NYT has two ex-Bonds as vice presidents (Sean Connery and Roger Moore) and it’s produced two Bonds (Daniel Craig and Timothy Dalton) and one Bond girl (Rosamund Pike). What is it about NYT that has created such a legacy?

At National Youth Theatre you learn what it means as a performer to connect with the audience. Nothing fazes you after that – the rest is just meet and greet. We set the challenges high but, as a result, people are a step ahead when they go out into the world and try to get a job. I suppose that head start is what allows people to have the confidence to go after those big parts, those big jobs, and not be scared by them.

Our members are fearless. And that attitude is absolutely reflected in Bond. He jumps higher, faster, quicker that anyone else. We expect the best and the most from our members.

Do you think you’ll find the next Bond in NYT?

I’m convinced there’s a future Bond out there in the National Youth Theatre. I’m convinced we’ll make it a hat trick. And we have got sassy, brilliant potential Bond girls in spades. We’re very good at pulling in and nurturing talent.

What was it like being in NYT with Daniel Craig?

I did a couple of plays with Daniel Craig when I was in National Youth Theatre. In one of our plays I had a much bigger part – clearly size doesn’t matter when it comes to Bond…

You’ve said that at NYT you’re going to “ban the bland”. Do you think that makes it easier to spot potential big stars?

What we’re looking for is big unique talent. Of course there is such thing as typecasting, but we’re not looking for types when we’re casting for auditions. We look for something raw, talent and a spark. We want people who are curious, passionate and keen.

They don’t have to have the skills – they can be quite bad in that sense, because we can help them with that. Bonds don’t start polished, they get polished. But what they all have is just innate watchability.

What will a young person joining this year learn from NYT?

They’ll learn whether they’re any good or not. You also get a sense of the bigger world out there and what else you’re up against. That’s wonderful. It’s also equally important to learn not to do it if you’re not up to it. We’re not a star-making machine; we don’t spoil people. Of the people who audition maybe one or two per cent will go on to those huge parts. But you can be a star at other things and in other ways.

Skyfall opens nationwide on Friday.

To learn more about National Youth Theatre auditions, visit their website.