Karen McCaffrey. Actor, Writer, and Singer.

My dream of acting began aged 12 on seeing Julie Andrews running across the hills singing in The Sound of Music as I entered the cinema at Upton Park in London's East End. Prior to this I sang in Ireland as a child with a pop band called Tommy Drennan and The Top League, we recorded a record which stayed at Number One in the Irish charts for ten weeks in 1973. Growing up in East Ham I kept my dreams of Acting to myself, I went to a rough comprehensive and had to fight to get from class to class. I did my first drama school audition for East 15 Acting school aged 16. I had no idea what an audition was, so went along and read from a book. A year later having done some explorations I was offered a place at East 15 but couldn't get the necessary disciplinary grant. Mine was no ordinary desire, and three years later I was offered a place at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, secured a grant and have been an actress for thirty years since. When I'm working I feel truly blessed and gracious to have found this wonderful art. I think we all know what the downside is, however, it's important as an actor to be honed, toned, and ready to step into a role. This is my life!