A Hollywood superstar has given his backing to a crowdfunder campaign to help an aspiring Harrogate actor take up his place at drama school.
Harry Pritchard needs to raise £13,799 in order to pay the fees for LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), where he won a place earlier this month for a year-long course.
Now, the former Harrogate Grammar School student’s cause has been given an incredible boost by actor Russell Crowe. The Oscar-winning actor not only shared Harry’s fundraiser, but donated £2,741 – almost enough to pay the deposit for the course by this Thursday’s deadline.
Harry said:
“My mum told me to check the Go Fund Me page. I saw Russell Crowe’s name and I saw his incredibly amazing, generous donation and I was speechless for about 20 minutes.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was just in total shock and amazement and so many feelings. I grew up watching Russell Crowe – I never thought he would interact in some capacity with me and to think he is helping out and donating is just unimaginable. It’s insane.”
There’s a lot of plans and dreams being shattered these days … Will Harry succeed?
He comes from Harrogate home of @YorkshireTea and I’m hoping he’s @LUFC.
Thoughts @TerryGeorge ?
Fundraiser by Harry Pritchard : Get Harry to LAMDA Drama School https://t.co/oiSvb0ydxi— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 24, 2020
The fundraiser has also been supported by Leeds entrepreneur Terry George, who told the Stray Ferret he wanted to be an actor himself as a child growing up in a poor family. He used to interview celebrities for a hobby and was given £30 by actor Dick Emery to fund elocution lessons to get him started.
Though the lessons never happened, Mr George said he always remembered how the contribution to his future made him feel and tries to do the same for others when he can. He said:
“I’m friends with Russell Crowe and he tagged me in the post. I’m a Yorkshire boy myself and had a read of what Harry was doing and thought, ‘Wow, what an inspiration, putting himself out there to get funding’.
“If Russell has done it to get worldwide appeal, I’m a Yorkshire lad and I thought, if I can put something towards it, it might help other people do that too.”
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Mr George said he hopes Yorkshire Tea and Leeds United – tagged on Twitter by Mr Crowe, who is a fan of both – will also do something to support Harry’s cause. The aspiring young actor said he was very grateful to both supporters, not just for their donations but for helping to spread the word.
Since Mr Crowe and Mr George donated to Harry’s fundraiser, the total has risen steadily and now sits at almost £7,500. Mr George said the Hollywood superstar’s donation could help in other ways, too.
“I know Russell really well and if he sees a part that would fit Harry, he would try to get him cast. That’s the type of man he is.”
In response, Harry added:
“That would be amazing. I hate to get ahead of myself, but that would be a huge, exciting, fantastic opportunity.
“It’s hugely encouraging and makes me feel like I’m not alone and I’m on a good path and people want to help me up. For something like this to be the launch into it, it doesn’t mean it’s going to shoot off on the right trajectory, but it says to me there are people who will help you – you just have to find them and put in the work.”
