Milanka Brooks, Actress
Actress Milanka Brooks was working too hard to build her career, until two guidance sessions with Advisor Beverley Hills, one in January 2006, then a follow up appointment in December, helped her to find a less demanding path.
‘I know that I want to go in to theatre, but I was trying to do everything and I'd lost myself. I was saved by meeting Beverley. She advised me to stop for a while, slow down and appreciate what I've done. We did a lot of planning on paper and she helped me to bring everything together and to find one direction using all my experiences, good and bad.'
Like many actors, Milanka wanted advice about finding the right agent, her Spotlight profile, and creating a showreel.
‘But once we started talking I realised there were a lot more questions. I'm interested in comedy and theatre. Those two things were elaborated on much more than I expected. I was surprised and overwhelmed by the amount of research Beverley had done - she gave me websites to look at and books to read, even specific pages of books. She made me realise that it's one thing saying it but doing the research is another. She gave me a starting point. And she still gave me more the second time.'
The first session
The first session helped Milanka to re-focus and she resolved to cut down on the number of short films she was doing. ‘Beverley gave me confidence, resilience, and determination. I've done the classes, been in shorts, done virals and it was time to prioritise. Everything was already there, I just needed someone to rein me in, pull me back.'
After her first session, Milanka landed a lead in A Midsummer Night's Dream. ‘It was a four month tour so I had lots of thinking time. I've come back much wiser and realise that an actor needs to get away now and then.'
She has also signed with a couple more agents to handle different aspects of her career and spent time networking in LA. ‘I go into networking with more enthusiasm now. ‘Me' time is also important. You have to understand that, no matter what, it is a business and nobody can do it 24/7 - you need time out. I come in fresh to castings now. Before I didn't really appreciate what I was doing.'
Beverley encouraged Milanka to pursue her dream. ‘Agents were saying that I'm too old for comedy and that I should have more TV credits, but she made me realise that I could still aim for comedy.'
Beverley looked at Milanka's website and suggested that she research comedians' websites to see how present themselves. ‘Even small things can have a huge impact. People are impressed by my website, but there is always something that can be improved. Beverley encouraged me but she also suggested improvements.'
Milanka has also had new photographs taken since her first session. ‘I have a constant battle with getting the right head shot. It was one big reason why I couldn't wait to see Beverley again. She went through all my photos. There was one that I liked but wasn't sure about but when she saw it she said ‘this is it, this is the one'. Someone like Beverley has been there and I can trust that the advice is genuine and from experience.'
‘The first time I had no idea what to expect from the session. I've had broken promises before and it's very hard to trust people in this business, but I really trusted Beverley. She has a very kind approach. I know more now what I want because of slowing down' explains Milanka.
‘The second time I got less advice, but I learned more. Everyone needs help and advice from a neutral person, no matter how advanced or successful they are.'
Find your USP
Beverley advised Milanka to find her USP (unique selling point). ‘She recognised that what you see is not necessarily what you get with me. I'm about 5' 11" and I have quite striking features but I'm not a model. When you go in to casting sessions people make quick judgements and in my case they assume I'm a model who can't act. Beverley suggested that I start from the core and work out.'
‘My mother is Serbian and my father Austrian so I have a strong link to Europe and languages were my best subjects at school. The eastern European approach to acting is very different to the UK approach. Even the way that I hold myself is different and makes me stand out. I'm more proud of that now. Because of the war I didn't see my family in Serbia for years but I've spent more time there recently.'
Beverley advised Milanka to be herself. ‘She told me to try not to follow the herd. When you go for castings don't worry about the numbers, she said, just think that you're up against only two people. Be realistic - there will always be competition. But you're in the minority with languages. Always try to put yourself in the minority.'
Milanka's father was an actor and is now a producer but she used to keep that to herself. ‘I believe everyone should fight for what they want and I didn't allow myself to use my contacts,' she explains. ‘But Beverley made me realise what I've got - I have a father in the industry and I'm proud of it - and you're still a fighter even if you use your contacts. It hasn't helped improve my talent. I just have to build around that.'
Advice that stays with you
‘I would love to be able to see Beverley once a week to get her feedback and have her guide my career. But it stays with you. It sounds corny but I have a very happy memory that makes me feel confident so if I'm feeling down I only have to think of that and it lifts me. I've got so many folders but my Skillset folder is always in my main pile and I still go back to it now. I got far more out of the time than I expected. Beverley made me feel so comfortable I wished the session wouldn't end.'
Milanka hopes eventually to work at the Bristol Old Vic, the Globe or the National Theatre. ‘I'll do what it takes to go towards that' she says. ‘Even if I only get one line, it's a start. But I'm not looking for fame and fortune - I want to be respected and successful.'
She admires actresses Judi Dench and Julie Walters, but her biggest inspiration is her father. ‘I get my work ethic from him. If I can follow in his footsteps I'll be happy.'
If you would like to have a careers advice and guidance session with a Performance advisor, please read the details on the Face-to-face guidance pages.