A FORMER Emmerdale actress is ready to call 'action' on an acting lessons business in Saltaire.

The Act4Screen workshop, which is open to adults, will be run by Rachael Delaney, who hopes her course will help produce the next generation of British actors from the Bradford district.

Ms Delaney is the owner of Northern Talent, an actor management and talent agency she set up in 2015, and which has a record of landing people roles in television programmes including Emmerdale, Crimewatch and Hollyoaks, commercials and touring theatre shows.

Ms Delaney, of Bingley, has appeared on the small screen herself.

She has had roles in Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, films, commercials and a major television drama about the Great Train Robbery, largely filmed in Bradford.

The mother-of-three started acting as a child, appearing in shows at Bingley Arts Centre. She has a degree in marketing and qualified as a holistic therapist.

The 36-year-old said Saltaire had become a popular location for television and film productions over recent years.

“I have the experience being in the industry and in front of the camera, and I want to pass that on," she added.

“Dramas are being filmed in Saltaire, so people don’t need to go to London now to work in acting, as the opportunities are on their doorstep.

“It will give people more experience and will also boost their self-esteem, " Ms Delaney said:.

"I expect to hear from people who want to act on TV shows and take this first step and also from people who lack self-confidence.

“It will be fantastic, there is so much I will be able to do with them, from the basics like mime and adlib and script working.”

Ms Delaney also hopes the workshops will be beneficial to people in other ways.

“I am also working alongside colleges and the JobCentre, as people will gain so much from the workshops as it improves their public speaking, communication and confidence," she said.

“This will then give them the life skill they need when applying to university and job interviews.”

Northern Talent will be running the workshops which will provide advice from accredited drama teachers, including Ms Delaney, with a vast range of industry experience.

“There’s always opportunities for people to be put forward for castings as more and more TV dramas are being filmed on our doorstep,” she said.

Ms Delaney is also a drama teacher at Idle-based Stage 84 and will be expanding her role there this year with a view to overseeing castings to help put students on the big screen.

The workshop will start with an initial free trial on Thursday, March 23, between 7pm and 9pm, at Victoria Hall, Victoria Road.

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