New talent: Noel Clarke on Tamsin Egerton

32-year-old writer, director and star of 'Kidulthood' and 'Adulthood' on why the 'St Trinian's' girl Tamsin Egerton is top of his acting class

‘I wouldn’t put a job title on my business card. This country has a thing about always trying to box people into one category. If you do more than one thing in America, it’s embraced. I like being an actor, a writer and a director, and I want to grow in all of those areas.

‘I didn’t go to drama school but I’ve wanted to act since I was five. Growing up in Ladbroke Grove didn’t especially influence my acting or my directing (my influences came from America: Spike Lee, then later Tarantino and Kevin Smith, especially – his dialogue is amazing). My first break came in 1999 when I was working in a Kensington gym and was spotted by [writer, director and producer] Rikki Beadle-Blair, which led to me starring in his Channel 4 television series “Metrosexuality”. Writing-wise though, my influences came from where I grew up, which is where my films are set. When I saw films about that area, they didn’t really show anything about my life at all. So “Kidulthood” (2004) was partly based on my own experiences. Obviously I think “Kidulthood” and “Adulthood” are special, but their success is that they’re original – different. That’s why people are watching them. You can’t describe “Adulthood” as cult. It hasn’t got big stars. You can make blockbusters all day long, but people want to see films about where they live now. “Kidulthood” was hard to get made, and in the end it had to be made privately. “Adulthood” wasn’t as difficult due to the success of my first film, but it wasn’t easy either.

‘It’s very difficult for new talent to break through, which is as it should be. That’s what separates people who are in it for the wrong reasons from those who work hard. I’ve helped by giving unsigned acts and new actors a chance. Give me the chance to do a project, and I’ll fill it with fresh faces and music, and hopefully they will go on to bigger and better things.

‘I still don’t think I’ve broken through, because there are certain talk shows I can’t get on. You can’t ever get complacent, can’t ever brag or be arrogant; you have to keep your real friends around you and your feet on the ground and work as hard as you can. That’s all I try to do.’

Noel’s choices

Tamsin Egerton, 19, actor
‘In terms of British actresses, Tamsin has the total package – she has the looks, she’s tall, has a nice personality, but most importantly, she’s incredibly talented. I think she could really crack it and be huge. She’s versatile but tempered. For such a young person, she contains her energy instead of being completely wild on screen. Her performances are way beyond her years, which is what I think is really good about her. Even in “St Trinians”, she stands out and is eyecatching.’

Adam Deacon, 25, actor
‘Adam has been acting a long time. I first met him when we cast “Kidulthood” and although a lot of other people get credit, some unjustly, Adam is someone that the kids (and me) think stole the film. His performance is flawless, and since then he has been in TV show “West 10 LDN”, which I also wrote, and “Adulthood”, in which he gives his best performance to date. Adam constantly works, but what make me think he could be one of the greats is the fact that in person he is nothing like the charecters he plays, and, of course, that is one of the marks of great acting.’

Eliza Doolittle, 20, singer-songwriter
‘I only came across Eliza recently, when I was looking for music for “Adulthood”. We trawled the internet and looked for unsigned acts. Her music stood out, and I chose her to not only have a track on the soundtrack, but also to perform at the after-party. Her music is so fresh and vibrant, I’m sure she’ll be big news in no time.’

Tamsin Egerton is in an adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s ‘Octavia’ for ITV1. Adam Deacon is in crime drama ‘Gunrush’, also for ITV1.

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