Carly Helms

Professional Actor, London

Education: B.A. in Theatre with Musical Theatre Certificate, UNC Charlotte (2023)
MFA in Classical Acting, Pedagogy and Performance, LAMDA (2025)

Hometown: Marshville, NC

Carly Helms says that she has wanted to be an actor for as long as she can remember. Her mom noticed her creativity and passion at a very young age and put her in dance, acting, and music classes. She then started to do plays and musicals in middle school, and just simply never stopped.

In the Department of Theatre at UNC Charlotte, Carly says she was given the opportunity to learn multiple practices, on and off the stage. 

“I would be presenting my binder in stage management class by day, and rehearsing a show by night. Not all undergrad theatre programs offer such versatile training.” 

This well-rounded education gave her a greater respect for the creative teams she now works with as an actor, she says, and a greater understanding of how to effectively communicate with creatives as she begins to produce and direct her own work. 

Carly’s performance in Pippin, directed by Dean Adams, will always have a special place in her heart. Weeks away from their opening in the spring of 2020, they were shut down by COVID. Two years later, the show finally came to fruition. 

“To come back to such a joyous project after such a dark time, confirmed for me that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Currently, Carly is working as an actor in London, where she recently completed her MFA at London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. She is also producing a show for the 2025 London’s Camden Fringe Festival (LAMDA). This is her first time producing work, and she couldn’t be more excited. The show is titled “We Have Not Long to Love,” featuring three short plays by Tennessee Williams. 

Among recent accomplishments, Carly has had the incredible opportunity to play Macbeth in an all-female version of the Scottish Play, directed by Nancy Meckler. 

“Nancy has directed multiple West End and Broadway productions, Shakespeare’s Globe and RSC productions, and was the first woman to direct at the National Theatre. To say I was honored to work with her is an understatement. She made us a team, and always invited collaboration and ideas in the space. Being in a room full of fierce women working together on such a powerful play will always be a highlight of my acting career.”

Carly’s advice for current students: “With acting, and many creative careers, it takes a massive amount of patience. Learn how to enjoy the stepping stones, and know that consistency is key. Don’t be discouraged by how far away step Z seems, because right now it’s only about step B. Being an artist is more than a career, it is a calling. In this work your soul is your fuel, so discover it, nurture it, and spend this time getting to know yourself and your art.”