Budding actor aims for prestigious scholarship

Courteney Cooper has wanted to be an actor her whole life and she could get the chance to learn from some of Australia’s best known Shakespearean performers next month.

The 15-year old was hand-picked from thousands of applicants across the country as a finalist for the Bell Shakespeare Regional Performance Scholarship.

The aspiring TV actress said she was surprised to make it to the final round of auditions.

“It would be just amazing to go,” she said.

“The program would equip me with a number of skills to get me where I want to go.”

Each year the scholarship gives budding performers, living in regional areas across Australia, the chance to participate in acting master classes at the Bell Shakespeare headquarters in Sydney.

For the final round of auditions Miss Cooper will have to perform a challenging monologue.

The Bunbury Cathedral Grammar student has chosen an extract from Shakespeare’s famous a Mid Summer Night’s Dream.

“I have to send in a video which will be judged by a panel,” she said.

“I will be performing as the character Helena, in a scene where she contemplates love and conjures up a plan to get back the man she loves.

“It’s important to really get into character and becoming someone else is what I love about being an actress.”

The once-in-a-life time scholarship includes a chance to perform the monologue live in front of the Bell Shakespeare cast as well as accommodation and travel.

The winners will be announced on December 4.