East Sussex College Students Star in Global Microsoft Campaign
Two current East Sussex College Performing Arts students, Poppy Hughes and Milly Hughes, have appeared in a global Microsoft advertising campaign alongside fellow performers, including ESC alumni Almayra and Iman Shah.
The opportunity marks an exciting early career milestone for the students, who were involved in a high-profile international production showcasing their developing skills within a professional filming environment.
Milly explained that the opportunity came through their manager, who was casting for identical twins.
“Poppy and I were very excited when we found out we’d been cast as we had never done anything on screen, but also because this was our first ever twin audition as well as getting the role.”
Poppy added: “When I found out we had been cast in the commercial, I was thrilled as it was my first opportunity to experience being on a set with professional actors.”
Reflecting on the filming process, both students described the experience as a welcoming but highly professional environment, giving them valuable insight into the realities of working on a commercial production.
“The filming experience was truly amazing. We felt it was a very professional atmosphere, but we also felt prepared throughout rehearsals,” said Milly.
Poppy said: “My main experience with the filming was a very warm and welcoming space, and I got to work with such amazingly talented people.”
The students particularly enjoyed working alongside other performers and twins involved in the campaign, as well as connecting with East Sussex College alumni who could share advice from their own acting experiences.
“It was so much fun working with people from college [Alumni, Almayra & Iman] who could also share and give advice on their acting opportunities,” Milly explained.
Poppy also reflected on the level of detail involved in the production process.
“The main shock I had was the amount of detail put into each take by everyone involved. It was really interesting to see how precise everything was, and it made me excited to see how it all adapted and changed.”
Both students highlighted how their training at East Sussex College helped prepare them for the opportunity. Milly spoke about using physical theatre skills developed during her course, while Poppy said communication skills learned at college helped her feel confident on set and build relationships with the cast and crew.
The experience also provided valuable insight into the acting industry and what is expected within professional screen work.
“Something we’ve taken away from this experience is having a better understanding on what it’s like in the acting world specifically more in on screen acting and what is expected of you as an actor,” said Milly.
Poppy added: “I learnt how important each take is and to always give it your best, which is something I have definitely taken away from the experience!”
Both students encouraged other aspiring performers to pursue opportunities and stay committed to their passion for acting.
“My advice for students hoping to get similar opportunities is to present yourself as you,” said Poppy. “When meeting people, actors, directors, always be yourself as that is the thing that makes you stand out.”
This experience sits alongside recent successes from ESC alumni Almayra and Iman Shah, who also featured in the same Microsoft campaign - further highlighting the growing presence of College talent in major international productions.
Their involvement demonstrates how students at East Sussex College are gaining access to real-world industry experiences while still in training, building strong foundations for future careers in the creative industries.