Whoa... Up on cloud nine right now and not dropping anytime soon!

Last night was my first red carpet premiere for my first feature film and that still hasn't fully sank in! How crazy is that?!

Between the interviews, the photos, the autographs and film- it was an incredible night (You can watch my vlog of it all here). But the thing that struck me is peoples' repeated kindness. All night people were approaching us, talking of how we inspired them, how they enjoyed the performances and asking for photos. I had to stop myself looking behind to see if they were talking to someone else.

It's crazy to think that a week ago I was at home, now I'm sat in LA, having people tell me I inspire them and that really puts things into perspective for me. Being British, I think we're very quick to sell ourselves short, underplay our talents in a bid to not disappoint. This is the first time in this whole experience where I've sat there and thought 'Yeah, well done me'- not in an arrogant way, just an acknowledgment of this experience, and reaching this point.

In fact, I think I'm going to treat myself to a dress I've had my eye on as a little present to myself to act as a reminder that it is possible, and we can make things happen.

There's a common belief in the acting world that doors are shut, it's hard to get into and it's dog eat dog. Some people believe that's life. From the kindness I experienced from people last night, I don't believe that's true, and I personally will take away from this experience that a moment of your time for someone else is nothing, but can mean a lot to them- It's all relative- we can all help each other out and if you help others, they'll be keener to help you :)

A friend once told me I have a green hippy brain- absolutely loved that but what I'm trying to say (in a poor round about way) is spread the love! Who's to say that your neighbour who needs a hand moving stuff doesn't know someone who can help you further your career? Apparently it's like 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone in the world- so you know someone who knows someone x6 who knows Brad Pitt. It's a small world- take advantage of that :D

Okay so after bombarding you all with vlogs & blogs galore (I will not fall behind again, honest!!) I've taken a reflective, 'breathe' approach to todays blog.

LA is so superficial. I'm not judging, I'm not disliking it, it's merely an observation. If you've managed to avoid my vlogs you won't know that I went to 'Melrose Avenue' today and had a little look around some shops and tried on some clothes (come on, show me a girl who wouldn't?). Suddenly, getting caught up in the LA lifestyle, I'm in a $600 dress that I'd probably never wear through fear of ruining it, justifying me buying it. Whoaaaaaa, slow down.

I realised just how easy it is to jump on the bandwagon here, pick up designer labels, and feel a need to be a part of it all. Don't get me wrong it was a gorgeous dress, and I really liked it, but knowing me I'd never wear it as I'd be pulling at it constantly, looking awkward and self concious. It just wasn't me.

So this post is short and sweet, be true to you- I'm happy strolling into designer shops in my Topshop maxi dress with my hair all scruffy with my primark sandals on because that's me. That's when I'm at my happiest, without the pressure to always look coordinated (Hats off to those who can do this effortlessly & always look incredible- know so many of these people and it's just not a talent I posess).

One of my favourite quotes is 'I'm unique... just like everyone else'. Just remember you can't please all of the people all of the time, and sometimes not even some of the people some of the time, just do your thing & be you :)

Okay so LA is awesome, and crazy hot! Shops are literally keeping their doors closed to keep the heat out & the air con in- really makes me laugh because we're the complete opposite in England- slightest bit of sun and we're all out trying to soak it up.

Even in just the day I've been here exploring I've found so many differences between England and LA, but the biggest one I've noticed? Man, they love to talk here.

At home, on the tube or even just walking around we avoid eye contact, close off our body language, and live alongside each other without acknowledging one another. A friend of mine laughed at me recently because I told him I smile at people on the tube- he said 'you are that one crazy person on the train'... I'm only smiling!!! It's not like I'm violating someone's personal space, or asking insanely personal questions- I'm merely acknowledging that we made eye contact- and the majority seem to get really bothered by it! Most of the time people just stare back at me, or look away as quickly as humanly possible whilst giving me odd sidewards glances to check if I'm still looking at them (The fact I know that suggests that I am.... maybe I am a bit strange?), but sometimes, rarely, I get a smile back. That is hard work guys- all of that emotional 'what if they think I'm weird' for the sake of a smile- brightening up someone's day.

Whereas here in LA, if you stand still for a couple of seconds, people are asking if you're okay, asking where you're from because of your accent, eager to know more about England. A man in a queue started talking to us about Stonehenge, asking us what it was like and actually took a genuine interest. It's so lovely! See I'm personally a talker, once I start on something it's just a constant trail of thought falling out of my head in some conversational way and I feel like I'm now experiencing what it's like when you first meet me!

Why have we got to the point that it's odd to start a conversation with a stranger? Why is there something that stops us from just saying 'Hi' and makes us walk along with our heads down, ignoring passers by? I'm not saying on your commute from London make friends with everyone, but maybe when you catch someones' eye on the tube give them a smile- happiness is contagious, what better gift could you give someone?

Okay so I'm in LA- Yay! (incase you couldn't tell from my countless posts etc!)

So after the 10+ hour flight delayed by 2 hours (not complaining at all- these things happen), and being up for 22+ hours, I had somewhat of an epiphany laying in bed, wide awake, hungry and jetlagged at 3am local time (11am UK).

On the full flight yesterday, after landing in LAX everyone was doing that awkward stand up half crouched, half pushing thing before the plane doors even opened. I really don't get that- I'm the sitting down straggler last off the plane at the back- but that's just me :) Anyway, I over heard 2 people standing next to me (I know, nosy right?) talking about how they both act, one of them lives here, and one has just come over to jump into any audition and just give it a real shot.

