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Lydia West | Performer

Lydia West | Performer

Lydia always dreamed of being a dancer. She attended a performing arts school where she trained in classical styles including jazz and tap, but life took her in a different direction when she studied Business at university. Working as a PA, she soon found she missed performing - but it was acting that was calling to her, rather than dance. Lydia admits it was a difficult decision to follow her heart, but she joined a local theatre company, before signing up to the Identity School of Acting and getting an agent.

Lydia’s big break came when she auditioned for BBC drama Years and Years, winning the role of Bethany. She then went on to work with Russell T. Davies again, starring in landmark Channel 4 series It’s A Sin, playing Jill. While she knew it was a special job at the time, she couldn’t have anticipated the huge response the show received from the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. It’s something she doesn’t take lightly, in fact Lydia credits the drama with making her an activist, and she hopes to give expression to more marginalised voices and untold stories in her future work.

Lydia is excited to be part of the Breakthrough UK scheme, and hopes to keep working on entertaining and important scripts as her career develops. Having been welcomed onto sets when she was just starting out, she also wants to support other performers coming into the industry. 

Lydia’s Breakthrough credit is TV series It’s A Sin (Channel 4)

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