In our profile series, Tell Us In 10, we ask cast members and creatives of top shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how their castmates would describe them and alternative careers, to their Theatreland idols, we want to know it all!
This week, we hear from Doctor Coppelius, CEO of a tech company specialising in AI, in Scottish Ballet’s Coppélia (2-5 March 2023, Sadler’s Wells Theatre).
1) My route into theatre was…
My route into dance was through my Mum. I was a very hyperactive child and she sent me to all sorts; karate, football, violin, pretty much anything to tire me out, and I guess ballet just stuck!
2) My West End idol is…
My dance idol has to be Misha Baryshnikov. When I was young I’d watch him in the movie White Nights and I just wanted to be as cool and technical as him.
3) My colleagues would describe me as…
A bit of a clown. I’m often messing around and trying to make people laugh!
4) My favourite show (that isn’t one I star in/work on) is…
My favourite show is Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Gyula Harangozó/Estonian National Ballet. I was lucky enough to perform it in my previous company and it never failed to make me happy!
5) The career moment I’m most proud of is…
The career moment I’m most proud of is my promotion to Principal. It was after a performance of Coppélia and my director came on stage and promoted me in front of the audience and I’ve never experienced shock and joy like in the exact moment he called out my name.
6) The hardest part about my job/role is…
The hardest part about my job is probably accepting disappointment. I’m a perfectionist but like with anything in life, it’s impossible to be perfect in a performance, and though being really self-critical can be super important for growth, it can also be exhausting and disappointing at times.
7) If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
If I wasn’t a dancer, I would be an actor. Something artistic and creative. I can’t sing whatsoever or else I’d have a go at that! I need a creative outlet and I’m so lucky I can do that on a daily basis!
8) Something people don’t know about me is…
Spanish is my first language. I was born in London but grew up in Spain and for my first few years my Mum and Dad didn’t know if I could even speak English. I guess once I started I never stopped!
9) The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
To care less. Monica Zamora, an ex principal with Birmingham Royal Ballet, once told me that easing that pressure off yourself allows you to fully enjoy and experience the moment you’re in, and I’ve tried to take that advice with me on stage every time I perform as it allows me to shrug off slight mishaps and enjoy and give the audience my absolute best.
10) The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
To be patient. Life can be messy and incredible and terrifying all at the same time, and I think most of my life I wanted to skip all of that and get to the finish line. But you can’t appreciate the end if you’ve not experienced the ups and downs along the way and now I am grateful for the ride but I wish I’d have been.