Breaking into the arts can be a daunting challenge, particularly for those from working-class backgrounds.

In fact, only eight percent of professionals in the film, television, and radio industries come from such environments. Elsie is one of the rare few who managed to overcome these odds. Through a combination of resilience and timely support, she is forging a successful career in the arts.

Elsie’s family faced ongoing financial struggles. Her mother needed flexible work to care for Elsie’s older sister, who lives with a disability. Elsie was aware of the financial strain on her family and feared that pursuing her artistic dreams might make things even harder. Although her mother tried to shield her from these worries, the weight of their financial pressures was always on Elsie’s mind.

Despite these challenges, Elsie took ballet, drama, and cello lessons from an early age. However, as time passed, the family’s limited resources more and more of a burden. It was Elsie’s ballet teacher who introduced them to the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ Charity). Though Elsie’s grandfather, a Freemason who had passed away, this connection provided a key to vital support.

The family applied for support, and the MCF stepped in to cover Elsie’s dance lessons, easing their financial strain. Elsie’s mother viewed this support as a gift from her late father, a way of securing Elsie’s future in the arts. In addition to covering her lessons, the MCF also funded her train fare to drama school for a year and provided her with a cello case, removing practical obstacles that could have hindered her progress.

Drama school was a culture shock for Elsie. Coming from a working-class background, she suddenly found herself surrounded by students from far more affluent families. Nevertheless, she navigated this transition successfully, focusing on her training and using it to further her craft and career.

Elsie’s professional breakthrough came with her debut in The Chalk Garden at Theatre Royal Windsor and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, where she played the lead role of Laurel alongside esteemed actors such as Dame Siân Phillips, Edward Fox, Finty Williams, Jenny Seagrove, and John Partridge. She has since continued to build her career, taking the lead in Alice in Wonderland at Kew Gardens and even performing on the cello in the iconic “MacArthur Park” sequence of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

The MCF’s support has made a profound difference in Elsie’s life, both professionally and emotionally.

Reflecting on her journey, Elsie acknowledges how critical the MCF’s assistance was at a formative stage in her life. “Had the MCF not funded my dance lessons when they did, I might never have danced,” she says. “Performing is the very fabric of my being. It’s easy to forget that, since I’ve never stopped dancing, but I know I could have been a very different person without that support. I am forever grateful. For me—to dance is to live.”

Asking for help can be difficult, and Elsie encourages others to overcome the stigma. “We shouldn’t feel shame when asking for support. The world isn’t an even playing field. I always encourage people to seek help because you never know where it might lead you.”

Learn more about the support we offer and find out if you’re eligible