Today we’d like to introduce you to Bibi Lucille
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It feels as though there was no official start date as to when I started acting. It was a thing that, for as long as I can remember, wanted. My parents enrolled me in acting classes at a young age, and at ten years old, my primary school cast me as the ‘Fairy Godmother’ in Cinderella. I was always a shy kid, but the second I climbed into that sparkly pink dress and faced the assembly hall, I transformed. My blanket of social awkwardness fell off and I was able to be outrageous, loud, bolshy – and make people laugh. I think that’s the thing that got me hooked. My career formally began when I left school at nineteen and bagged a lead role in the west end with Noel Coward’s ‘This Was a Man’ at Leicester Square Theatre. I went on to focus on theatre for years (between shifts at the call centre, of course). I bounced from playing Lady Anne at Baron’s Court to a nutty Jane Watson in a ‘Hound of the Baskervilles tour (which ended up on the mayor’s top picks in 2018, alongside Hamilton, no less). Theatre was always home to me, and still is now. But, unfortunately, even with some success, it’s an unsustainable career long term. So, after a few years, I turned to screen. I started with a plethora of short films before gaining some TV roles (‘Trust,’ Amazon Prime, and ‘Purgatory’ on Popstar!TV). But the most joy I found was in the web-series ‘I am Sophie’ that played as an ARG series where audiences on YouTube could get involved with the plot and speculate over the hidden clues and meanings within this complex horror narrative.
When covid hit, work dried up – as it did for most people in the arts. Thanks to my cousin (Anastasia Bunce, founder of Patch Plays Theatre), I started writing. The writing was something I never had any confidence in, but I loved writing short stories, poems, etc., as a hobby and then tucking them away into a folder on my computer labeled ‘PRIVATE.’ Anastasia encouraged me to write a short stand-up piece, which was well-received and was then turned into a full-blown, one-hour play called ‘Meat Cute’. It toured fringe venues and festivals around London in 2021 before being transferred to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023. The playtext was published by Aurora Metro publishers, and from there, I have continued to write and found great joy in creating my own projects.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Venturing down a creative path is never smooth, nor is it linear. I have had many sleepless nights where I’ve found myself digging a hole of doubt and fear as to whether I can sustain this career – if it will go anywhere or if I’ll hit middle age with little money and no concrete plan. Despite this, I love the industry more than I fear it. In recent years, I’ve come to understand that the pure volatility of it all is what makes it so exciting. We love stories that are full of ups and downs, joys and disappointments – if my own life wasn’t brimming with uncertainty, then I would find myself incurably bored. So, embracing the bumpy road and still driving at full speed is what keeps my excitement and passion for life alive, which is so important for every creative.
In my earlier years, I certainly struggled with naivety. You’d think the old adage of male directors telling young actresses that they’ll ‘make them a star’ has long passed, but it unfortunately still manifests itself in many different forms and in many different people. I was privy to several predatory behaviors, which instilled in me a real fear of the industry for a while. When I was about twenty-two, a particular incident of a man pretending to be an agent kicked all my motivation out of me for over half a year. I was terrified I’d keep being taken advantage of and that my spirit would be beaten to a pulp by the time I was in my mid-twenties. Fortunately, with a supportive family and community around me, I was able to pick myself back up and go at it full force, but without the bright eyes and bushy tails this time. As I’ve aged, I’ve found my voice and ensured that any untoward behavior is halted before it’s even started. It’s imperative that any woman entering the industry isn’t afraid to call out inappropriate behavior, as simply ‘dealing with it’ will destroy a love for the arts.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As of the past few years, I’ve become a writer/performer. I love creating work and projects and opening up interesting roles for women to play that don’t revolve around being ‘the girlfriend’ or ‘the mother.’ I’m particularly drawn to dark comedy at the moment and finding humor in the absurd. I would say I’m best known for playing Lara in ‘I am Sophie’ and for my one-woman show ‘Meat Cute.’ I think a niche that I’ve found is really playing into my passion for animal rights and presenting more activism-based works. I think the elements that really make a story stand out is when it has a message that goes beyond entertainment and a good plot. If there is something to learn or understand, it adds another layer of purpose to the story, which I find really exciting.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My first thought on this immediately goes to my family. My parents have been unwavering in their support and have always encouraged and nurtured every one of my passions. They’ve given me the confidence and self-assurance to pursue this volatile career – without them, I may not have had the perseverance or resources to continue down this creative path. In regards to family, I also owe a lot to my cousin, Anastasia Bunce, who gave me the push I needed to start writing and the confidence to share it with audiences.
A lot of credit also goes to my best friend and fellow actress, Bella Glanville. Bella breathes joy, humor and excitement into every moment spent with her – without her, I have no doubt that I would have gone crazy a long time ago. Whenever I find myself in the pits of doubt and worry, a few encouraging and passion-fueled words from her have me back on my feet in seconds. It’s rare to find someone like this, and it’s a friendship I hope everyone will get to experience at least once in their life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8477320/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bibi_lucille/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Bibi_Lucille
Image Credits
Andy Brown
Kevin Sweeney
Emily Holloway
Bella Glanville
