Emma Pierson is an English actress born in Plymouth in the UK. She started off professionally when she was 16 and since then she has never looked back. Emma is well known for her role as Anna Tornton Wilton in the British television drama Hotel Babylon. She has also appeared in many television programmes such as Little Dorit and Charles II. Just check out her busy CV. We caught up with that talented actress as her new show Money was coming out.

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How and when did you get started as an actress ?

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I’ve always wanted to be an actress. I started off when I was 10 in an amateur dramatics group. At 14, I auditioned for a bigger local play and finally played a lead rôle in a short film. At 16 when it was finished, an agent spotting me in that and I signed with him, moved by myself to London where I had a small part in a film. Then, I landed a part in Grange Hill, which was my first proper role.

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What was your first leading role ?

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I’ve always been very fortunate to have substantial roles. At the beginning of my career I did a lot of comedy where I would be one of the main 6 characters. Playing Justine in Bloodlines would constitute as being my first major leading role. I do feel that I was lucky to have been able to learn in smaller roles earlier in my career. And as my confidence and skill grew it meant that the size of the roles did too.

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How does your role hunting look like ? Lots of castings I guess ?

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It’s a different process for each job based on the genre of work and/or the size of the production. The things that are offered are lovely but its often the jobs that you have to work for which are the interesting ones you want to do. I have a fantastic team of people who find and sort the work thats out there. Unfortunately the recession hit the entertainment industry quite hard and the quality of work that has been being produced was quite safe and uninteresting. I just want to be a good actress doing good work, so I’ll happily sit out and wait until that is available. I was very lucky that I was able to still work on a quality production, Money which just went out on BBC 2. But there are a few exciting projects that are in développement at the moment that I can’t wait to get started on !

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When you started, were you able to choose your roles or did you accept everything ?

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An actor doesn’t so much get to choose which work they want to do, but what work they don’t want to do! As you learn and find out what your strengths are, what interests you then you can start to tailor your choices. I’m very particular about what I audition for, it has to capture me, to make me really want to play that role, be part of that story or work with that director/actor etc…

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Could you describe a typical filming day ?

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A typical filming day starts early. You will be picked up by 6am - people think it’s because of the glamour of acting but they only send a car to make sure the actors get there on time because filming is so expensive that they can’t risk delays! Then you go through make up, hair and wardrobe, and you go on set at around 8am. You block out the scene on set, rehearse it. Then you block it out with the camera’s, sound etc… After that you start filming. A day ends at around 7pm after getting all of your costume off. When you get home…you start working on your scenes for the next day and it all starts again!

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How do you prepare yourself for a film day ?  Except for learning your script of course?

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Well I often train like a mad woman. I tend to give myself a little break in between jobs but before filming I will get very strict with my regime! In terms of getting ready for the actual role I will do as much research as I can to make sure I’m educated about the world I’m stepping into. Sometimes I may be doing an accent or changing my voice, so I’ll work with a voice coach. Then there is the physical look of the character ; I’ve never look the same twice for a role so I’ll have my hair dyed or cut or extended, maybe get fake nails, tan, or stay out of the sun. I do love the preparation as thats when you start to leave yourself behind.

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Could acting lead you to other aspects ? I mean screenwriting or production ?

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I hope so! I love acting but I have fallen in love with other aspects of the entertainment process. I would love to write or to direct and make my own films. I do feel very fortunate to be in an industry that I love and where there are so many wonderful facets. So we’ll see what the future holds.

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Is there an actor/actress or a screenwriter you would like to work with ? A childhood dream ?

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I wouldn’t even know where to start in answering this! There are so many fantastic, talented, inspiring and purely amazing people out there that I would be here for days if I reeled off a list of names! I have dreams within comedy, drama, action, animation, musicals. There are so many producers, directors, writers, actors that I would love to work with. From theatre to television to film, all I know is that I want to carry on doing work that I can feel proud of. Just being an actress is a childhood dream come true and I don’t know an actor out there who doesn’t secretly harbour a little dream of hanging out with a small fellow called Oscar!

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To finish, what advice would you give to aspiring actresses ?

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Hmm…this is a hard one! Firstly, I guess be realistic with yourself! Secondly, don’t do this for fame…that will only lead you to make the wrong choices and will not bring longevity. The other motive you need to scrap from the outset is money! This is not a career to do if you want to be wealthy because there is very little money in this industry. Of course there are actresses who get paid millions, but that is very much the minority case. You need to have a pure determination as you will be knocked so many times, a thick skin to deal with those and drive to get yourself back on the road and keep going. It is a tough job, but if you are good and if you’re strong then it can be absolutely fantastic! Good luck!