MY MOTTO IS ‘BE SO GOOD THEY CAN’T IGNORE YOU’

Romany Romany, 50, is married and lives in Brighton. She recently published Spun Into Gold: The Secret Life of a Female magician.

All show promoters will hire a token woman. They assume because there is one female magic act booked among numerous male magicians, then job done, they’ve ticked the equality box. That’s why it’s so competitive among female magicians — we’re all fighting for that one post. The reality is, the decisionmakers who sign the cheques will hire the youngest and prettiest to perform. her actual ability to do magic will come second. on the magician circuit for women, it’s not about how good you are but how pretty. It’s cut-throat! My motto in tackling ageism and sexism in this industry is: ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you!’ Growing up, I always dreamt of being a showgirl. I wanted to be one of those glamorous dancers in feathers at the Moulin rouge in paris. But I put on weight as a teenager and at 12st, stage schools wouldn’t accept me.

After graduating from Manchester university, where I studied english and Italian, I started working for British Telecom on its graduate management scheme. Deep down I knew I wasn’t following my dreams and one day I thought, ‘right! I’m going to do everything I can to be a performer!’

I learnt juggling, stilt-walking, salsa dancing and went to magic evening classes in london, where I fell in love with it. I started out as an assistant, travelling around europe doing a street show. My signature illusion was getting tied up in a bag in a locked trunk before jumping out, shouting ‘Ta-da!’

It’s irksome that there aren’t enough female magicians on TV.

with that in mind, I’ve now been performing magic for 25 years and I’m the only woman to have won the Magic Circle stage Magician of the Year. I was also voted for by 1,000 professional magicians and awarded a place in the highest level of the Magic Circle.

It’s rare to meet a female magician who has children. The lifestyle on the road just isn’t compatible with raising a family. But I have a onewoman show touring Britain next year. how many 50-year-old women can say that?