This week Her Campus caught up with extra-curricular queen, Holly Bruce, to find out about her latest ventures in and around campus.
Name: Holly Bruce
Year of Uni: 3rd Year
Subject: Law LLB (Hons)
Hometown: Fraserburgh
Age: 20
HC: How would your flatmates describe you in 3 words?
Holly: Funny, fashionable and talented. Those are their words, not mine!
HC: What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Holly: I’ve had far too many to count and some are really not suitable for this article. I’ll only give you one word and it’s yoghurt.
HC: When did you start performing on stage and how did you get involved?
Holly: I have been singing since I was 5, ever since my dad – my biggest fan – took me to my first singing lesson and Stage Coach. My first competition was when I was 9 and was called ‘Festival 4 Stars’; I met Shane Lynch from Boyzone and I almost died. I got to the national finals for both Musical Theatre and Pop Vocalist and sang ‘I Know Him So Well’ from Chess and ‘How do I Live Without You?’ by LeAnn Rimes. I was 12 when I had my first moment on stage and I was cast as one of the ‘Babes’ in the Babes in the Wood Pantomime for ‘FJAS’.
HC: You have been involved in so many shows since moving to Aberdeen, which has been your favourite?
Holly: My favourite has to be the Student Show in 2012, Mary Torphins, which was a take on Mary Poppins. The Student Show is performed in His Majesty’s Theatre and raises thousands of pounds for local Aberdonian charities every year. Last year we raised £67,000, and I had the privilege of being on the business team. The show itself is unique in that we take a popular film or musical and localise it to Aberdeen culture by setting it in Aberdeen and using the local Doric dialect (which is also my own dialect). I was cast as the bird lady – which translated in our show as The Big Issue seller – and had the opportunity to ‘fly’ across the theatre. This wasn’t one of my biggest roles but it is where I met some of my best friends. The lead up to the actual performance involved a 3 week intense rehearsal process over Easter. I love everyone who took part in the Student Show. Shout out to NIPs!
HC: Would you give up a career in law to be the next Broadway star?
Holly: In a heartbeat. I love law, I’m a top-notch law bean, but performing has always been what I have wanted to do. I wanted to get a good degree first and experience Uni life before I could venture down the path of performing professionally. Having said that, a postgrad in London may be an option – watch this space.
HC: And now you’re the leader of a Childreach team! Can you tell us a bit about that?
Holly: I got involved In Childreach International in 1st year; I trekked over 200 miles of the Great Wall of China. Then in 2nd year I helped build a school in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Whilst doing this I raised over £4,000 for Childreach. This year I have moved up in the world and have been chosen as team-leader for Machu Picchu – which you can still sign-up for, so make sure you get in touch!
HC: Climbing Machu Picchu? You must love a challenge! Do you have another one planned for after this adventure?
Holly: Of course, I have a huge bucket list filled to the brim of things I want to do: bungee jumping in New Zealand, scuba diving in Thailand, see all the Wonders of the World, sky-diving… I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky.
HC: Finally, how on earth do you have the time to combine everything you do with a social life?
Holly: I have no idea. Seriously. I put it down to my Filofax – without it I would be lost!