Famous actress accepted role in mentoring young Scottish talent

Award-winning star Kate Dickie has been unveiled as a Patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama, Production and Film at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Her career has taken her from Game of Thrones to the Star Wars galaxy, and now she is gearing up for one of her most ‘exciting’ roles yet.

She hopes to be a champion and positive force for the next generation of actors, filmmakers and production artists, aged 11 to 18, training at Scotland’s national conservatoire.

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Kate Dickie works with students from the Junior Conservatoire of Drama, Production and Film at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in her new role as patron. (Image: © RCS-John Young)

Kate said: “It’s so exciting and a huge honour to be named a patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama, Production and Film and work with all these brilliant young people and be part of their journey, even in a small way.

“I can’t wait to get to know everyone and to be there to elevate and support them.

“I’m to be a sounding board if they need advice or want to ask about some of my experiences in the industry.

“I’d like them to see me as someone like them, who they can relate to and have a laugh with – I don’t want to be a formal figure.”

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Kate Dickie visits the prop store at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Kate Dickie visits the prop store at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. (Image: © RCS-John Young)

Dr Marc Silberschatz, Director of Drama, Production and Film at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “With an extensive and critically acclaimed career in film, theatre and television, Kate Dickie will offer a wealth of experience as patron of our Junior Conservatoire of Drama, Production and Film.

“It is an honour to welcome an artist of her calibre to this role.

“Her expertise and insights, combined with her warmth and approachability, will inspire young artists to explore their creativity.

“We are confident her guidance will profoundly impact their artistic journeys.”

Kate studied Dramatic Studies before graduating in 1993. She received an honorary doctorate from RCS in 2023 for services to drama.

She is passionate about the necessity of arts access for young people, viewing it as critical for their creative development, emotional articulation, and for boosting confidence and resilience.

She said: “The arts are so important and have so many layers – from the straightforward to the more complex.

“It might be a fun thing to do, a hobby to express yourself and explore characters right down to a more private layer where you get to escape reality because maybe life isn’t that pleasant.

“If you have young people exploring other people’s stories and lives, it helps build a generation that has empathy and understanding for scenarios that aren’t their own. And that can only be a good thing.”

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