Charlie Field

FILM & TV / ACTOR & PRODUCER - CHARLIE FIELD OM 2012

Working in the film and television industry felt like an audacious idea when I left Monkton. I was fully aware it was going to be a brutal, highly competitive and, at times, soul crushing industry. But - on the flip side - I also knew it was going to be very, very fun. I suppose I had just the right amount of naivety and tenacity at the time to give it a shot.

As a wise mentor once told me, “You are joining the circus now. It’s a bit crazy in here.”

What has been your journey so far?

I studied English and Drama at UEA which was renowned for its creative writing department. I had hoped to follow in the footsteps of previous alumni such as Matt Smith and pursue acting as a career. UEA, whilst not strictly a drama school, was exceptional at encouraging us to create our own work. It fostered a creative process which has meant, 10 years on, many of my peers are on posters across the West End for shows they have created. That experience has been hugely influential for my later work developing shows.

After graduation I hit a crossroads. I applied for an internship at the BBC to work in TV production and a large acting agency that repped actors such as Daniel Radcliffe and Liam Neeson. I made a decision that whichever door opened, I would pursue that path. Ultimately, the BBC door closed, and the acting agency door opened - I made my decision.

I am so grateful to have had so many incredible, eye-opening opportunities as an actor. My first ever audition I landed the job - a J.B. Priestley play at Park Theatre in London. This later transferred for a four month run in New York. That production acted a bit like a drama school for me and also introduced me to some amazing people - two of whom remain my best friends to this day. Following this, I played supporting roles in BBC’s ‘Poldark’, Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’, Nat Geo’s ‘Genius’, and even played Prince Harry in a cheesy rom-com that filmed for two months in Canada. I’ve adored traveling with work and have so far been lucky enough to film in Prague, Morocco, Budapest, France and Serbia to name a few. Of course there has been a load of rejection along the way - but that is par for the course when you work in entertainment.

Alongside acting, I have also started working behind the camera. After creating a number of short films throughout my 20s, I set up a production company with my friend, Luke Cutforth, a young up-and-coming film director. We now have several projects on our slate, all at various stages in the development process - including one film with a major A-lister attached. I cannot wait to get these scripts onto the screen - though I must admit it is still incredibly daunting.

How did Monkton help prepare you for your chosen career?

On reflection, I think it was the stability I felt whilst at Monkton which helped me to take some huge risks at the start of my career. The creative industries really do thrive on a ‘risk it all’ mentality. There is no set path, and no particular rules for breaking in. It is often up to the gods who works and who doesn’t, so you have to decide early on whether you can handle the instability, both financially and personally.

What’s next? 

As I enter my 30s I would love for producing to become a major part of my working life. I’m not completely sure how acting will fit into that but I am excited for the challenge. The most important thing for me is I’m still working within an industry I love.

I’m having too much fun to exit the circus just yet.