Paige Hallett has spent plenty of time backstage, but now she's standing in the spotlight.

The 19-year-old is working to make a name for herself on stages in Bermuda and the UK.

Today a theatre student at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Miss Hallett said she has spent most of her life in the theatre.

Her parents Bruce and Annette Hallett were constantly involved in productions, and kept her backstage during shows.

"I was kind of born into it," she said. "My dad was involved in theatre and my mother was always backstage.

"One day they just sort of said, instead of letting me sleep in the back, why not put me onstage?"

"The first time onstage I was in the children's choir for 'Little Red Riding Hood'. I did children's ensemble stuff from year to year. My first actual part was a school play. I was a duckling."

Despite spending years onstage and backstage, Miss Hallett said she only made the decision to give acting a serious shot when she was choosing classes for her GCSE's.

"I didn't want to do math or science," she said. "To be honest, I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I figured I would just do what I was good at."

Her path was made easier when she was awarded a bursary by the Bermuda Musical Dramatic Society (BMDS) Trust and accepted into the Liverpool Institute, founded by Sir Paul McCartney.

"Getting the bursary was a huge surprise," she said. "There are just so many talented young people coming up that I was amazed that they chose me.

"Now I'm going into my third and final year. So far, it's been a really good experience.

"Everyone is so nice and talented. I had no idea how naturally talented people could be. It was a mind blow. I have had a few negative experiences, but it's really been an education."

When not in class, Miss Hallett has been taking to the stage in bigger and more challenging roles. She recently played the part of Cecile in the theatrical adaptation of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses'.

"She's so dumb, but really conniving. It was a great role," she said.

"It was my first major performance, and there were some real technical challenges that I had to overcome as an actor."

Miss Hallett said that she loves being able to escape reality through performance, but recognises that a career in acting is not for everyone.

"I think everyone should try it at least once, but it can be very difficult.

"You really have to battle a lot of self-doubt. If you want to keep going you need to be very strong and determined."

Miss Hallett has already lined up numerous roles for the next year, including one on the Island in the short play, 'I (heart) You, Brady McGrady', by local playwright Andrew Stoneham.

The production is one of six short plays to be shown as part of the annual Famous for 15 Minutes contest to be held at Daylesford Theatre August 12 to 21.

Miss Hallett plays a cashier who falls head-over-heels in love with a customer as does her co-worker.

"It's the funniest thing," she said. "It's so good. All of the casts are really talented this year, so I'm really excited to be a part of it."

Her work continues once she returns to Liverpool at the end of the summer.

"I just found out that I was cast in 'Sweeny Todd', which is so cool.

"I also have a major supporting role in 'Small Family Business', which is a fantastic show. I play a drug-addicted daughter who shoplifts."

Everything she hopes is building towards her dream role — that of Holly Golightly in the stage adaptation of 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'.

For a woman who loves the idea of becoming someone else, she says Holly is the perfect role.

"I love that she's so fake but she doesn't care," she said. "She just tries on different personalities it's my dream role."