Charlotte Lorenz is a wonderful musical theatre actress. She has been performing since she was just three which all started with her love of dance.
As a Theatre Practitioner and Actor, Charlotte specialises in Musical Theatre and Voice work for singers, actors and anyone looking to explore their vocal abilities!
Charlotte's key roles include Louise in Gypsy the Musical (Theatre Royal Winchester), The Singer in The Singer and The Old Woman in The Railway Plays (Stage Tour Hampshire) and Surrealist theatre productions by award-winning playwright Nicholas Joseph.
She is currently being represented by The Dazey Hills Company.
"I have just secured a job with Team Walkies in Basingstoke! So I now walk dogs in the mornings! What a dream. So I get plenty of cuddles and fresh air before performing and coaching in the evenings."
We caught up with Charlotte to find out more about her dogs and work.
Tell us all about all the dogs you've loved in your life. (this is your chance to tell us everything about your dogs, past or present. Names, ages, breeds - we want to know everything!)
All golden retrievers. Amber, an Andrex pup, is the first dog and she was white as snow. Sadly, she died 7 months young after eating a cassette tape.
Fantastic memories of her chasing the swing ball around in circles with absolute zoomies! It was my first experience of death as a child and that taught me a lot.
I had my first lead role when Amber died and I remember crying at school and Miss Sutton my teacher was comforting me, then the director came in and said, "well we can't do woopsiedaisy angel without our woopsiedaisey!"
Even then, performing was my way of channelling my emotions in a positive way and it gave me strength.
Pebbles is the smartest dog ever. Dare I say the best dog I've ever had! Definitely capable of being a guide dog, so intuitive and loyal.
So my Dad went out running with her and they were approaching another guy and his dog then suddenly within seconds Pebbles had pinned the other dog to the floor and had it on its back, her teeth snarling at him and her body a puffed out golden alpha wolf.
Dad couldn't believe it, Pebs was usually so gentle and loving and he ran to the owner apologising. The owner said, "No, please don't apologise. My dog would have attacked you as men in hats is his trigger." Dad loves a hat.
Pebbles is a saviour and I have a tear in my eye as she is smiling down on us now hopefully with a minty bonito.
Phoebe-Best mama ever. So my Mum breeds golden retrievers and Phoebe is by far the most incredible and instinctive mama. I've helped her birth all her pups.
It's very normal for the mums to lose interest after 6 weeks or so but Phoebe, even when the pups would leave with their new owners, would kiss them goodbye.
Scrumble is a ducking nutter. Scrummy is Phoebe's daughter and an absolute diva but so lovable. We often say if she were human we're not sure we'd like her but because she's a dog she gets away with it.
She steals Phoebe's bed, if anyone else is getting fussy she will hover or shove them out of the way until the attention is on her again. She sleeps upside down. Just generally random and funny.
She's mentally the most beautiful dog you've ever seen. She struggles to be away from Phoebe's because she's never been without her Ma.
Since leaving home I have been welcomed into a new dog-mad family. My partner's family have a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel named Boris.
I mean just look at his Insta! Beyond cute.
View this post on Instagram
Boris grew up with Liam, my partner and his wonderful sister Brenna. Boo lived a long and happy life. Sadly he died last year which broke their hearts.
Dogs are part of the family and are often preferable to certain members of the family. You know when you come home to your furry friend you will feel their love and it will energise you. They really are man's best friend.
You're obviously a huge dog lover. How long have dogs been a major part of your life and how would you explain the importance of dogs to someone who hadn't ever experienced the joy of a canine/human relationship in their life?
I've had dogs since I was 6 and I'm about to turn 26 so 20 years of dogs has taught me that animals feel like we do, they sense things we don't, I mean the countless stories of animals rescuing babies and people will teach you that.
Their maternal instincts are as strong as ours and I think the longer we kid ourselves as humans that we are superior to the animal kingdom the longer mother earth will suffer.
They're better than humans and they're fluffy.
What are your favourite things to do with your dog(s)?
Beach walks.
You have a really interesting career... What advice would you give to the many people who wanted to follow your path in career terms? What are the absolute best (and worst) things about your work?
Don't give up, network, believe in yourself and work on yourself. If you don't believe in yourself why should anyone else? Fill yourself up so that you feel worthy of everything you could ever want. It won't happen overnight.
The worst part is the rejection, it's a tough industry and there's a lot of talent so don't ever take it personally. Your time will come.
Here are our quick-fire questions, are you ready?
Which do you prefer and why?
Big dogs or little dogs?
Big. Bigger cuddles.
Calm, relaxed dogs or dogs who live at 100mph?
Calm. I want kids so will have enough crazy to handle I'm sure.
Dogs who do as they're asked most of the time or dogs who do pretty much whatever they like whenever they like?
I like them a bit naughty.
Dogs who love to walk by your side or dogs who like to race off and cover ten thousand yards in 3 seconds?
Race off. Wear themselves out.
View this post on Instagram
Days off or days at work?
My work is play, so... work.
The fastest route or the scenic route?
Scenic.
Nighttime or early morning?
Definitely night.
Describe the last time you laughed out loud because of something you saw a dog do.
Fart and wag its tail in my direction then leave.
What do you like to do in your downtime?
Sing and paint, go to the London School of Samba and eat chocolate.
Let us in on a secret that very few people know about you.
I'm intolerant to egg whites but not the yoke. Weird.
What is your current favourite…?
TV show?
Modern Family.
Album?
Etta James At Last.
Film?
Inglorious Bastards.
Website?
Animal charity(s)?
If you had to choose just one, what product or service would you say has most changed your life do you think and why? (can be technology, beauty, food, pet-related, book - anything)
An Acupuncture Matt. I should sell these bad boys - the best thing for aches and pains.
Tell us about some of the most memorable moments from your work.
Seeing the Welsh Brecon Beacons in a heat wave last summer was something magical. I was shooting my first lead role in a short film with an exceptional team.
Julia Spencer was directing and she had cultivated not just an amazingly creative and free environment but her sister had written the script and there was such a sense of sisterhood throughout the project. It was beautiful.
Finish the following sentence, "dogs are..."...
The worst kissers.
And finally, this is always a tough question and often requires some serious thought… If dogs had the ability to speak and you could ask your dog just one question and one question only, what would you ask them and what do you think that they'd say?
Do you know how much I love you?
They'd say, don't tell me, show me and look at the treat bowl.
This is an opportunity to talk about any causes, projects, business ventures etc that are important to you and you'd like us to tell our readers about.
I'm a vocal coach and I believe we all need to free our authentic voices. Embrace our voices, empower them and feel free to be our authentic selves. This is the ethos of my business and why I do what I do.
View this post on Instagram
It's not just about a beautiful powerful performance as a singer-actor or public speaker but it's about the everyday communication of people.
I had a professor call me and ask for coaching to remove her Northern accent and said she'd read a book that said she was unlikely to progress with her accent in the workplace. I politely said, "that was utter bull".
She came for a session and by the end, she said she loved her accent, it was a part of her and she threw that book away. It was written by an old white man.
Women, children and ethnic minorities in particular have been oppressed for too long and it's about time we were given the tools throughout our education to use our voices and feel authentic and free in how we use our them.
Arts are one of the most powerful tools to gain this skill. Art is not a luxury it is a necessity.
Thanks, Charlotte.
