Sam Heughan - YouTube

Studying at the Royal Conservatoire or the academy  as we used to call it was a terrific experience  

I think the most memorable of all experiences is  actually the friendships I made. I have a core  

group of friends that we stay in contact with. No  matter where we are in the world there seems to be  

a large contingent of Scottish actors in London  but across the world as well, in America I  

spend a bit of time and it's always nice to see  familiar faces when you're doing jobs and in comes  

an actor you've worked with before, but also you know  just being here on stage this is kind of where  

it began for me they gave me the opportunity to  to work in the industry within Scotland and the  

UK. The RCS were very aware of what was going  on and we got to build with great relationships  

with people that were in the industry, from theatre  companies to directors to casting agents  

and agents as well.

I think the most important thing RCS has taught me was that we're always learning and I'm currently working on a show at the moment and even today I was challenged  

by the job in hand and what RCS supplied was  the facilities to to try everything from from  

Lecoq to Stanislavski to to a great library  to working in the industry within Scotland and  

you take what you want from each thing that you  study each day and use what what works for you  

or what works for that particular job in hands  so it gives you all the tools and resources that  

you need to draw upon as a professional actor.  It's always been a place as well that I felt I  

could come back to I feel very welcome here and I  don't know I really enjoyed using all the all the  

secret corners and and rehearsal rooms that RCS  has with inside it. I actually auditioned for the  

RCS twice first time I kind of missed the audition  process but they very kindly because I handed them  

gave me a sort of last-minute audition again it  was very bad and I had no idea what I was doing  

but it certainly instilled in me that I needed  to come back that next year and try again and I  

think if you don't get in in your first attempt  I think that's a real test of character and  

certainly in this industry you know rejection  or facing hurdles is something you're going  

to face every day or so you really need to learn  to sort of take on board criticism, productive  

criticism and work with that so yes it still with  me this ability or this work ethic that I needed  

to come back better and and learn more about my  craft so I came back the second time determined  

I was going to get in and it was you know  it was of course nerve-wracking you're getting  

up in front of people that you know you've never  met before and I think there were several rounds  

of auditions but for me that the part that  was really rewarding was actually that there  

were other other people going through the same  situation but actually ex-students or students  

from years above that were there running the day  and you could talk to them and they made you feel  

very comfortable and they'd also been through  the same process that you're going through so  

it's not as scary as it is it might feel at first  and certainly everyone wants you to to do the  

best you can so no one wants you to fail so yeah  it was a it was a really rewarding experience and  

then one of course when I got offered the place  it was just sheer elation from my part

I'd get as much experience as you can if  you're considering going to drama school  

go visit as many as possible, come to RCS,  see they're great facilities and the great  

teaching staff know about the industry or  you're looking to get into and try  

you know audition for all these places and  see what feels right and if you're lucky  

like me you know you you will just feel a  sense of belonging in a certain place and  

certainly for myself that was a you  know the beginning and and enjoy it