From falling back in love with her original passion to embracing new opportunities, Harrogate performer Lucy Mizen is not wasting a single second of life, discovers Bethan Andrews
For many across Yorkshire, Harrogate-based Lucy Mizen is a familiar face. From first performing publicly as a singer when she was a teenager, to frequenting most live venues in the area, the local music scene has long been aware of her vocal talents.
But while she might be most known for her beautiful voice, 2021 saw Mizen branch out into the acting world, too. Obviously a woman of many talents, as we sat down to chat, it turns out that acting was actually one of her first loves.
So, where did it all begin? Having studied performing arts at Harrogate College, Mizen knew from a young age that she loved acting. “Something about immersing myself into a different character felt freeing,” she says. “I went to Edinburgh for acting training and stayed for a few years, but I missed Yorkshire terribly so moved back to Harrogate.”
There’s talent bursting from the seams in her family, as I see when Mizen talks about meeting her husband, the musician and producer Dan Mizen. Inspired by Dan and his talented musician father Frank, Mizen began singing again and doing session work at Dan’s recording studio.
She tells me of some of her fondest memories from the Harrogate gig circuit. “I formed a blues band with my father-in-law Frank and local musicians, Mark Jarvis and Rick Lawson, called The Lucy Mizen Band. We took it to festivals and played a packed gig in front of the town cathedral,” she smiles. “I was aware that I had strayed away from my first love of acting, though, so when I was approaching 40 I started screen acting classes with the Yorkshire Academy of Film and Television Acting.”
Despite her successes in music and now on stage and TV, too, Mizen is incredibly humble. She tells me how important it is to her to stay grounded and learn from every step of the journey. “As an actor, I think it’s important to remember that no job is above or below you. I’ve found myself on TV one day, then dressed as a Viking in a shopping centre the next! There’s no snobbery when you just love the work,” she insists. “No part is too big or small and each role opens a door to the next.”
Last year saw Mizen take on a dream role playing social worker Lou Breslin in Coronation Street. I wonder how it felt to go from having given up on her acting dream to walking the cobbles on one of the most well-known British soaps. “Working on Coronation Streetis both amazing and surreal,” she says. “I was on the beach at Bridlington with my parents when I got the call. I think they were just as excited as I was!”
It was actually while watching Coronation Street that Mizen realised she missed acting, so there’s something extra special about being on set all these years later. “I remember watching Georgia Taylor, who plays Toyah Battersby, deliver an incredible scene and at the time it made me feel both inspired and sad because I’d strayed so far from where I wanted to be,” Mizen explains. “It had just become an impossible dream. So, to be on set with her 20 years later was one of those moments where you just go, ‘Blimey!’”
Naturally, Mizen is passionate about reminding other people that it’s never too late. “It just goes to show that life isn’t too short and if you feel like there’s something missing, fill it,” she smiles. “We always tell ourselves excuses, but the alternative is looking back in a few years and still being at the starting point instead of on the journey.”
There’s something catchy about the way in which Mizen has taken to following her dreams, so it comes as no surprise that it doesn’t stop at singing and acting. To continue her dedication to following her passions, this year has seen Mizen train for her ‘perfect side hustle’, too. Naturally, it’s a role in which her acting training comes in handy. “I’ve always wanted to be a wedding celebrant, so I’ve just completed my training,” she tells me. “I’ve been told I’m the real-life Joey from Friends!”
With so many big production companies making the move to Yorkshire and Channel 4 having opened their site in Leeds last year, it seems that performing arts are on the up in the county. Where historically being an actor felt fairly London-centric, there’s an exciting air of opportunity up north now. Exuding passion for this, clearly, Mizen agrees, and Harrogate could be leading the way.
“I would definitely say Harrogate supports performing arts, and Harrogate Theatre offers amazing opportunities for young people,” she enthuses. “The brilliant Rachael Halliwell at Harrogate Theatre is committed to using local talent and recently cast me in her self-penned production of Our Gate. It took place in summer last year and was a large-scale immersive experience that took the audience into the streets of Harrogate.
“London might be the mecca of stage and screen, and obviously Manchester has Coronation Street, but there have been incredible productions in Yorkshire and, quite frankly, I wouldn’t live anywhere else!”
With so much enthusiasm for embracing every opportunity, what does 2022 have in store for Mizen? Clearly, she’s not able to give much away, but it seems there is going to be more of this Harrogate star on our screens. “Well, it may well see me back on the telly,” she beams. “It’s looking like a promising year ahead!”
Lucy Mizen’s Yorkshire Favourites
What is your favourite place in Harrogate?
I live near Cold Bath Road and the area feels like its own little borough. There are so many fantastic cafes and bars within staggering distance of my front door. I particularly love District Bar on Cold Bath Road. It’s only been there a couple of years and didn’t open much before lockdown, but has been a welcome addition to the area and so close I can use my own wifi from their outside seating! I also love the Blues Bar on Montpelier Parade (where I met my husband).
Where did you love to visit when growing up in the town?
Growing up in Harrogate meant some great stomping grounds as a kid. I used to spend hours and hours down Nidd Gorge in my pre and early teen years and it’s still one of my favourite places today.
What about your favourite nearby places for a day out?
I have a huge love for the East Coast, and my happy places nearby to Harrogate are Sands End and Runswick Bay.
