Rising star wants more arts in schools
Rising star Isis Hainsworth believes more emphasis should be put on the arts in schools.
The Edinburgh star is having a breakthrough year with starring roles in BBC horror series Red Rose, Netflix film Metal Lords and the forthcoming Catherine Called Birdy, directed by Lena Dunham.
It was taking part in drama classes at school in the capital that gave her a love of acting, but she feels more time could be spent on practical subjects.
She said: “I feel like most schools don’t really support the arts that much – we got to do drama, music and art for a few years and then had to choose just one and that was it. It feels like they don’t consider the arts to be very important, which is a shame when you are more artistic than academic. So I found that really difficult. My secondary school had some really supportive teachers – I’m really grateful for the few who supported me.”
Named after a Bob Dylan song, Isis attended two youth theatre groups in Edinburgh before winning a role in the West End production of Our Ladies Of Perpetual Succour shortly after leaving school, moving to London when she was 18. A series of film, TV and theatre roles has followed in the past five years, and she was recently named a Star Of Tomorrow by industry title Screen Daily.
In today’s P.S. magazine, she chats about how life is changing as she rapidly climbs the ladder of success. “It does feel like quite a pivotal year for me,” she said. “It’s been incredible – quite a different year from the ones I’ve had before.”
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