WHERE ARE THEY NOW Tom Lincoln

I adored my time at Mill Hill (and 2 years at Belmont): my friends, the staff, the grounds. I was a straight A-student, Head of House and to my delight, even got to play for the First XV on Top Field a few times – I was scrawny, but fast and fearless in the tackle!

Soon after leaving Mill Hill I fell ill with Depression. Years of rocky mental health followed and at 21 I was Sectioned and finally given an accurate diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder. With the right medication, the support of my family and an understanding of my condition I began to rediscover my balance. I moved out and studied Horticulture, alongside helping out at my extended family’s Garden Centre – growing back into my confidence, strength and identity.

At Mill Hill I’d most enjoyed Acting, but back then, the idea of pursuing it as a career seemed a foolish long shot. Suddenly the prospect filled me with passion and a life-affirming sense of direction. I enrolled in a foundation course and thrived... It was a joy to be back in education. To gain an edge in such a competitive profession, I applied only to the best Drama Schools and to my delight, at 25, began 3 years of full-time training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

As with Mill Hill I loved studying within a supportive and demanding environment – I worked rigorously and graduated First Class with Honours – signing with a top talent agency and going straight into work on a play in the West End; being directed by the legendary Steven Berkoff! I invited my old drama teacher from Mill Hill to see the show...It was a lovely feeling to do Mr Proudlock proud, and in the following years he set me up with some teaching work back at the school... Standing in the Teacher’s Common Room was a very surreal experience! I love to teach and regularly work back at my old

Drama School or take on private students. In the next few years I won some more acting gigs - filming work, London stage work and a couple of Nation-wide tours - including 6 months playing Olivia in an All-Male-Outdoor-Traditional-Dress version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night - regularly playing to massive audiences!

Having made a solid start to my career as an Actor, I decided to pause and take a Gap Year to travel – I’d never had the chance when younger due to illness. Also, to be frank – the lack of structure, low-income and various audition rejections were wearing me down. I felt I needed to connect to a deeper meaning and purpose if I was going to endure such challenges for the long haul. So I booked a one-way ticket and blasted a solo-path through South, Central and North America –enjoying exotic adventures and learning wonderful lessons, but best of all were the few weeks spent out in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada for the Burning Man Arts Festival. Living and working amongst that free-spirited, fun-loving community of (crazy-ambitious) Artists and Builders, super-charged my energy, optimism and inspiration to dream big – I had found what I was looking for.

Since my return to London I’ve been busy laying the foundations of the next chapter of my career as an actor, entrepreneur and creative artist!

To that end I’m calling all fellow Creatives to join me at the next Old Millhillian’s Creative Arts Networking Event which I’ll be hosting from 7pm on Thursday 29th November at The Royal Court Theatre Bar’s Ladies Room – if you work in The Arts too, drop the OMC Office an email and get yourself added to the Guest list – hope to see you there!

What were you like at school?

Happy, keen, sporty, sociable, a bit cheeky. Baby-faced.

The funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

Two nights ago I dreamt of a new species of animalhedgehog crossed with pigeon. I woke up very amused at the absurdity of my own sub-conscious!

What has been the most positive thing you have taken from your school days into your adult life?

An innate confidence and optimism that I can achieve anything that I set my mind to work towards.

What’s the most interesting thing about you?

I suppose being an actor makes me a bit unusual. It’s one of those jobs that make people say ‘Oh that’s interesting’ and then the inevitable and dreaded...’Have I seen you in anything lately?’

What is your proudest moment and why?

Getting my second job as a professional actor (my first job could have been a fluke right?) That feeling of getting paid to do acting felt magnificent - and the culmination of over 5 years of fanatical study and hard work!

Do you keep in touch with any OMs?

Yes – a handful of close friends.

What’s your driving force?

A sense of duty. Duty to lead a fun and interesting life (YOLO!) but also a duty (being healthy, educated, secure) to figure out how I can best be of service to those less fortunate, especially those facing mental health challenges.

Most inspiring teacher at school and why?

Mr Woodrow. He was my Housemaster (and Rugby Coach and Geography teacher) and was a wonderfully grounded, intelligent and stable presence. He’s strong, patient and ‘Masculine’ in a healthy way - a great role model.

Which four famous people would you invite to a dinner party?

Mark Rylance, Louis CK, Bill Burr, Russell Brand

Favourite memory from your time at Mill Hill School?

Winning the House Drama Competition, which I directed and played the title role in: ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. I remember my fellow housemates bouncing me on their shoulders in celebration like the climactic final scene of a feel-good HighSchool movie.

Worst memory from your time at Mill Hill School?

A friend got hold of his younger sister’s copy of ‘Sugar’ Magazine and discovered my ill-judged decision to take part in their ‘Blind Date Feature’. By the next morning, to my horror, he’d stuck up photocopies of it all over the schoolnecessitating a frenzied dash to remove them all before first class!

If you won £10 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?

Build a creative hub/commune with accommodation, facilities and a living wage available to artists that need support in developing creative projects that will have a positive impact on society/producing innovative new stories/mediums that will enrich our culture. Oh and throw a MASSIVE party.

Your favourite quote? Know Thyself

A piece of advice you would pass on to those leaving Mill Hill School?

If you know what you want to do next - good for you - go get em’ Tiger. If you have no clue - that’s fine. The fog will clear. Don’t rush into University just for the sake of it. Take the pressure off. Why not get a job, do some travelling - you’ll get to where you’re meant to be when the time is right. Above all else take care of your mental health.