Actor and archaeologist Beatrice Hunter takes the cliche of juggling her creative work with her day job to a whole new level.

"I have found myself doing the superman-style change of clothes, plus wash-and-makeup, in public toilets while dashing from an excavation to audition...and back again."

In the latest 'NOT my day job' series on The Big Idea, highlighting creatives in New Zealand with multiple jobs, Beatrice tells us how she wouldn't give up archaeology for her creative work. 

"Sometimes I dream about leaving archaeology and just being my creative self, but really, I don’t want that entirely. I love what I do in archaeology and feel that it is part of me and I want to further it. I just want to do both with the perfect balance. Two dream jobs – that’s not too much to ask is it?"

Qualifications:

Actor: No formal qualification, ongoing training with Kacie Stetson Studio, many and various short courses, speech and drama as a child. 

Day Job (Archaeologist): MSc Paleopathology, CoP Forensic Science, current PhD candidate.

Tell us about your day job.

I’ve been an archaeologist for 15 years and now specialise in human skeletal remains. I'm often called to construction or archaeological sites to identify bone or excavate skeletons that need to be reburied elsewhere due to erosion or development. I examine the skeletons to give insight into aspects of their identity, life and times. 

Tell us about your creative work when you’re NOT doing your day job.

I act in theatre productions, short film and commercials and attend weekly coaching. I am slowly chipping away at a couple of my own scripts. I love to take dance classes and usually have a small art/craft project, or several, that I potter away at for my own pleasure. 

How do you manage juggling both?

When I am not on an excavation, I have periods of flexibility and availability for creative projects. Excavation work is more difficult to juggle however. I have found myself doing the old superman-style change of clothes, plus wash-and-makeup, in public toilets while dashing from an excavation to audition...and back again.

Tell us about your creative background.

I have acted since childhood, but didn’t pursue it as a profession. After coming to Auckland in 2007, I sought out theatre and short film projects and began to do actors’ training in the evenings. I got an agent and began taking on paid acting work. 

What has inspired you? Who or what keeps you going?

My mum is an artist, who attended drama school before heading into visual arts. My dad, a mathematician, fills his spare time with art and music. They are a source of inspiration, and perhaps of my expectation that art is necessary. I have a very inspiring acting coach who encourages the artistic hunger. 

Would you like your creative work to be full-time?

Sometimes I dream about leaving archaeology and just being my creative self, but really, I don’t want that entirely. I love what I do in archaeology and feel that it is part of me and I want to further it. I just want to do both with the perfect balance. Two dream jobs – that’s not too much to ask is it? 

What would help you achieve this?

Finding balance is something I struggle with. It’s easy to feel like the fraud police will turn up and declare that I’m not a real actor and therefore I should put that time towards being a more serious archaeologist. Trying to lose that feeling would probably help. 

If you had the chance to start your creative career or path again, what would you do differently?

Take singing lessons as a teenager. During my high school years in Palmerston North, there was little opportunity for taking part in theatre other than musicals. At that age I wasn’t a confident singer. This led to me wandering away from acting. I would not undo the archaeology side of my life though. 

What advice would you give to someone pursuing a similar creative career or pathway?

Do what you love and don’t feel you have to apologise for being diverse. You don’t have to follow an established career path; make your own path to where you want to go.

Tell us about your recent or upcoming creative projects.

I am in rehearsals for the all-female Henry V, directed by Grae Burton and Natalie Beran. This will be performed between February 26th and March 9th. We’ll be at the Pop-up Globe, the Pah Homestead and the Pumphouse. During the rehearsal period, I will be lucky enough to be indulging both my passions. I'll be archaeologist by day and actress by night!

What’s your big idea for 2016?

Achieve a satisfying balance of both my activities and give more recognition and importance to my creative side.