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From Nottingham to Hollywood: Interview With Actor Rachel Grant
- Emily Maguire
- Mar 21, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 16
In the premiere episode of the podcast Inside Entertainment Industry Careers, we feature the talented actor Rachel Grant. Join us as we explore the captivating journey of Nottingham-born Rachel Grant, from her early exposure to the arts to her iconic role in the James Bond film "Die Another Day." Gain valuable insights and tips for aspiring actors as Rachel shares her experiences and wisdom from her career journey.
In this captivating interview, Rachel Grant, a Nottingham-born actress known for her iconic role in the James Bond film "Die Another Day," shares her inspiring journey from Nottingham to Hollywood. Rachel discusses her early experiences watching movies and performing in dance shows, which ignited her passion for the arts. She takes us through her journey from Nottingham to London, where she attended a performing arts school and began auditioning for various roles.
Rachel offers valuable insights and tips for aspiring actors, emphasising the importance of enjoying the audition process and learning from every experience. She highlights the significance of training and working with other actors to develop skills and the value of having additional talents that can complement acting and open up more opportunities. Rachel also stresses the importance of being proactive and having a side hustle to support oneself during rest periods. Finally, she reminds actors to focus on their love for acting rather than the desire for fame.
Listen to Podcast: Episode 1 with Rachel Grant
Childhood Inspiration and Early Performance Experiences
Rachel Grant always knew she wanted to be an actress. From a young age, she was captivated by movies like E.T. and loved performing in dance shows.
"Oh yes. 100% since I was age four or five, I went to the movie theatre as we did back then. Everybody would gather together every week. But the first movie I ever watched was ET. And gosh, I loved it. I just couldn't believe this alien and all the fantasy that went around it and the make-believe."
She attended a wonderful dance school where they put on huge theatrical shows every year.
"I loved the different feelings and emotions that went through my body and vibrated through to my toes and fingertips as a performer, whether it would be expressing myself through voice and through acting or through the emotion going through my body through dance movement or singing."
Performing brought Rachel immense joy and a sense of elevation.
"Talking about it now, if you were to see me now, I've got my arms going up in the air, and my legs are being lifted off the floor. I'm about to elevate. And that's what performance and acting do. It elevates me to this level where I feel closer to my creator; I'm elevated as a human being, and it makes me so happy. And for me, making other people happy through performing is wonderful."
Rachel also appreciates the differences between performing on stage and in front of the camera.
"Being in front of the camera, you don't have that live performance that you have on stage. You can do it again and again, and you can keep reliving those moments and find other ways to express that moment and that feeling in a variety of ways. And I love that."
She enjoys the challenge of working with directors and casting directors to explore different ways of expressing emotions.
"When a director or a casting director says, say it in another way, or what if you're feeling this on this take and you have to do it in another way, it's just lovely to work those muscles, those feelings."
Drama School and Nottingham's Influence on the Arts
Rachel grew up in Nottingham, a city rich in arts and culture. She attended the Morrison School of Dancing and participated in various competitions across England.
"We were really exposed to the arts in Nottingham because we have all sorts of arts going on in the theatre and movie theatres. You know that Nottingham had so many great arts, musicals, and orchestras. And I'm very grateful to Nottingham because it was one of the best cities in which to grow up with the arts."
Rachel's teacher, Miss Morrison, was a significant influence, teaching performance to both deaf and blind students.
"Miss Morrison, who is this wonderful teacher of performance, also taught deaf people and blind people how to perform on stage. She really was amazing. And she taught until she was 97."
London Studio Centre and Gratefulness to Nottingham
Rachel and her sister moved to London to attend the London Studio Centre, thanks to grants from Nottingham. This experience helped Rachel gain confidence and start auditioning for productions and commercials.
"I'm really grateful for that, and the London Studio Centre had us auditioning; I think the week I arrived, I was auditioning for productions and commercials straight away."
Rachel's first audition was for a Coca-Cola commercial, which taught her valuable lessons about the industry.
"I was auditioning for a Coca-Cola commercial, and they wanted dancers as performers. I had no idea how I should dress for a Coca-Cola commercial. I think it was like Michael Jackson or something that was promoting Coca-Cola. And I remember going in my tracksuit bottoms. I didn't get the job, but you know, you live and you learn."
Learning from Auditions and Mistakes
Rachel emphasises the importance of enjoying the audition process and learning from each experience.
"Every job that you go for is part of your training, whether it's a commercial, a play, an audition, that preparation that you do as an actor."
