{"id":4174,"date":"2024-01-15T10:02:26","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T10:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=4174"},"modified":"2026-03-30T09:06:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T09:06:36","slug":"aaron-hodgetts-house-of-the-dragon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-industry\/aaron-hodgetts-house-of-the-dragon\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Hodgetts: From Guildford School of Acting to \u2018Game of Thrones\u2019 Prequel"},"content":{"rendered":"

2022\u2019s Spotlight Prize winner tells us about their drama school journey, auditioning for \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019, and their experience as a non-binary performer.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before graduating in 2022, Aaron Hodgetts (They\/Them) was nominated by their drama school, Guildford School of Acting, for the <\/span>Spotlight Prize<\/a> 2022<\/span>. Previous nominees include Jodie Whittaker, Gwendoline Christie and Ben Whishaw \u2013 where Aaron went on to join this long line by winning the Screen Award. Now, one year on, they have gained an agent and will soon be seen in Season 2 of the <\/span>Game of Thrones<\/span><\/i> prequel, <\/span>House of the Dragon<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

We spoke with Aaron about their Spotlight Prize experience, the audition process for <\/span>House of the Dragon<\/span><\/i>, and what it\u2019s like being a non-binary performer in the industry. Here\u2019s what they shared:<\/span><\/p>\n

Hi Aaron! When did you decide that acting was the career for you?<\/span><\/h3>\n

When I was about 11 or 12, I started doing pantomimes<\/a> in the West Midlands, but I wasn\u2019t thinking about it too much at that age. Being on stage and having the build-up of rehearsals was a thrill, especially doing pantomimes, where you get so much feedback and interaction from the audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That gave me a dopamine rush that I haven\u2019t been able to kick and now I chase it on stage and TV and find different avenues to get that rush. For screen, there\u2019s a delayed gratification of starting something and working on it, and then in a few weeks\u2019 time, you\u2019re going to have that boost of adrenaline that\u2019s come from your hard work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you find yourself facing any challenges that you didn\u2019t expect after graduating from drama school?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Generally speaking, within my whole year at drama school, there was a feeling of adrenaline that dropped and it really picked at us. We had all this time, but we didn\u2019t have to be anywhere specific or live by a schedule and as a result, our day jobs became so important to us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I had all this energy from drama school, and I had to place it somewhere. I know now that it doesn\u2019t matter about having a certain job at a certain time as long as I\u2019m happy doing what I\u2019m doing now. If it makes me comfortable, then I can keep moving. I still have goals, but I have plenty of time to meet them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve been cast in Season 2 of <\/span>House of the Dragon.<\/span><\/i> Can you tell us about the audition process?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Usually, when I get an audition for a bigger role, I send in my self-tape and try not to think about it, but I end up thinking, \u201cHow many people have they auditioned for this role? What\u2019s the probability I\u2019ll get it? I shouldn\u2019t get my hopes up because they\u2019re probably casting worldwide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With <\/span>House of the Dragon, <\/span><\/i>I just completely forgot about it, and then I got the call two weeks later and got the part! They used a code name for the show and I genuinely had to ask them what the job was. When a big audition comes through, I try not to picture myself in that role but I try my hardest with the audition \u2013 that\u2019s all I can do.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you keep yourself busy between roles and auditions?<\/span><\/h3>\n

I DJ and I collect records and albums. Even if I don\u2019t have the money to buy records, I just go on my laptop and practice. I\u2019m also lucky enough to work in a record shop down the road from me. I was also a barista and could DJ if I wanted to, which was the best day job ever for me. It\u2019s a great flow and if I land a gig, that\u2019s a bit of extra money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of people in my year at drama school do things like crocheting and have started their own <\/span>Etsy<\/span> shops. If you can spin your hobby into something that brings you peace, excitement, and a bit more money, that\u2019s great!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You won Best Actor for Screen at the Spotlight Prize. What was that experience like?<\/span><\/h3>\n

At the time, I hadn\u2019t even finished drama school yet and probably wasn\u2019t in the best mindset because it felt like auditioning for a big job that everyone else was more prepared for \u2013 and I had a bit of <\/span>imposter syndrome<\/span><\/a>. It was a whole day, and I was very nervous, but the directors were absolutely lovely; the crew and the whole group that year got on so well, so I never felt intimidated by anyone but myself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the stage piece, waiting to go on stage, I\u2019ve never known nerves like it. I thought I was being watched, even though I wasn\u2019t the one acting at the time. I was trying to remember my lines and don\u2019t fully remember performing. When I got the award, I genuinely couldn\u2019t believe it and it\u2019s still such a core memory in my life that came at just the right time. This felt like the prize for my years at drama school and those feelings are unmatched \u2013 it was incredible! I felt very lucky, but at the same time, I thought, \u2018My talent must have got me here, so give yourself a little pat on the back.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Headshot credit: Milo Matthews<\/em><\/p>\n

