Adjoa Andoh urges the public to nominate their favourite Game Changers as part of The National Lottery’s 30th Birthday celebrations

Do you remember the first time you performed in front of a live audience?

My first performance was likely at home, where we would make our parents sit and watch interminable productions. I think I directed Blythe Spirit, having never seen Blythe Spirit! There were a lot of net curtains, a lot of turning off lights and we charged everyone 2p for the privilege.

How old were you at the time?

I think I was probably about 7. In my first school performance, I played the wicked queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My mother had this gorgeous, satin, olive green cocktail dress and she chopped it down to size for me. So, I had a medieval olive satin wicked witch dress, I had the long medieval drop sleeves, I had a wimple (my mother was a history teacher) and I thought I was marvellous.

Where did you grow up?

It’s called Wickwar and its in South Gloucestershire, nearest dole office – Stroud.

You started out studying Law, so how did you get into acting?

I didn’t know you could act for a living; it wasn’t a thing people did round my neck of the woods. If you were a smart girl, you might work for a building society or do the civil service exams. Acting wasn’t on anyone’s radar.

A series of happenstances got me into acting. You could’ve seen me any given day of the week trolling up and down the street with a pair of red tights on my head and freckles from my mother’s eyeliner and I’d be giving my Pippi Longstocking to the village. I was that kid – I was always dressing up.

What is it like to be part of a series like Bridgerton that has broken so many moulds, particularly in terms of its storytelling and diversity?

We’ve been all over the world promoting [Bridgerton] and what’s been so beautiful about it is people would come in from all over the place because they wanted to celebrate the show. There is something about being in a show that brings people together. People are feeling anxious about the world, so to pour into that heavy, heady mix a little bit of joy and to show that, in this space, everyone is welcome – is a beautiful thing. I am all about social joy, cohesion and taking care of each other.

What attracted you to our Game Changers campaign?

It’s the 30th anniversary of The National Lottery and it raises £30 million pounds a week for good causes. They would like to celebrate 30 Game Changers – these are people in our local communities who take the time to look around and see what the need is, and step in and fill it.

I am mother, a wife, I have elderly parents, I grew up in a small town in the Cotswolds and I was raised to understand the importance of looking after each other and the community you live in. I want everyone to get their moment in the sun and that is why I’ve put my shoulder to this campaign.

Game Changers transform people’s lives. We want to lean into these stories because people are pretty marvellous, and I want to celebrate them too.