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An Actor's Alphabet
Imprint: Nick Hern Books
Paperback, 208 pages ISBN: 9781839041211Publication Date:
17 Nov 2022
Size: 198mm x 129mm£9.99 £7.99You save £2.00 (20%)
Ebook, 208 pages ISBN: 9781788506175Publication Date:
17 Nov 2022
£9.99 £7.99You save £2.00 (20%)

An Actor's Alphabet

An A to Z of Some Stuff I've Learnt and Some Stuff I'm Still Learning

By Julie Hesmondhalgh

Paperback £9.99£7.99

Ebook £9.99£7.99

SIGNED COPIES ALSO AVAILABLE

Click here to order your copy of An Actor's Alphabet, signed by author Julie Hesmondhalgh – available while stocks last.


In this candid and empowering A to Z of being an actor, Julie Hesmondhalgh draws on her decades of experience on stage and screen – including in massively popular television shows such as Broadchurch, Happy Valley and Coronation Street – to lift the lid on the realities of life in today's industry, and show you how to navigate it.

She shares practical advice on preparing for roles (don't be afraid of looking like a dick), managing the ups and downs of your career (and how to be out of work without losing your mind), dealing with failure (and success), not constantly comparing yourself to others (bloody hard, but try), looking after your mental health, and the power of knowing when to say 'no'.

Passionate about the arts, she makes a compelling case for their importance to society, but also calls out the industry on where it continues to fall short – including a clear-eyed assessment of what needs to change to make it safer and healthier, more accessible and inclusive.

Written with refreshing honesty and self-deprecating humour, An Actor's Alphabet is a book for anyone who dreams of becoming an actor, wants to be a better one, or just wants to learn what being one is really like.

'Endearingly honest, funny and eye-opening. I loved it!' Francesca Martinez

'Like its author, this book is brimming with wisdom, intelligence, empathy and humanity... An absolute must!' Maxine Peake

'This is the best book on acting and being an actor I've read… Julie Hesmondhalgh is the mentor/best friend/guide we all need in these troubled times' Paul Chahidi

'Wonderful… not just a book about acting, but also about life. Us. The world. Humanity. Battling through this shit and finding time for a hug. I adore it.' Russell T Davies

'A must-read, whether you've been on the artist's journey for years or are just starting out' Shobna Gulati

'This book is bold, brash, sincere and angry. It regrets nothing and questions everything… Treasure it like we should treasure Julie' Jack Thorne

'A generous gift to actors, full of honesty, hope and wit. There is loads of tangible advice, not just for acting but for life' Anna Jordan

'Julie's book is honest, challenging and helpful. A great read' Andy Nyman


Blog Post: 'I always loved acting, but when it came to deciding about careers, I was so consumed with the idea of being of service to the world that to go into the arts felt frivolous to me. I had no sense that art could actually have a purpose beyond pure entertainment.' Julie Hesmondhalgh on her acting vocation, in an extract from An Actor's Alphabet on our blog. Read on>>


Also available: the unabridged audiobook version of An Actor's Alphabet read by Julie Hesmondhalgh. Available from Amazon and Audible. Listen to an extract here...


Extra Content: Julie Hesmondhalgh's list of resources and recommended reading (taken from the book's appendix) is available as a free downloadable file on this page

Press Quotes

'Brilliantly conversational and no-nonsense... very personal, focused on the things that mean something to her. She writes with passion; wise words that cover subjects from class to parenting, sex to tax... shows a huge generosity'

Reviews Hub

'Very interesting… has a warmth and humanity that isn't often found in training manuals or self-help books... will be extremely useful for anyone taking their first steps into this unstable industry and will raise plenty of smiles of recognition from more experienced members of the profession, but it will also give the general reader insight into the struggles of forging a long-term career in the performing arts'

British Theatre Guide

'Honest and revealing... Hesmondhalgh has risen imaginatively to the challenge of the A-Z format, and the result is interesting, informative and unusual... the sound advice she gives and the different topics she covers are very relevant to students considering a career in acting or other branches of the profession... She writes with honesty, humour and sincerity... a comprehensive and up-to-date toolkit for all those involved in and teaching within the profession'

Word Matters (Journal of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama)
Imprint: Nick Hern Books
Paperback,208 pages ISBN: 9781839041211Publication Date:
17 Nov 2022
Size: 198mm x 129mm£9.99 £7.99You save £2.00 (20%)
Ebook,208 pages ISBN: 9781788506175Publication Date:
17 Nov 2022
£9.99 £7.99You save £2.00 (20%)

Also by Julie Hesmondhalgh:

An Actor's Alphabet – SIGNED COPY

Go to author page...

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