Hey Hollywood, here comes talent from Belturbet!

Jacqueline has just finished her first year of Events Management in DIT. The excitement and glamour of that career appeals to the dynamic young woman, but acting is, and has always been, her passion. 'I love it,' says Jacqueline, who initially did drama under County Cavan teachers like Claire McDermott, Catherine McGuigan, Chris O"Brien and Anne Smith. 'My mother basically landed me in speech and drama when I was very young. I think she thought I had that sort of personality.' Sadly, Jacqueline"s mum died some years ago - but her legacy is going strong, with Jacqueline more determined than ever to make the big-time in the cut-throat world of the silver screen. 'It"s because of my mum that I"m doing it. She and dad always wanted me to be involved in things,' says Jacqueline poignantly. 'They always encouraged us to get out there and go for it.' And if people can watch down from above, her mum, Phyllis, was surely beaming with pride as she saw her younger daughter brushing shoulders with top names in Hollywood, being made up and photographed by a celebrity artist and photographer, coached by a celebrity acting coach and, best of all, auditioning in front of Hollywood agents and casting directors, who gave her promising feedback. As someone who has always been into performing (singing and dancing as well as acting), Jacqueline didn"t have to think too hard about whether she would apply for the "Hey Hollywood, Here I Come" programme. 'I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I"ve always been one to take a chance and go for it.' She applied, as did some 3,000 others, but was shortlisted to the final 500, and TJ Manou of TJ Rizing Productions chose the final group who headed off to pitch themselves in Hollywood during a week-long trip. 'I was really surprised to be chosen. I had just put my name down without really thinking ahead too much,' says Jacqueline, who was one of only three Irish participants in the programme. There was a hectic schedule for the trip, during which the participants stayed in Burbank, which Jacqueline describes as 'the media centre of Hollywood'. Their headshots were taken by photographer Alan Weissman, who has photographed the likes of Cameron Diaz and Liam Neeson. Their make-up was done by a make-up artist, who has also worked on celebrities such as Ben Affleck and Ryan Seacrest. They were coached by May Quigley Goodman, an 'amazing' acting coach from the Stella Adler Acting Academy on Hollywood Boulevard, and the next day they did their auditions. 'There were three auditions throughout the day. In each audition, you performed in front of five to eight agents and casting directors. These agents have put people on big American television shows and films.' It was really a case of diving in the deep end for the Belturbet belle, who had never done a formal audition before. And she loved it. 'It was my first time auditioning for anything in my life. There was a real rush,' enthuses Jacqueline. Her monologue won her some glowing feedback, and she has even received a callback from one of the agents, who told TJ Manou that with more experience and all necessary papers in order, they may sign the Belturbet talent. 'It was good to hear that,' says Jacqueline modestly. 'It was actually mad that I did so well for a first audition!' The Hollywood experience truly swept the teenager off her feet. Jacqueline had the moving experience of being in Hollywood at the time of the tragic death of pop icon, Michael Jackson. 'He was such an icon over there. It was a really intense time,' she said. And there were many lighter highlights to the visit: 'Driving down Wysteria Lane was an unreal experience' she says about seeing the Desperate Housewives set. 'And sitting on the couch in Central Perk from Friends was pretty mad.' The whirlwind trip gave Jacqueline a taste for the glamour, buzz and excitement of Hollywood. She wants more of it, but that"s not what"s driving her - 'It"s the acting that I really like,' she muses. So what now for the Hollywood hopeful? Happily, Jacqueline has her two feet firmly on the ground and it"s back to reality, if only for now. 'I just have to keep at it, I suppose. There"s not much I can do at the moment,' she says. 'Ah, I"d love to go back though. I feel really happy that I was there for a few days and had an agent interested. I feel that if I do keep at it, I"d get better too. It was a good start for me...'