Bela Padilla takes acting course at ‘dream school’ in London

Bela Padilla at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Screenshots from Bela Padilla’s Instagram page

Bela Padilla shared a glimpse of her first day at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, where the actress-screenwriter is currently enrolled in its “Advanced Scene Study for Actors” course.

On her Instagram, the “Wish You Were the One” star posted a reel, in which she documented her commute to her “dream school” and gave a peek inside the institution, which has been in existence for over 100 years.

“Back to school [emojis] Yesterday was our first day and it was sooo exhilarating, I learned so much already on day 1! [emoji],” Padilla updated her followers on Thursday, Sept. 28. She then asked, “If you could study acting/filmmaking what would you like to learn?”

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The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) winner was accepted into the 10-week advanced course that seeks to “further develop [one’s] skills in text analysis” and guide its students toward having “more nuance and specificity in performance,” among others.

Prior to uploading the reel, Padilla, on her Instagram Stories, admitted to feeling “nervous” as she commenced her journey at RADA. “Haven’t felt this nervous in a while [emoji].”

She further spoke of her return to school in another Instagram Story. “Every time I was invited to do talks in Manila for students, whether they were interested in filmmaking or I was invited for something else, I always made sure to advocate studying nonstop,” she shared.

“I honestly believe that even when you’re already hired for your dream job, you should always find ways to keep on learning. So here I am, happily taking my own advice, from buying books on new acting techniques and taking online courses to finally setting foot in my dream school [emojis],” continued Padilla, who has also delved into directing.

Earlier, when the actress revealed her successful application for the course, she also shared that it was her late father who suggested for her to give RADA a try. “My dad told me to try and secure a place in RADA in 2007. [emoji] Here I am, 16 years later [emojis],” she shared on her Instagram Stories.

The “Meet Me in St. Gallen” actress announced the death of her father via an Instagram post on Aug. 28, and revealed that her father died “in his sleep.” “He wasn’t in pain and he hopefully was dreaming of the happy times in his life. [emoji],” she added. EDV