I Can See Clearly Now...

Times were good. A successful acting and musical career. Plaudits. Awards. Magazine covers, hanging out with royalty and A-listers and a regular seat on chat show sofas. It began when I was 18. A lucky break when a theatre role landed on my lap – I was an understudy, straight out of acting school. Film roles quickly followed and a music career also saw me top the album charts around the world. A day rarely went by without someone asking for an autograph but I started to feel like an imposter. Paparazzi would chase me around on motorbikes and it was as if I was becoming a prisoner in my own life, cornered and vulnerable. True, the champagne rarely stopped flowing and gala dinners and award ceremonies were weekly – sometimes nightly – occurrences. The money was cascading in but I began to grow bored with fame –and then it with me. The trappings of success were there – and it was increasingly difficult to resist the temptations. The pressure to look good became unbearable as younger actresses and singers took my place. The impossibility of holding down relationships due to punishing schedules and touring took its toll. I started to feel like a bird trapped in a glittering cage. How could I be so unhappy? Surely I had everything- that is the way it may have looked from the outside but, I can tell you, it certainly wasn’t like that on the inside. I wasn’t taking care of myself and felt tortured. I was quickly becoming a washed-up diva trading on past glories. I was still hugely recognisable to the public and the press- but success was waning. The venues grew smaller and the bills – and my dress size – bigger. The pressures were increasingly hard to take and I needed to make a cry for help, more of a scream actually. I felt as if my name was going to be carved into history as another casualty of fame, a bright flame that burned out early, like so many in my business. I knew I had to face my demons – and having the courage to do so is the best thing I have ever done.

I feel a new person, as if I have been cleansed and re-sculpted. I only wish I had addressed these issues many years ago. I am finally at ease with myself and able to gracefully accept my age and look back on my career with pride and acceptance. Any bitterness has been washed from me. Speaking to wise people who are global experts in their field can change your world. I finally realised I wasn’t alone and can now look in the mirror with a smile and a sense of achievement and pride. Thank you to those who helped me get to this much happier place.

Business Mentors: Andrew Inman, Chloë Garland, Alejandra Arteta, Angelina Giovani, Christopher Clark, Robin Rose, Sophia Petrides, Dana James-Edwards, Iain Smith, Jeremy Cordrey, Martin Israel, Iandra Tchoudnowsky, Tim Levy, Peter Ibbetson, Claire Orlic, Judith Cocking, Sandra Hermitage, Claire Ashley, Dr Richard Davis, Sir David Lidington, Coco Stevenson, Talan Skeels-Piggins, Edward Short, David Hogan, Susan Hunt, Divyesh Kamdar, Julia Glenn, Neil Lancaster, Dr David Moffat, Jonathan Lander, Kirsty Bell, Simon Bell, Paul Brannigan, Kate King, Paul Aplin, Professor Andrew Eder, Derek Bell, Graham Turner, Matthew Thompson, Douglas Pryde, Pervin Shaikh, Adam Mitcheson, Ross Power, Caroline Roberts, Sue Harkness, Andy Tait, Mike Donoghue, Tony Mallin, Patrick Chapman, Amanda Brown

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An employability magazine for difficult times has been fortunate to be adorned by world leaders, politicians, columnists and business mentors.

There is much excitement amongst colleagues and our student candidates about members of the Royal Family appearing in the magazine. However, this is not about pageantry but an opportunity for them to discuss an important topic that is dear to both Their Royal Highnesses and all our hearts.

They are joined by many other voices in the fight for our nation’s mental health, from The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the writer Fiona Millar, the campaigner Gina Miller, the Chair of the Education Select Committee Robert Halfon MP, Lord Jonathan Oates, the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Waterstones CEO James Daunt and many others. We are also championing those charities of which The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are Patrons and hope this issue will serve as a magnificent showcase for the work which they all do to address this important issue.

The wellbeing and mental health of our students requires great attention especially as we exit from a global pandemic. Many have found their studies interrupted, enduring long periods of isolation, dealing with the death of loved ones, the loss of interaction with friends and family and suffering the indignity of fresh challenges in their search to find meaningful employment.

However, during mentoring sessions every student has a story to share about the Royal Family, whether participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, raising funds for charity or meeting a Royal Patron. Here is a small selection of mine.

At an event with HM The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Royal in aid of Save the Children, one of my guests, solicitor Jonathan Metliss, had the audacity to ask Her Majesty which football team she supported. Quick as a flash, she responded: “Queens Park Rangers”, as she moved down the line.

I met Diana, Princess of Wales on numerous occasions, mostly in her capacity as Patron of The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children. However, the event that made headline news during the weekend that Nicholas Ridley passed away was her attendance at the International Congress for the Family in Brighton. Mother Theresa was supposed to be present but at the last minute cancelled due to ill health. As Her Royal Highness took to the podium, a number of activists decided to make a protest. Thankfully, I had insisted that the organisers retained the services of Bryn Williams as Master of Ceremonies – the calmest man in a crisis I can imagine.

Bryn did the dutiful and defused the situation from escalating as gun-wielding guards were about to pounce and firmly proclaimed: “Now that you have shared your views quietly and peacefully, we are obliged that you will leave the stage immediately.” They did, but it didn’t stop the media from blaming the organisers for endangering the life of their Royal patron.

During the compilation of this issue, the world lost the Duke of Edinburgh, and so I want to pay tribute to a charity of which he was the patron. The Outward Bound Trust taught me the two most important words: “I can.” For my part, I will always be grateful to the charity for helping me to believe in myself and for the chance to inspire others.