Bodhi Babes Wonder Women - Lyndall Grant

Meet Bodhi Babes Wonder Woman (#BBWW) - Lyndall Grant. Actor, Dramatic Combat Specialist and a vet. Lyndall runs two companies: a company that deals with Motion Capture and Fight Performance, Captivate Action Ltd., and co-runs a theatre company called Thrice Ninth Productions. A Wonder Woman indeed!

When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always dreamed of being an actor – there was something about playing in the world of ‘make believe’, having the opportunity of taking on someone else’s story for a while, that excited me. If I am honest I also wanted to be a female Robin Hood. When I was a little older, and I was told that it was impractical to be an actor, I did have a burning ambition to be a vet and save all the endangered species.

What do you do now? For work? For fun?

Now, would you believe it, I am an actor, a Dramatic Combat specialist (ie. Fight director, fight performer and teacher), and a vet. I run two companies: my own company that deals with Motion Capture and Fight Performance, Captivate Action Ltd., and co-run a theatre company called Thrice Ninth Productions. I am lucky enough that my ‘work’ and ‘fun’, at least where acting and fighting is concerned, is actually the same thing. I would do this work (and) for nothing. The reason why I work hard to make it a paying job is so that I can justifiably spend all my time doing it.

I am acutely aware that we only have one life (well, depending on your beliefs), and I want to make sure that what I do for most of it is something about which I am passionate and inspired.

I am also acutely aware that the fact I have these choices are because I was born into a first-world society and time-period that can (begrudgingly) allow this, and I never once want to take this for granted. Let’s not pretend here – in choosing a creative lifestyle my bank balance is perpetually unhealthy. But it’s more than balanced by the thrill I get by going ‘to work’.

Other things for fun – anything that engages you: walking, running, music, exploring. I find it hard to sit still for more than a few hours.

Sadly my veterinary work leaves me less inspired, and that is down to the industry rather than the animals. The animals are amazing. People can be less amazing.

How did you get into your area of expertise?

After I graduated as a vet in Australia I came to the UK with the romantic notion of training to be an actor here. During my first year of veterinary work I auditioned for most of the large drama schools in London, and thankfully got into one (ArtsEd London). I gave up full-time vet work (not without many deep, cautionary talks from my parents). At drama school one of the areas you learn is Dramatic Combat – ie. how to perform fights safely and effectively for film and stage. It is a glorious mix of acting, dance, movement, gymnastics and martial arts. And it involves swords. And I discovered this is possibly one of the most exciting things I have ever found. So after leaving drama school I continued my training in dramatic combat, and then started assisting my teacher, and then somehow started my apprenticeship to become a teacher, and then started fight directing. After doing a workshop in Motion Capture at the Paddy Crean workshop in Banff, I became inspired to focus on this line of work and formed Captivate.

On one of my fight directing jobs I bumped into an actor called Michael Yale, who I also discovered is a writer and director. We became close friends. When Michael told me once he keeps on trying to wedge fights into the plays he writes, the idea for our first play was born. Michael and I now co-direct our own theatre company, Thrice Ninth Productions Ltd, which creates plays that are physically powerful and accessible. It means I get to indulge my passion for acting and dramatic combat all at once.

What obstacles have you faced in following your dreams and how have you overcome them?

Countless obstacles. Endlessly. All of them big enough that if you were a sensible person you would pack it in and go get a ‘normal’ job. Thankfully, I am not a sensible person.

Finances are a perpetual concern. I have some months where there is breathing space. Most months are spent wondering if I can afford to buy food, and deciding that tuna on rice really is a meal (especially if you throw in a fried egg). It is not true, or fair, to say that to be a Creative you need to have a back-up job – not fair, because it implies that if you have to resort to this ‘back-up’ job you are ‘unsuccessful’. The truth is that to stay in a creative job long-term you need to have an ongoing secondary job that keeps your head above water in the quiet times. The trap that many fall into is that due to very real financial needs the ‘secondary’ job starts to take over. Sooner or later you find you can’t accept an unpaid fringe theatre job and turn down your paid temp work. From there the acting work can start to dwindle. You really have to be stubborn to keep giving Finances and Security the middle finger, and carry on destroying your bank balance to stay in the Industry. It is useful that I have the vet work (I say useful, rather than ‘lucky’, because I worked darned hard to get it), as it pays more than your average temp job. It is less useful that it makes me miserable to do it, and places a big toll on my stress levels and health.

One of the early obstacles I faced was actually the opinions of those close to me. It is surprising how many people will give you reasons why you shouldn’t take the plunge out of a ‘normal’ career and follow your passion. I had one of my best friends told me, “you’re never going to do it, no one ever succeeds at this.” I had countless people looking at me like I was insane, or giving me that patronising smile that suggested they knew something I didn’t, and it was something that involved me being an idiot. On the other hand, I had my closest friend tell me, “of course you’re going to do it, you’re You.” Most people will tell you not to go for it, because are too scared to do it themselves – and the last thing they want is someone else going off and doing it, reminding them about how they’re ignoring their dreams. These are not the people you want to listen to. You want to listen to those that share your excitement. If you haven’t got any of these, go and find some. You need someone who understands.

Other obstacles? The same with any job I suppose: fear, anxiety, criticism, politics, friendships, mistakes, quiet times where it feels like it’s not working.

You need to be clear in your head about what you want, and how you’re going to go about doing it. And then be prepared to revise that plan. Endlessly. Because for each new obstacle, you need to find a new way of getting around it. And you need to accept that there will probably never be a time when ‘everything is now ok and smooth, forever.’ The truth is there are great times, rubbish times, and often these coincide. However – the joyful secret is that the way you get around each new obstacle is actually the path to being successful. My new thought of the moment, is that as a society we fixate too much on ‘failure’ as being a bad thing. Failure is in fact a positive thing – it simply means that the last thing we tried didn’t get us there, and so we need to innovate something new. Usually in that innovation, is when something beautiful happens. So, we should be running fearlessly towards failure and getting excited about what great things we create in working around it.

