Actor Helen Goldwyn joins The Drama Coach podcast for a thoughtful and practical conversation about what it really means to build a life in the performing arts. Speaking with warmth, humour and honesty, Helen reflects on training, touring, understudying, rejection, social media, creativity and the habits that help performers keep going. For young actors, parents and adult learners, this is a useful reminder that an acting career is rarely one straight path. It is made up of auditions, relationships, side skills, personal resilience and the ability to stay creatively alive even when the next job has not yet arrived.
Episode overview
Helen began professional training at 12, attending Arts Educational as a full-time ballet student before moving into musical theatre. She started working professionally very young, and her early dance training still supports her today - not only physically, but in the discipline and strength it gave her. At the time of recording, Helen is part of the company of Allegra, covering two roles as the production tours before heading into London. She explains the particular demands of understudying: staying ready, running lines, watching the show and being prepared to step in, while also accepting the uncertainty that comes with the role. The conversation also explores what life looks like when an actor is not performing. Helen describes having several strands of creative and related work, including directing, script writing, composing, concerts, coaching and drama-led facilitation. Her advice to young performers is clear: develop a flexible skill that can support you without draining the part of you that needs to audition, train and create.
Key themes from the conversation
- A performing career needs practical foundations. Helen talks honestly about the need for flexible work alongside acting. She encourages young performers to think broadly, whether that means voice work, creative services, children’s parties, technical skills or another adaptable job that allows room for auditions.
- Connections matter, but they need to be sincere. The episode highlights the value of quiet, polite persistence. Helen explains that relationships often grow gradually through authentic comments, check-ins and professional consistency rather than forced networking.
- Rejection is not the whole story. Helen encourages performers to separate their personal self from their casting self. Not being right for a role does not mean not being good enough. It may simply mean not fitting that particular creative vision.
- Keep creating while you wait. Rather than waiting for permission, Helen suggests recording scenes, reading plays, writing scripts, making sketches, singing for others or working on small creative projects. These can build skill, confidence and a sense of purpose.
- Looking after yourself is part of the job. Sleep, hydration, vocal care, movement, time outside, talking to friends and helping others all come up as ways to protect both mind and body in a demanding industry.
Staying ready without losing yourself
One of the strongest messages in this episode is that performers need more than talent. They need strategies. Helen speaks openly about the emotional highs and lows of creative life, and she encourages listeners to understand their own patterns rather than feel ashamed of them. Her advice is especially helpful for young actors who may feel every “no” very deeply. Instead of placing every hope on one audition, she suggests keeping another creative focus alive. A script, a short film idea, a reading with friends or a song can all give performers somewhere positive to put their energy. Helen also speaks about social media as both a useful tool and something that requires boundaries. It can help actors remind people they exist, share their perspective and make connections, but she is clear that performers do not have to engage with anyone who makes them uncomfortable. Safety and professionalism matter.
Craft, comedy and truth
When it comes to acting preparation, Helen’s approach is grounded in truth. She talks about understanding who a character is, what drives them and how they move through the world. For her, the same principle applies across stage, voice work, comedy, singing and writing: creative expression works best when it comes from something truthful. Her comments on comedy are particularly useful. Rather than trying to “be funny”, she suggests playing the truth of the character. The humour comes from belief, timing and honesty, not from pushing for laughs.
Support for parents and young performers
For parents, Helen offers a simple but powerful shift in language. When giving feedback, replace “but” with “and”. Instead of undercutting praise, this keeps encouragement intact while still allowing room for growth: the audition went well, and next time we can prepare the scene even more. For young performers, the episode closes with a reminder to build a strong inner voice. Helen encourages actors to notice what they have already achieved, to recognise their own individuality and to practise speaking to themselves with kindness and belief. This conversation is full of practical advice, but its heart is simple: keep learning, keep creating, keep connected and keep hold of the part of you that knows why you started. Listen to the episode for an honest, generous look at the working life of an actor and the resilience it takes to stay in the game.