Has winning the Spotlight Prize impacted your career in any way?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Being part of the Spotlight Prize has massively impacted my career. I went from being a third-year student, messaging every agent under the sun, to agents coming up to me and having a choice, which was absolutely surreal and a privilege. Some of them were even people I\u2019d emailed! It was great for the agents to actually see me perform and it gave me that little kick I needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I got my agent from the Spotlight Prize which has been a brilliant journey so far. None of the jobs would have come without my agent and they wouldn\u2019t have come without Spotlight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you tell us about your experience as a non-binary performer in the industry?<\/span><\/h3>\n

You see this term in tabloids and it\u2019s perceived as this freakish term that I didn\u2019t understand and had no context of. It wasn\u2019t until people I knew came out as non-binary in drama school and described what it meant to them that I really identified with it and realised that this is who I am. I came out as non-binary in my third year of drama school.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of gender identity and self-identity, there\u2019s still a long way to go with acceptance, public opinion, and hysteria. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s blind ignorance or (I hope not) blind hatred of difference, or willingness not to accept change. I\u2019m lucky not to have experienced that as much as I feel I present very male, so I often understand when people slip up with my pronouns.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are so many performers and creatives who are now openly non-binary<\/a> that it has become a part of communication and the conversation of pronouns with cast and crew. It\u2019s these conversations that give me the strength and confidence as a non-binary performer to potentially address it without feeling like I\u2019m kicking up a fuss and not feeling like I can\u2019t say something out of fear that I\u2019ll lose this job. I feel I can say something if I don\u2019t feel comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are making movements within it, however, there\u2019s so much that still needs to be done in terms of visibility. But I feel we\u2019re moving in the right direction with at least having that communication established. It just needs to be indulged in a bit more in my opinion, where we can feel comfortable enough to call things out if we’re not comfortable, which is obviously a huge part of the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

What would you like to see more of in the industry?<\/span><\/h3>\n

I\u2019d like to see more in-person auditions because, in this day and age, the audition process can be hard. I love being in a room of actors and casting directors. Even the <\/span>nerves in auditions<\/span><\/a> are constructive and they build you up as a performer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-tapes<\/span><\/a> are great, but it\u2019s the process of creating that tape and then waiting for a response, and sometimes you can\u2019t always get a response \u2013\u00a0that can grind on you. I think you don\u2019t feel seen as much as you do in a room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you could manifest the perfect role, what would it be?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Doctor Who<\/span><\/i>! It\u2019s what got me into acting. I have no memories from when I was four years old, but I can vividly remember what room I was in when I was watching episodes of <\/span>Doctor Who<\/span><\/i>. I remember thinking, \u201cI would love to do that and play pretend for a living. How amazing it would be to do that regularly for money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, what advice do you have for drama school graduates?<\/span><\/h3>\n

It can seem counterproductive but take your time. You\u2019ve got time to fail because your post-drama school life is the time to waste time. Watch as much as you can and listen to as much as you can. There are very few writers, directors or actors who made their best work at 19 or 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t take the first job because it pays. Really think about what you want to do. That goes for day jobs and acting jobs. If a job (in particular a day job) makes you miserable the first few shifts, don\u2019t subject yourself to that just for money. There are better day jobs out there.<\/span><\/p>\n

We feel lucky when we get an acting job and feel we owe it to the casting director who chose you, but remember, you worked hard to even get an audition \u2013 let alone be selected. If it\u2019s not the right role for you, you don\u2019t <\/span>have<\/span><\/i> to take it.<\/span><\/p>\n

A big thank you to Aaron for talking to us about their experience and advice!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Take a look at our website for more <\/span><\/i>graduate tips and advice<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0or to find out more about <\/span><\/i>the Spotlight Prize<\/a><\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2022\u2019s Spotlight Prize winner tells us about their drama school journey, auditioning for \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019, and their experience as a non-binary performer. Before graduating in 2022, Aaron Hodgetts (They\/Them) was nominated by their drama school, Guildford School of Acting, for the Spotlight Prize 2022. Previous nominees include Jodie Whittaker, Gwendoline Christie and Ben […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":4178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[72,75,42,95,76,81],"class_list":["post-4174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-industry","tag-auditions","tag-drama-school","tag-graduates","tag-interview","tag-spotlight-prize","tag-theatre"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAaron Hodgetts: From Spotlight Prize to HBO | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Aaron Hodgetts discusses their journey from drama school to House of the Dragon and their experience as a non-binary performer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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