Hartlepool barmaid hopes to become success at New York drama school

An aspiring teen actress has been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at a prestigious New York drama school.
Jorgie Willingham hopes to go to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.Jorgie Willingham hopes to go to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Jorgie Willingham hopes to go to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Cocktail waitress Jorgie Willingham,18, is over the moon after being accepted into one of America’s top drama schools, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Jorgie from Ripon Close, in Hartlepool, will move to New York in September where she will begin her two-year acting course in the hope of launching a career in the States.

Jorgie needs to raise $55,000 - about £35,000 - to attend the New York drama school.Jorgie needs to raise $55,000 - about £35,000 - to attend the New York drama school.
Jorgie needs to raise $55,000 - about £35,000 - to attend the New York drama school.
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The Newcastle College acting student beat hundreds of others to secure a place on the course at an audition in London last month.

“The American Academy of Dramatic Arts is where people like Anne Hathaway and Danny Devito have studied, so it is a really good academy but really hard to get into,” she said.

“I applied and travelled down to London two weeks ago for an audition at the Prince of Wales Theatre where I had to do two monologues - Shakespeare’s As You Like It and the contemporary monologue Like A Virgin by Gordon Steel.

“It was really nerve-wracking as I had to do it in front of an audition panel with representatives from the school in New York.

Jorgie Willingham pictured in the photo with her dream in the background.Jorgie Willingham pictured in the photo with her dream in the background.
Jorgie Willingham pictured in the photo with her dream in the background.
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“You were meant to find out if you has been successful four weeks later, but I found out just one week later when they rang me at 1am to say that I had been offered a place and selected for the elite group.

“I am really looking forward to it and I am over the moon to be accepted.”

On the course, the cocktail maker at How Do You Do? bar in Hartlepool, will train with professionals in stage and TV acting and have the opportunity to perform on Broadway with her peers.

Founded in 1884, them academy selects students from all over the world and prepares them for acting careers in theatre, television and film.

Jorgie needs to raise $55,000 - about £35,000 - to attend the New York drama school.Jorgie needs to raise $55,000 - about £35,000 - to attend the New York drama school.
Jorgie needs to raise $55,000 - about £35,000 - to attend the New York drama school.
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But learning at the best academy in America comes at the cost of around $55,000, which is around £35,000.

Despite being awarded with a $7,000 scholarship, the teen still needs to raise the remainder of the funds which will pay for her tuition and to for her to live on campus for the duration of the two-year course.

Jorgie added: “I would appreciate it massively if people could help me out to achieve my goal and dreams by giving a little to support me on this incredible journey.”

To donate people should visit: https://www.gofundme.com/29f3wyyk.