Show Notes
Michael Jibson sits down with three time SAG Award winner Lesley Nicol, best known as Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey, for a warm and wide ranging conversation about a life in acting. Lesley traces her journey from a pathologically shy boarding school girl who sneaked into rehearsals at Manchester Library Theatre, through to training at Guildhall and then into Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace Theatre, and on to the roles that shaped her career, including Mrs Beaver in the BBC's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Ella in East is East, Mamma Mia in the West End, Mr Bates vs The Post Office and most recently, Ballet Shoes on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre.
Along the way, Lesley and Michael talk candidly about the working actor's life in the UK today. They cover the loss of the repertory system, the emotional cost of self tapes with no feedback, how availability checks really work, why she recently changed agents after decades, and what it feels like to be offered a role at the National rather than audition for it. Lesley shares mentor stories about musical director Tony Bowles and her friendship with Anne Reid, plus a brilliant Anthony Hopkins anecdote from the last season of Downton Abbey.
For actors, drama school graduates and anyone curious about a long acting career, this episode is full of honest advice on shyness, resilience, saying no to the wrong jobs, creating your own opportunities, and why the best work can genuinely come later in life. Lesley's message is simple, keep swimming in the right waters and trust that things arrive when they are ready.
Acting on Experience is the podcast where Olivier Award winner Michael Jibson has honest conversations with experienced actors and performers about the craft, the industry and the stories that rarely get told, made for actors and anyone fascinated by life on stage and screen.
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Timestamps: 01:08 Meet Lesley Nicol, from Downton to Ballet Shoes 02:27 How Michael and Lesley met on Our House 05:27 A shy child finds her place on stage 07:10 Sneaking into Manchester Library Theatre 11:02 Auditioning for Guildhall and drama school life 12:20 Tony Bowles, the mentor who cracked her open 14:27 Landing Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace 17:08 When Dad suggested a plan B 19:21 Availability checks and swimming in better waters 21:50 Changing agents after 20 years 25:30 The loss of rep theatre and the rise of self tapes 29:08 Anne Reid 31:22 Three big breaks, Mrs Beaver to Downton 35:30 Why Mrs Patmore had real depth 37:54 Shyness, insecurity and finding the work 41:40 The Anthony Hopkins anecdote at Ealing 46:30 Eight shows a week at the National at 72 50:28 Saying no, creating your own opportunities Music by Stuart Hancock. Produced by Ian Miller for somethingreal.media
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Welcome to Acting On Experience, a podcast about actors: the craft, career, and real-life stories behind long and varied careers in the entertainment industry.