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Press Release 01/05/07

Smiles better

THE smouldering, sultry look is one thing but the world of showbiz also demands that performers can dazzle with their smile.

But for one talented Hartlepool entertainer who seemed to have it all - sparkling green eyes, good looks and talent - it was a self-conscious leer that let her down.

And it was failure in an audition for a part in the latest Robbie Williams video that finally pushed Hollie Sorelle into the dentist's chair.

"It was always the same story," recalls Hollie, of Greatham. "I'd get down to the final cut in an audition and then be asked to look straight at the camera and smile. I'd just know that that would be the end of any chance I had of getting the part. "I'd always been really self-conscious about my teeth from about the age of 11. They were quite crooked and were certainly starting to affect my self-confidence and more importantly my career." Her career had begun in fine fashion from the age of two when Hollie slipped on her first pair of ballet shoes at her mum's dance studio, The Val Armstrong School of Performing Arts in Hartlepool.

"I began to dance almost as soon as I started to walk," laughs Hollie. "Mum was a professional dancer when she was younger and began teaching when she was only 16, so I suppose it was something in the blood."

At the age of three, Hollie entered her first competition at the Sunderland festival, and delighted her mum by walking away with the winner's trophy.

By six, she was performing in pantomimes across the North East, appearing alongside household names such as Ant and Dec, Claire Buckfield and Ted Rodgers and was one of the youngest ever members of the Sunderland babes with fellow babe Jamie Bell, of Billy Elliot fame.

But her big break was just around the corner. "Hollie was about 11, when a friend of mine who lived in London rang to tell me about a documentary on the television about the Sylvia Young Theatre School," explains Val. "They were holding open scholarship auditions, so we thought we'd give it a go."

On her very first ever visit to the capital Hollie took her place among more than 900 wannabes at the Sylvia Young School, for one of only three scholarship places up for grabs. And despite the teeth she was chosen.

Hollie moved into The Chilled Eskimo pub in Notting Hill under the watchful eye of Maureen Pickard, mum to actors John and Nick Picard from the TV series Hollyoaks, where she stayed for a year.

"It was great at the pub and Maureen was wonderful," remembers Hollie. "It was strange being away from home, but the pub was always busy and on special nights I would sit star spotting, watching Martine McCutcheon sing on the karaoke and see Ant and Dec who would sometimes pop in."

Settling in at school, Hollie found herself surrounded by equally talented classmates including Eastenders stars Louisa Lytton and Matt Di Angelo as well as McFly band member Tom Fletcher and actors Matt Thomas (The Lost Prince) and Nick Hoult (About a Boy).

In her first year at Sylvia Young, Hollie was signed up to the Young 'Uns agency and even before classes began, she filmed her first commercial for Pringles crisps. It was at this point that a dentist suggested to Hollie that it may be helpful for her to wear braces for a couple of years to help straighten her crooked teeth.

"I knew that I really should have the braces fitted," says Hollie, "But I also knew that it would limit my opportunities at auditions."

Further opportunities followed for Hollie, who was signed to appear in the BBC series Doctors and more commercial work came her way with Hula Hoops and AOL alongside appearances with boy bands A1 and Westlife.

Hollie, left the Sylvia Young School at 16 after taking her GCSEs and secured another scholarship worth £36,000 at the prestigious Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, having already turned down a scholarship to Doreen Bird's Dance and Theatre Performance College. "I knew by now that I really did need to get a brace fitted and mum tried to advise me to get it done," remembers Hollie, "But I was signed by Betty Laine Management, who represented Victoria Beckham, Ruthie Henshall and Ben Richards, and I knew that my chances of being successful at auditions would be ruined by a brace, so once again I decided to put it off."

After graduating from college, Hollie auditioned for a part in the latest Robbie Williams video. "I was asked to look down the lens and smile," says Hollie. "And once again, I just knew as soon as they said it, that was my chance over.

"At castings they always look for perfect teeth, when it comes down to it you need the look and my teeth were letting me down. I knew if I didn't do something about it they would ruin my career.

"I'd lost all self-confidence when auditioning, I'd started to cover my mouth when talking and I never smiled for photographs, not even at family occasions." A trip to Harley Street led to more disappointment for Hollie as prices for dental treatment began at a staggering £15,000, well out of her reach.

"I came home feeling really down," says Hollie. "But then searching the internet I found the Smile Spa - and it was just down the road in Stockton. "At my first consultation they gave me a whitening kit and the results were amazing. I felt more confident straight away.

"Simon Andrews, who runs the Smile Spa, said that I could have my veneers fitted within six weeks, which was great, as I had an audition for the musical 42nd Street just two weeks after that.

"Even the temporary set that he fitted looked fantastic. I had straight gleaming white teeth, I felt such a different person straight away; I was full of confidence and smiling all the time." With the musical audition looming Hollie was beaming.

"At the first audition I got down to the last 20 and then we were all asked to stand in a line and smile," she says. This was where I'd always let myself down in the past, but this time I had new confidence."

Hollie was picked for an ensemble place, covering one of the lead roles of Phyllis in the UK national tour also starring TV's Paul Nicholas.

"It's amazing, I couldn't stop screaming," beams Hollie. "Mr Andrews and his staff at the Smile Spa couldn't do enough for me, they were superb. They even picked me up from the station at Darlington when I broke a temporary veneer the day before rehearsals were due to begin and took me to the surgery to fix it."

Mr Andrews says: "Holly came to us very conscious of her smile. She now has an eye-catching smile to reflect her engaging personality. She has been a delight to treat." Hollie's future plans include trying to secure more TV work, acting or presenting, or pursuing a singing career. She is currently looking for a TV acting agent.

"I can't thank the Smile Spa enough," she says. "My role in the show will last for another ten months, but I know at my next audition I will go out there with bags of confidence and a winning smile. And who knows where my smile will take me. My nickname with the cast is after all Holliewood."

For more information on the Smile Spa call (01642) 674888 or visit the website. www.thesmilespa.co.uk.

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