Snooze...

I'm starting this blog in Los Angeles. Why? Because it seems to be the kind of place where people do strange, out of the ordinary things for the first time... and although most people go down the botox or crystal meth route, I've decided to try this. I am fully aware of the fact that there's only a slim chance it might work for me, blogging doesn't suit everyone (like botox!) but at least if it doesn't have the desired effect I can just delete it from my life without a stint in rehab.

The strangest (though not surprising!) thing about Los Angeles is the fact that it's so warm.... and believe me, I'm not talking about the weather! 

Every waitress, cab driver, bar man, gym instructor is an actor or writer or director waiting for a break, but instead of being miserable, bitter, twisted & resentful they flash their 'Welcome To California' smiles, radiate optimism, positivity, warmth and after just five minutes of chatting to them - I believe that it's only a matter of time before they're carrying a gold statue out of the Kodak Theater as much as they do. 

Maybe that's because I'm an actor too and I know that it only takes one phone call for you're life to go in a direction that even Google Maps didn't know existed. 

After 4 years in Hollyoaks, I decided to leave in 2010 for the same reason as every other actor who leaves a successful show - because we want to try something new and challenging. Unfortunately, these opportunities are few and far between & I was well aware that my 'new challenge' would probably be ice skating on ITV every Saturday night or flying a magic carpet 18 shows a week during the Xmas period. I certainly didn't think I'd be in Los Angeles performing Shakespeare to audiences that included Tom Hanks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eric Idle & Dustin Hoffman.

If I told you that it happened to me because I'm so much more talented than every other actor in a soap and have so much more to give to the entertainment industry than them, would you believe that? No, of course you wouldn't, I certainly don't!

It happened because the director of The Merry Wives Of Windsor, Chris Luscombe, saw something in me which he thought was 'right for the part' and he cast me as Fenton.

He gave me a break... and it was just one call.

Who knows who's going to make the next one? 

So, really, can I blame the waitress or the taxi driver for dreaming The American Dream? Absolutely not. 

In fact, whilst I'm in the City Of Angels, I'm gonna catch 40 winks with the waitress & the taxi driver whenever I can.... 

The phone will waken us when it rings.