyed the client base I had. A friend, who had just graduated from university, encouraged me to apply for a degree in sports science. I applied without any expectations, since I didn’t do well in school, and held on to that belief. However, there is a massive difference between me at 16 and at 38 (thank god), and I was accepted at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I immersed myself in the course and earned a first-class degree. There was a throughline between my personal training certification and my undergraduate degree: nutrition and its importance in adaptation. The body will respond to the demands placed on it, but nutrition will determine the trajectory of that response.

I took my degree to the next level with a master’s in sport and exercise nutrition. Nutrition and its complexities are endlessly fascinating and can be incredibly overwhelming! While I’ve stopped pursuing other careers to support my acting career, my heart has always belonged to the performing arts, especially acting. I hope, with my expertise and respect for the performing arts, to help performers feel energised and fulfilled in their everyday lives and their work.