She believes that every audition, whether successful or not, helps build character and connections within the industry.
"Even if you don't get the job or the next one you are building, you're learning how to build a character. And, you know, I just learned to enjoy auditioning in the end, even if it wasn't for me, the role, or I didn't get the role, because in the end, you are gonna get something, and it is all part of the process."
Favourite Roles and Revisiting James Bond
While Rachel's role in James Bond's "Die Another Day" is memorable, she also cherishes her role as Nina on the Sci-Fi channel's "Sci-Fright."
"I just purchased an exact copy of that dress from a Seattle thrift store. I'm wearing it for an official 007 Bond event in April in Washington, DC, at the Spy Museum."
Rachel enjoyed the creative freedom she had with the role of Nina.
"The production allowed me to be very free with the role, and it's not often that you get that opportunity. I've always loved horror films. So it was; the genre was horror, and it was comedy, too. So, for me, that was a real favourite of mine."
Best Piece of Acting Advice
Rachel advises actors to relax and enjoy the audition process, rather than focusing too much on getting the job.
"I just need to relax. It's not a job. I should just enjoy being this character."
She believes that a relaxed and enjoyable performance often leads to better results and more frequent bookings.
"Sometimes, when you want the job so much, that gets in the way. So I remember the times I didn't maybe try so hard to get the job, and I was more relaxed, and I just enjoyed being in that moment and enjoyed the performance and enjoyed creating that character, and that was when it worked best."
The Role of Training and Talent in Acting
Rachel highlights the importance of both talent and training in acting. She shares examples of actors who started with limited talent but became successful through training and experience.
"Training is always recommended, and Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger have had acting classes, and many of them."
She encourages actors to continuously develop their skills through auditions, role preparation and workshops.
"How does that character walk? Sit down and people-watch. Who are you being? Who are you portraying? There are so many ways you can learn, train, and develop your skills as an actor in endless amounts."
Utilise Different Skillsets
Rachel advises actors to leverage their additional skills, such as martial arts or sports, to open up more opportunities.
"If you can play football, you never know. I remember when they were auditioning girls with football skills for the movie Bend It Like Beckham."
She believes that having other talents can complement acting and open up more opportunities.
"You might just have other talents that can lend themselves well to a role or something else."
Changes in Approaching Acting Roles
Rachel discusses how the approach to acting roles has changed over the years, with advancements in technology making it easier to share acting reels and connect with casting directors.
"Nowadays, we can just press buttons, and people get them in seconds."
She emphasises the importance of adapting to these changes and utilising new platforms.
"There are ways we can put ourselves out there that weren't available back then. I feel there are more people doing this now, and there are more things being thrown at us, but then there are also more channels and avenues that need actors and people."
Having a Side Hustle as an Actor
Rachel stresses the importance of having a side hustle to support oneself during rest periods.
"You have to have a side hustle or something going along, or you have something to fall back on."
She shares examples of actors who created successful side projects that complemented their acting careers.
"I know someone in New York who was an actor, and he just couldn't stand waiting for his agent to call anymore. He created a one-man show and went around schools. He's working with children now, and he's still able to audition on the side. He's his own boss, and he loves what he's doing."
Not Focusing on Fame
Rachel reminds actors that the pursuit of fame should not be an actor's primary goal.
"You can't be in this to be famous. It's just such an unhealthy thing to want to be famous."
She believes that true happiness and success in acting come from a genuine love for the craft, rather than a desire for fame.
"That's not what being happy is about or being an actor is about. It really isn't. So just remember that that should not be at the forefront of your mind; that shouldn't be your aim. So you have to be in it for the right reasons."
Short Biography
Rachel Grant is most famously known for her role as ‘Peaceful Fountains of Desire’, James Bond’s would-be assassin in ‘Die Another Day’, opposite Pierce Brosnan. Born in the Philippines, Rachel Grant (de Longueuil) is a British actress, TV presenter/host, travel expert, videographer, and entrepreneur based in New York.
Rachel's film credits also include roles alongside Jean Claude Van Damme and Stephen Rea in "Until Death", "The Tournament" with Robert Carlyle and "The Purifiers" with Dominic Monaghan. She began her television career with a role on the popular UK soap "Emmerdale" and later became SyFy UK's most-watched TV slot as horror hostess Nina in Friday night's Sci-fright. Additionally, she portrayed Professor Myang Li in Sky One's popular show "Brainiac: Science Abuse" and showcased her martial arts skills as the nunchaku twirling master Kali in the BBC TV show Masters Of Combat. She also served as a body double for Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider.
