Hayley Atwell reveals how she faced classism and misogyny to make it as an actor and dismissed promises of stardom at a RADA audition

Hayley Atwell has opened up on the obstacles she faced to make it to the top of her game as she reveals all she wanted was to make it out of her housing association.

The actress, 42, now a household name, is due to star opposite Tom Hiddleston in a Jamie Lloyd stage adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

The two A-listers first met when they auditioned for an exclusive place at prestigious drama school, Rada, where he got in and she didn't.

Hayley, who went on to study her craft at Guildhall School of Drama, revealed she dismissed promises of the bright lights of fame at the audition and admitted she would have been pleased to simply 'make a living.

During an interview with the Sunday Times, she recalled: 'The woman from Rada said to us, "We are now looking for the next generation of actors who will be making a profound contribution to the arts. And I was, like, "I don't know about that, mate, I'm just trying to get out of being in a housing association — if I can make a living I will be very happy."

Despite her early thoughts, Hayley has in fact made a 'profound contribution to the arts', revealed some of the things she has come up against throughout her career.

Discussing how she thinks women aren't giving as much of a fair chance as their male counterparts, she said: 'There's so much luck involved. I've worked for a number of years … and failure is allowed...

'I didn't used to find it easy to fail and get a second chance. Particularly as a woman there was this sense of 'you have to be perfect'. But while you want to deliver, after a while it's not yours any more. It's for the audience, and if they don't like it, or if it doesn't work, they're allowed, that's allowed.'

Hayley also revealed that she felt classim was more of a problem when she first started out and geared her roles to give her the best possible opportunities.

She said: 'There was probably a bit more classism around then, and I suppose my own prejudice about 'I've got to sound a certain way to even be considered for the kind of parts that might lead eventually to a film career. So I thought if I could go down a period drama route, as opposed to the soap route or more working-class plays, I might give myself more of a chance. I had no back-up plan. I didn't have any kind of privilege, didn't come from money.'

Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest are part of a season of Shakespeare by The Jamie Lloyd Company at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

They are the first plays by the Bard to be staged at the theatre since Peter Brook's production of The Tempest starring John Gielgud in 1957.

Each play is directed by Jamie, who previously staged Romeo And Juliet, which starred Marvel actor Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in the title roles, in the capital.

Alien actress Sigourney Weaver plays the storm-creating magician Prospero in the new staging of  The Tempest, in a role typically played by a man.The production opened on December 19 ran until February 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, Tom and Hayley play sparring enemies-to-lovers Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, which will run up until April 5 2025.

Loki star Tom said earlier this year: 'Working with Jamie Lloyd on Harold Pinter's Betrayal was one of the most fulfilling and meaningful experiences of my performing life.'

'I could not be more thrilled to have been given the opportunity to collaborate with him again, this time on one of Shakespeare's most warm-hearted and joyful plays: Much Ado About Nothing.'

'It's an honour to have been invited by Andrew Lloyd Webber to bring Shakespeare back to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in a season alongside Sigourney Weaver in The Tempest, and to be working with the great Hayley Atwell for the first time.'

Captain America actress Hayley added: 'I am thrilled to be joining Jamie Lloyd's company for the third time in my career.'

'His bold and electric direction, combined with the warmth and wit of one of Shakespeare's most celebrated comedic duos is a truly exciting opportunity and one that I hope will delight our audiences.' 

'I look forward to working with my talented friend Tom Hiddleston and bringing The Bard back to Theatre Royal Drury Lane.'

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, who owns the theatre, previously said: 'When I was nine years old I was taken to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to see Peter Brook's legendary production of The Tempest with John Gielgud as Prospero.'

'It made a profound impression on me. At the final performance, Gielgud broke Prospero's staff and pronounced that Shakespeare would never again be performed at the Theatre Royal as it would be 'lost to musicals'.

'Ever since I owned the Theatre Royal I have been determined to prove him wrong. It is therefore a massive joy that Jamie Lloyd is bringing back Shakespeare to the Lane and even more wonderful that the first of two Shakespeare plays will be The Tempest.'