Taddeh Vartanians
Winner of the 2012 Firass Dirani ACTT Scholarship
The Firass Dirani ACTT Scholarship was established by ACTT in association with ACTT graduate actor Firass Dirani and JMC Academy. More details are available here
What’s your background story?
Well i was born here in Sydney and lived in the suburb of Ryde my entire life. I am of Armenian descent and have a sister who’s five years older than me. Both my parents worked really hard to give my sister and i opportunities they never had. I went to school like any other kid and rebelled against anything i could in my teenage years.
I always knew i wanted something more but no matter where i looked i couldn’t find what i was after. In my early twenties i was working as a courier and asked myself if this was what i wanted to do for the rest of my life, the answer to that question marked the beginning of a journey that led me to find my passion in acting.
Why did you choose to study at ACTT?
At the time i was working full time at a cafe in the city and was looking for a way to get out. I was looking to throw myself into any course as long as it was full time. My mother was actually the one who mentioned ACTT, she’d heard from a co-worker that George Houvardas from ‘Packed to the Rafters’ went to school there, so i thought i’d check it out. I went to a workshop one day and as soon as i stepped in the main hall i knew i’d come to the right place.
What has been your experience of ACTT so far?
Non-stop fun, growth and excitement. The CORE introduced me to a way of acting i’d never seen before. Other colleges assume that all one needs is a technique but acting isn’t that easy. At ACTT the students learn about themselves, their tensions, their shortcomings and their strengths. This gives them the confidence to express themselves in whatever medium they choose. ACTT provides the blueprint to free the actor.
Personally the last five months of my life during The CORE have been amazing. I have grown as an actor and a human being by overcoming challenges and obstacles. I have a new sense of courage and stronger faith in myself. I have made great friends. The teachers here all know me and like me. If i have grown this much in 5 months, i can only imagine what i will be like after 3 years.
What motivates you?
Namely the work. The joy is in the work as Sean O’Riordan, my acting tutor, would say. I’m also fired up about growing and achieving as much as i can and being the professional i want to be. I really love people who achieve greatness in their lives.
What was the ACTT Scholarship audition process like?
It was exciting and fun but also nerve wracking and challenging at the same time. I was
auditioning with some amazing and talented people, plus the experience of performing infront of
the panel including Firass was a great feeling. I feel privaleged that i was a part of the whole thing.
What will be your role as ACTT student Ambassador?
There are alot of responsibilities that come with the role of student Ambassador alot of which revolve around representing and promoting ACTT through online and social media, student open days, exhibitions and theatre events. There’s also the role of being a voice for the students of ACTT and bridging the gap between them and the industry.
What actors inspire you and why?
I’ve always admired actors like De Niro, Pacino and DiCaprio but closer to home the actors who really inspire me are those who i can relate to in a sense that my career path would be much more like theirs, and thore are Bradley Cooper and Firass Dirani (pictured with Taddeh).
These guys have really paved the way for many student actors to really make it in the industry, especially Firass. He came out of ACTT and now he’s working along side the greatest actors ever such as Robert De Niro, Jason Statham and Clive Owen.
What movie did you see recently that you like?
Questions like what’s your favourite movie usually end up in hours of discussions and long lists. However the last film i saw was Land of the Lost starring Will Ferrell. He’s always great to watch. He’s actually a very intelligent person and and a lot of his films like Land of the Lost and Semi Pro are really quite inspiring.
What theatre production did you see recently that you like?
I saw a History of everything a couple of weeks ago. It was playing at the Sydney Theatre Company. It’s basically a play that looks at everything from the big bang until the present day. It’s a really clever and engaging piece of work. I think it’s still playing at the moment as well.
Describe what acting means to you in three words:
Heart
Soul
Expression