Carey Mulligan didn’t land her first professional gig through a lucky break. She earned it. In 2004, she played a narcoleptic teen in a production of Forty Winks at London’s Royal Court Theatre. It was a small role. But it put her on the map.
The real boost came from an old school connection. Julian Fellowes, the producer behind Downton Abbey, had given a lecture at Woldenham School while Mulligan was still a student. He remembered her. Or at least, he knew she existed. That connection led to an introduction to a casting assistant.
The result? A minor role as Kitty Bennet in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.
Keira Knightley starred. The film was based on Jane Austen’s novel. It was a massive hit. Mulligan’s part was small. But she was in the room. She was working. That’s how you start.
