Sex Cells The Play Anna Longaretti is a script writer. Her first play, Sex Cells, made it’s debut in 2013 at the Riverside Studios. It is published by Samuel French. Her second play, Curl Up & Die was first staged at the Questors Theatre in 2016. It is published by Stage Scripts. Anna has also written full length films and stand up comedy.
“My very first foray into the world of theatre was in a junior school production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. The kids who wanted a role lined up, audition-like and the rest of the class voted for who they thought should get the part. I yearned to play Snow White – obviously – but as my two front teeth were missing I thought I’d have more luck trying for the role of Wicked Step Mother. I gave my best evil snarl and got the job. Unfortunately, other theatre experiences weren’t so positive. By the time I got to secondary school I was creating a song and dance act along with three other girls. The assembly hall was packed to the rafters, our parents were in the audience and we were wearing bloomers and shower caps. What’s not to like? All set to burst into a rendition of ‘My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean’ the rest of the ensemble got struck down with stage fright which in turn brought on a dose of laryngitis. I was left holding the fort. I like to think I have some talents but singing isn’t one of them and without the backing, or should I say fronting, of the girls who could sing, the result was an unmitigated disaster. The agonizing drive home with my parents afterwards is a memory I can’t forget. Had it been possible for tumbleweed to blow through a Triumph Herald, it would have done. Not a word was mentioned about the performance, nothing, nada, rien, niente, nichts, niets (my computer program has run out of languages). Scarred by the experience, I spent 22 years in another profession altogether.
I became a hairdresser and make-up artist working on fashions shoots with the likes of Mario Testino, David Bailey and Nick Knight. That work led to my working on TV commercials for every type of product from Domestos to DeBeers. Along the way I got to do the hair and make-up of celebs like Faye Dunnaway, Omar Sharif and David Beckham. But towards the end of this period I had a hankering to create more than just nice hair and glam make-up looks. So over 20 years ago I enrolled into writing classes at the City Literary Institute. My first teacher was the famous playwright Bernard Kops. He took no prisoners when it came to writing authentic dialogue, he made us think about how people really speak to each other in everyday life and I’ve tried to follow his advice ever since. Yep, it’s taken me over 20 years to get to this point!”
Alongside her writing, Anna is an actor, voice over artist and model.
Find her showreel here
Find her voicereel here
Anna Longaretti 