Alumnus Profile: James Farrar plays Liam in Hollyoaks
Posted on 25. Oct, 2012 by admin in Architecture, Art Design and Media, Creative and Cultural Industries, Creative Arts Film and Media, Creative Technologies, Graduate Profiles
We recently interviewed James Farrar who graduated with a BA (Hons) Media Studies & Drama. James has been busy since his graduation, and this summer landed a role in Hollyoaks. We thought you would like to hear his views about his time at University and his experiences since he graduated.
In 2005 James moved to Portsmouth from South East London to do a 3 year Media Studies & Drama degree. He told us that, on arrival to Portsmouth, although he didn’t know that he was going to become a professional actor he always knew that it was something he was good at.
James said “Early into my first year I realised that if I was going to come out with a good degree then I would favour Drama units over Media as I was excelling in performance”.
Although he was always highly committed to his course he also participated fully in the student social scene. “I went out regularly being part of the UPFC (University Portsmouth Football Club), and ensured that I chose units in which there were no early morning Thursday lectures!”
James was supported by Stewart Olesker and Dominic Symonds throughout the 3 years of his studies. He told us that has no doubt that his tutors pushed him to follow a career in acting. He said “I distinctly remember having a beer with Dominic Symonds and Karen Savage in ’The Old Vic’ in my final weeks and was given a brutally honest insight into the working life as an actor with months out of work and endless auditions without success. But at the same time they advised me that I’d be a fool not to as they felt I had something”.
Consequently, after 2 shining references from his tutors, James was accepted onto the MA Acting for Screen Course at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama, London. He told us that the professional training was invaluable to him. On graduation James was signed to a London agent and had a part in his first British film within weeks of finishing his MA.
James tells us that since then he’s had a lot of experience in film and TV and that his profile got him through the door for a Hollyoaks audition. At the start of summer 2012 his agent was told there was interest from the Hollyoaks producers, and by late summer he was contracted on the show to play ‘Liam Gilmore’. James says “The schedule has meant that a lot of my time is now spent in Liverpool but I still find time to see my close friends in London, most of which are friends I met at Uni in Portsmouth”.
James speaks very positively about his time at Portsmouth, and especially the tutors who supported him. He told us “I have endless admiration for my tutors and the Uni itself for the support and encouragement they gave me to follow a career in acting”.
We wish him continued success.
To follow James he can be found on twitter: @JamesFarrar_