What’s the best part of what you do?

Creating. Experiencing. Feeling alive.

There are many different ways ‘creating’ happens for me. There are magic times where the ideas come from somewhere else it seems – from the gut, or from the atmosphere. An important part of this is playing, and most importantly: bouncing off other people. In all cases I have found my best creative work has been from when I am collaborating with others. When you are performing there is an electric phenomenon of ‘being in the moment’ – that time when you are connected to your other actors, responding, present, and losing yourself in the work. I love that fighting and acting uses all of who you are – your body, mind and spirit. For me it is a most heightened sense of being alive.

What advice do you have for other women who might want to follow suit?

Do it.

Be honest with yourself. What are your strengths, and how are they best used? Sometimes our strengths are not what we wish they are, and we try and reach our dreams through what we to be true. Not only is this less likely to be successful, you are actually denying yourself (and the world) your full talents. You need to do some good, realistic self-analysis (which mean criticising yourself incidentally) and then play on your strengths, which may mean adjusting your original vision. Embrace this – it may be better than what you originally imagined. For example: as a drama student I wished I could be ‘leading lady’ material, who could play the petite heroine in period films. I fretted over my very muscular physique, tried to diet and do exercises to try and slim down my tone, tried to walk like a ballerina, grew my (very fine and scraggly) hair. It actually took a random accident, in which I dislocated my shoulder, to suddenly appreciate that I really don’t care what my arms look like – I just want a functional arm. Suddenly I then also realised that while I could never be petite and dainty, not many other girls can be athletic, strong and dynamic in the way I am. By then loving and working with my inherent strengths, of course I was then successful. It sounds obvious, but to the individual it’s not. Be honest – are the things you ‘don’t like’ actually flaws? Chances are, they are just what makes you ‘different’ from the stereotype. And : these ‘differences’, ie the things that else has or can do, are your secret weapon!

What else? Roll with the punches, enjoy your mistakes, be stubborn, be inventive, DON’T GIVE UP.

On the specifics – if you would like to pursue acting, you need to work at your craft, and work hard. This may be training, rehearsing, gaining extra skills. A working actor does not get time off when not on the job. For dramatic combat, there are many places that offer training if you jump on the web.

What’s your morning routine? Keep it clean ;-)

It varies every day. On admin days I will get up, feed my cats who have been relentless disturbing my sleep, grab coffee, grab cereal, do some taiji (tai chi) and qiqong meditation (essential), and then drop myself unshowered and grubby at the computer. On work days I do all of the above, but add in showering, dressing, simple make-up, and usually then running out the door for the train that I am late to.

3 things that are on your ‘to do’ list today?

• Finish the program for Thrice Ninth’s production of Henry IV Part 1, which will be at St. James Theatre (Victoria) from 29th Sept

• Call around people we emailed last week about coming to see the play.

• Rehearse the cast in a new arrangement of an a capella song we have for Henry IV Part 1

What are you working on at the moment? Next project?

As above – from 29 September Thrice Ninth are performing a repeat run of Shakesepeare’s as Lunchtime Theatre at St. James Theatre. We were thrilled with the response this play received at our last run in August, at the Rose Playhouse (an amazing historic site – go check it out and support them). Michael and I are producing as well as acting in this one, so it’s quite busy getting everything done before rehearsals start next week. It’s very exciting for me to be playing in this piece, as we have created a strong female character in the role of . In the original script, Lady Percy mostly features just as the lead male character Hotspur’s wife. In our script, which we have adapted for five actors, we have rolled in two of the other male roles in with Lady Percy’s part – so that she is now an extremely strong political figure (and in many ways the ‘puppet master’ who manipulates the men). She also has a prominent fighting role, which suits me fine.

I also have a few Captivate projects bubbling in the background at the moment… can’t quite say what yet!

One woman you admire and why?

Cate Blanchett. I think she is an incredible actor – the kind where you never really know who she is as herself, because she transforms so completely with each role. She worked hard to get into the industry, and to achieve what she has.

Three wishes?

That I land a massive job today that sorts out my finances for the next year

That I could live simultaneously in Australia and London

That London could be a little warmer, and for longer, every year.

Who do you turn to for advice?

By business partner, Mike. My dad (if Dad says it’s ok, it must be). My best friend Aishwari. My ex-flat mate Caroline.

Who do you turn to for a shoulder to cry on?

It depends on what I want to cry about! Most recently, actually my own. But for some things – my mum, Aishwari, Caroline.

Favourite book?

Too many – I love them for different reasons. Terry Pratchett books make me giggle (and goodness, he’s clever). The Lord of the Rings because my dad used to read it to us when we were kids, and I think it inspired my imagination. I also grew up on an Australian series by Mary Grant Bruce, the Billabong series.

Favourite movie?

Hmmm. Can I choose a few? The Lord of the Rings, About a Boy, The Princess Bride, Pan’s Labyrinth.

Favourite childhood game?

Playing ‘Star Wars’ with my brother; skipping with my school friends; or Epic games of tiggy/chasey that we had around the entire school yard. I also used to make my friends perform in plays/dances that I made up. I think I was bossy.

Fantasy career? Why?

Doing it!

Words for Monday motivation?

Take over the world.

Drink coffee.

Or for the more profound: There is room for optimism, if we keep pushing the boundaries of the possible, into the probable, and into reality.

Keep going.

#FeelGoodFriday song?

Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel

Favourite quote?

“I don’t understand a way to work other than bold-facedly running towards failure.” Cate Blanchett.

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