Now it is so human nature to see life as a competition, to secretly start comparing the people who have the same goals as you to yourself to see who is 'winning'. I fell into that trap. WHY?! I couldn't help but listen to them both and think 'Oh no, I'm not doing that, is that bad? Should I be selling everything I have and move to LA?' Hello irrational, tired ego.

This bugged me for the whole walk to baggage claim, and after, even on the journey back to our apartment. It was haunting me, the idea that I should just throw everything out the window and start in LA. Cue my epiphany- I'm here for my first cinematic feature film release. That hit a note with me. Not because I had one up on anyone, but because I had finally stopped to appreciate where I am, and acknowledge this experience as an achievement, and stop stressing about what I should or shouldn't be doing in a comparison to others.

My journey has taken me here for different reasons to those on a plane, and because of that I'll have a completely different experience, and that's okay! I'm learning to walk my own path, and to be proud of it for myself- So today I challenge you to think of one thing big or small that you've achieved in this past week and be proud of it for you! :)

Okay, so I'm a firm believer in 'everything happens for a reason', and that when everything's right, things happen fast because it's the path you're meant to be on.

My 'lucky break' happened over a grand total of 4 days, at a time when I was least expecting it.  In that tiny amount of time I had got noticed by an LA casting company, organised a skype audition, completed it, and then got selected from the 2,300 applicants for one of the lead roles in the $50 million budget film 'David & Goliath'. Insane... I still don't think it's fully settled in... months later :)

So I promised someone I'd talk about getting the audition etc- basically I had let myself believe that my success was in the hands of 'fate' for the majority of 2013. I convinced myself that actors had all just had a series of 'lucky breaks' and that I just had to wait. What is the point in that?! Waiting- why wait? I got told at some point that no one was going to push for my dream as much as I would, and suddenly it was like a light had been switched on. My lull in roles was not due to lack of luck, but down to my lack of applications, my laid back approach to networking and my belief that if it was meant to be it'd happen. I'd somehow lost sight of the fact that it's my job to 'help it along' and needed stop focussing on 'I'll be happy when I get 'there'- to my 'destination'. I had to relearn to enjoy the journey and enjoy the now!

So I took back control. I rejoined casting websites, updated all of my profiles, my website, and began networking again. Suddenly, it was like a backlog of stuff just came through- casting after casting, which then led to filming, which has resulted in one already amazingly successful 2014 for me. It was at this point where I recieved a message on my 'Casting Call Pro', profile in reference to an application I had made. The LA casting company had offered me the opportunity to audition for a feature film set for cinematic release. I didn't have to think twice.

I then got sent my sides (lines) as ususal, and funnily enough everything just felt right. Auditioning for the Kings' daughter, I had the night before watched 'Pompeii', and for no reason at all had paid particular attention to Emily Brownings' portrayal of royalty. It all just clicked. I skyped the director who was in Morocco scouting locations and we talking about the ancient ruins where it was to be set, where we'd be staying, shooting days, and we ran the script a couple of times. I recieved postive feedback, and then told I'd hear.

Three days later I got the email of congratulations and was asked to confirm my availability for shooting.

As much as I still believe in everything happening for a reason, I learnt that I can take control and create my own luck- after all, who will push for your dream more than you?

'It can happen, it does happen, but it can't if you give up'

I'm so so fortunate to be from a family of creatives- who due to the fact they're also following their dreams are crazy supportive of me, and have never told me to 'get a real job' like so many others. They really are my rock and support foundation, and I think everyone no matter what you do in life need one of these- whether it's family or friends, just someone to pick you up when you're down. Speaking of which my mum's written a 'crazy supportive' blog post about our impending red carpet trip linked here if you'd like to see it all from a 'mother of actress' perspective.

Anyway enough gushing about how grateful I am for my family spurring me on, I'm ranting today about giving up on your dreams. Everyone assumes that because their dreams may break the norm of today's expectations that it's out of reach- why? How have we programmed ourselves to think so low of our capabilities in comparison to others? It's crazy! What's the difference between me and say Kate Winslet? Okay location for starters, training and 'lucky breaks' but that's all envirnomental stuff, right? That can all be changed- fundamentally, we're the same.

Back to the quote at the top of this post- It has to be someone, so why can't it be you? Or me? Whether it's being an artist, designer, footballer etc whatever it is, it's happened to people just like us, so it is possible!

Tying into that is my own 'lucky break'- my first feature film role which is due for cinematic release in over 1,500 cinemas in the US early 2015, but I'll reveal more about that in tomorrow's post!

In the meantime, stick with your dream, and remember it is possible for everyone and anyone- so why not you? :)

So I've never had a problem with talking-usually in any awkward situation I'm a pro at filling silences with unecessary babbling on about the weather and the like, however, this to me feels like a very one sided odd situation. Not born a blogger... clearly.

So, I'm a 21 year old actress from Milton Keynes and all of a sudden my career seems to have snowballed into one amazing whirlwind of experiences, and a family friend recently told me to stop, have a breath and write it all down because we forget so much.

So here I am, awkwardly introducing myself to what feels like an abyss, telling the computer my life story (who probably already knows it better than most), but I'm using this as a documentation for my journey into Hollywood, and if it can help others do the same (from one once struggling actress to others), I'm more than happy to continue doing so.

I always wanted the limelight but hated attention- hungry for the stage at a young age I gradually just fell into TV and film where everything clicked and I had found my calling... at 7 years old. Now people will tell you 21 is young to break into acting seriously- I get it, it is, but try telling that to a creative who's wanted something for 14 years who's treading water to keep their head in the game!

So that's my little opening- I'm openly strange, I used to introduce myself as a cliche for pursuing my dreams and I'm now recording my story from Milton Keynes to the red carpet :)

Feel free to say hi!