Winner's profile Performing Arts

Anna Nguyen
Central School of Speech and Drama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna Nguyen (left) accepting her award from Bruce Wooding (right) from the Central School of Speech and Drama

Anna Nguyen from the Central School of Speech and Drama won this year’s Xcel Performing Arts Student of the Year award. Anna won the award for her creative talents and the dedication she has given to her course in spite of bereavement and ongoing commitments to her family.

Anna is an extremely hard-working student who regularly achieves First class grades. Her tutors describe her as an individual thinker with a unique artistic flair. Winning the Xcel award came as quite a surprise to Anna, “I feel very chuffed to have won this award! I had no idea I was even nominated. I don’t come from a rich family and my parents came from a really poor and hard background, so my way of working and determination to excel in life has always been a humble one - so it was really nice to realise that someone noticed my hard work.”

This award has shown me that somebody must succeed in this huge world we live in, and why not me!

The last year has been particularly difficult for Anna but she has still given her work 100%. It seems that winning the Xcel award has given Anna the boost she needed: “It came at such a perfect time; I recently lost my father to cancer and so the last school year was horrendously difficult, having also played a part in a tragedy echoing my own raw reality. I have also had to balance looking after my mother and full rehearsals at drama school.”

“Winning this award has really given me a great platform in which to jump start me off in to my final and important year in my acting degree. My motivation and self-belief has certainly been reaffirmed. This award has shown me that somebody must succeed in this huge world we live in, and why not me!”

I think it’s very difficult as it is for a young person in their journey towards their dreams, so an achievement such as the Xcel award really shines a light towards the possibility of these dreams becoming reality

It seems that Anna’s achievements have inspired those around her too; “When I told my friends at my drama school they said to me that they would like to someday win a special award such as the Xcel award. I think it’s very difficult as it is for a young person in their journey towards their dreams, so an achievement such as the Xcel award really shines a light towards the possibility of these dreams becoming reality!”

It was amazing to hear my name being called up to receive an award. The lights and the music made it all very real. Next stop, the Oscars!

When asked what she thought of the awards ceremony, Anna said, “I really enjoyed it. This is the first sort of any award ceremony I have been to. I have always watched them on television, but this time I was sitting at one myself, and it was amazing to hear my name being called up to receive an award. The lights and the music made it all very real. Next stop, the Oscars!”

Interview by: Emily Crane