Heidi Mumford
Heidi Mumford was runner-up in Channel 4's Bollywood star, not a bad acheivement considering she's not Asian. But let's start at the beginning....
Heidi began acting as a small child, mesmerized and inspired by the MGM classics and Bollywood, which has stayed with her a lifetime!
Heidi has condensed a lot into her life. Leaving home at eighteen she travelled to Australia where she stayed for two years. She returned to the UK to fulfill her lifelong ambition of going to drama school and won places at LAMDA and Italia Conti. After hundreds of letters requesting sponsorship to cover the fees Heidi was forced to turn down both places due to lack of funds.
Heartbroken at the turn of events and unsure what to do next she accepted a place at Durham University to read Law. Determined not to abandon her dream Heidi cut her professional teeth in the theatre performing as Abigail in The Crucible, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mariana in Measure For Measure.
She also went to the Edinborough Fringe and won a five star review from The Observer for an ensemble comedy piece.
After graduating Heidi moved swiftly to London where she auditioned and won a place at The Poor School. For two years she worked full time and studied full time before graduating in 2005, but not without some controversy.
During her second year of training Heidi secretly auditioned along with two thousand other hopefuls for a part in the hit channel 4 series ‘Bollywood Star’. Two thousand became six and Heidi was the only non-Asian to be flown to Mumbai for two weeks of filming.
Six then became three and Heidi found herself auditioning in front of revered Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt for a role in his forthcoming project. She came runner up but the publicity generated and the warmth and support from the Asian community ensured Heidi was to maintain her link with Bollywood. She was asked to perform at two London Mela’s and was offered a film role back in Mumbai from Mahesh’s daughter, Pooja, also a director.
After considerable pressure to abandon her last year of training Heidi stayed in school and graduating credits include, Portia in The Merchant Of Venice, The Girl in Pinter’s A Night Out’ and The Model in The Blue Room.
She then appeared as Venus at The Royal Opera House and in Cyrano de Bergerac with Placido Domingo, has completed two short films, a music video and finished her first novel which shall be available early next year.