In my final, honours year at UCT, my appendix decided that it was more important than starting semester and my thesis . For anyone who has had Appendicitis. It was one of the worst times of my life , I sympathise.  I had felt sick to the point where I opted out of a poker game (which I was winning) and gone to see my doctor. He had said it was probably a virus going around.  I was sick for about 3 days straight before I finally went to the emergency room.

I was really dehydrated, the couldn’t even open my eyes kind of dehydrated.They couldn’t say for sure if it was my appendix but as I looked pretty grim , they kept me overnight. By the way, when nurses think you are just one of those druggie, tik addict kids that have overdosed…. you get treated really nicely (sarcasm).

Anyways. Appendix dangerously close to bursting. Went in. Had surgery. Mum flew out to look after me ( thank god). Booked off uni for a month. Lost 10 kilos in total. Have a scar that sits high enough for everyone to see. So tell people I was savaged by mini, pygmy piranhas.

After The Op:

I was stick thin. I could play hide and seek with lampposts. I went into La Senza and almost burst out crying when they told me that I didn’t even need to wear a bra anymore. I remember an agency at the time praising this ‘look’ on me … yes because death is hot these days. I mean really, who needs to support vital organs?? That’s so 1600′s.

I went to a casting a month or so later. I told one of the models (a really stunning girl) about the op and how I had lost so much weight.

Normal people react with horror.

She asked me if she could go to her doctor and book this op. Was it that simple? Or did you actually need appendicitis to have it done? She reckoned it would really help her career to lose those extra few kilos … ( dam those lungs, kidneys and hearts!)

This is abnormal. I feel really sorry for that girl and others like her in the industry … because yes there are others that would think ordering an appendectomy was a good idea.

Frankly it’s stupid that pretty girls are dying to be thin. Literally.

I am so stoked Australia has brought in laws declaring a certain BMI for models and as much as the Kardashians annoy me , I love it that they have curves. Old news but I hope more brands follow Dove’s lead and teach young girls that you don’t have to be skeletal to be stunning.

I read a great article on the weekend that declares The Real Look is in and the new trend is real, freshly fit and healthy.

So hopefully all those skeletons can jump back in their closets, eat something, be healthy and get work!

Go Dove

I am not a method actor and once I have left the role, it does not take me weeks to wash away the characters habits and influences. Yet I do believe that I learn something from every character I play. After all, you take on the skin of that character. You learn their habits, their weak points, their strong points and even their favorite flavor of ice cream. Most of them can teach you something about yourself that you didn’t know.

Recently I took on the role of Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice. I did not like Charlotte and I wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of playing her. Yet eventually I got to understand her, grow fond of poor Miss Lucas and now I even miss her a bit.

I was told that Charlotte would have to have her hair pinned back tightly in a bun. Now Charlotte wouldn’t mind this, but trust me Robyn minded a lot.

I have always relied on my hair to feel pretty and detract attention away from my face. Big sunglasses also help Throughout my life people have always said nice things about my hair. So it’s like having a security blanket strapped to my scalp 24/7.

I used to have braces, glasses, freckles and acne : got to love those teenage years and truth be told I have never really liked my face all that much. I still don’t really smile with my teeth in photos and I really prefer having my hair loose; even a loose plait.

It sound ridiculous but I was dreading pinning my hair back for the dress rehearsals and the run.

So I put hair back in an old maid bun and fearing the worst, slapped on spatula-loads of Make Up. I arrived at the first dress rehearsal and not only was my costume see-through but nearly every other member of the cast said I now looked like a Charlotte. Charlotte Lucas was a character that was around 25 (old for those days), unmarried and terribly plain. So hearing this sent me into a bit of an irrational spin.

What was I going to do? I really did need my hair to feel pretty! Yes, this does sound vain, but honestly most girls do want to feel pretty inside.

For two weeks I pinned my hair back, involuntarily shed the security blanket and realised that I could survive. I was forced to look into a mirror whilst putting on make up and see my face alone and without my overpowering mask of hair.

And do you know, I’ve actually grown to like my face. I am not saying it is an oil painting, but I definitely feel I don’t need to try hide it.

In fact I’ve noticed that since the play has finished, I have walked around and gone out (gasp the horror ) with my hair pulled back, away from my face and it hasn’t even bothered me.

So thanks Charlotte, I liked you the least and so far you’ve taught me the most.

PS Hopefully the next character will teach me to smile properly in photos