Nicola Bryant: Doctor Who, Hypnosis, and the Art of Trusting Your Gut

What happens when the role you play on screen starts to close doors in your real life?   My guest this week is actress Nicola Bryant, famously known as the American companion, Peri, on Doctor Who. In a story that sounds like a movie itself, Nicola shares how she pretended to be American for three years—both on and off-set—and how that choice affected her career for decades.   We explore her creative childhood, her transition from ballet to theater, and her deep interest in the power of hypnosis to help others heal and grow. This is a conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage it takes to finally trust your own gut.   If you’re ready to stop performing and start feeling human again, I invite you to join me for a free Creativity Circle—the next one is this coming Saturday, April 25.   Episode breakdown:   0:00 Intro and childhood creativity 4:15 The art of creative cooking 8:30 Perception and seeing the world differently 13:00 From ballet school dreams to acting 17:45 The "act 18" audition story 22:15 Realizing the power of acting choices 27:30 Embodying roles and character work 32:00 The secret Doctor Who audition 37:15 Living a double life as American 42:30 Navigating career typecasting and snobbery 47:45 Getting discovered in the West End 52:15 Returning to Peri on audio 56:30 The science and art of hypnosis 1:00:00 Trusting your gut and the mind body connection Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre and  Doctor Who. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle. Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.