Ella Bright, the 19-year-old British actress, is set to play Hannah Wells in the TV adaptation of Elle Kennedy's 'Off Campus' novels. This announcement has fans of the book series eagerly awaiting the show's release on Prime Video. While Bright was initially studying for her A-levels, she received a Zoom call that changed her life, leading her to land the leading role in one of the most anticipated streaming adaptations in years.
In Season 1 of 'Off Campus', Bright stars as Hannah, a shy and self-possessed singer-songwriter who enters into a fake relationship with Garrett Graham, the all-star hockey captain. The show, adapted from Kennedy's beloved books, follows the elite men's hockey team at the fictional Briar University in Massachusetts and the women in their lives, with each season revolving around a different love story.
Bright's journey to landing this role is a fascinating one. She began performing at the age of 8, not as a calculated career move but as a practical solution to a household problem. Her parents, recognizing her loud and energetic nature, enrolled her in performing arts classes, which turned out to be a remarkable way for her to grow up. She spent her teenage years on the British children's series 'Malory Towers', where she joined the cast at 12 and finished at 18. This experience not only shaped her career but also formed strong friendships with her castmates.
Despite the age difference between Bright and her character, Hannah, Bright's own coming-of-age year unfolded on a set in Vancouver, surrounded by her 'Off Campus' castmates. The casting process was rigorous, involving a self-tape, two Zoom calls, and a marathon day of chemistry reads in Los Angeles. Bright's final Zoom call, billed as a meeting about the show's music, was particularly nerve-racking due to her lifelong insecurity about her voice. However, the producers stopped her before she could spiral, and she learned she had gotten the part.
The show's music turned out to be one of the most transformative parts of the experience. Bright worked with a vocal coach throughout production and spent her days off in the studio. She and co-star Josh Heuston, who plays musician Justin Kohl, both learned piano and guitar from scratch, and it was important to them that no hand doubles be used. Bright is happy to say that it was all her, and what had begun as her greatest fear ended up being her favorite part of making the show.
To get into Hannah's headspace, Bright built a playlist almost immediately after landing the role. She was inspired by Olivia Rodrigo's 'Scared of My Guitar' and Ethel Cain's 'Sun Bleached Flies'. She also read the books, starting with 'The Deal' and then 'The Score' and 'The Mistake'. Bright is superstitious about reading ahead, so she will read the next book only when the next season is greenlit.
In the meantime, Bright is unambiguous about her favorite couple in the series. She is excited about Dean and Allie's story, but Hannah and Garrett have a special place in her heart. The cast around her is genuinely close, and they spent virtually every weekend together throughout filming. This ease and closeness made it onto the screen, and Bright believes that the show captures the genuine love and support among the cast.
The show enters a marketplace that has become unexpectedly hot for hockey romance, following the Crave adaptation 'Heated Rivalry' that became a cultural phenomenon. Bright watched it in a single sitting and became obsessed. The 'Off Campus' cast found themselves in Los Angeles together at the height of this frenzy, energized and slightly dazed by what they were witnessing. They crossed paths with 'Heated Rivalry' star Connor Storrie and came away with the sense that they were standing at the edge of something.
Despite the show not yet being out, Bright is already beginning to understand what that kind of attention feels like up close. Within hours of the casting announcement, a stranger recognized her on the London Underground, and she recalls the encounter being delightful. However, she is also aware of the question that her fans are asking: what have you just signed on for?
Bright plans to stay largely offline, lean on her castmates, and resist the pull of whatever discourse follows the premiere. She is aware that this is a new experience for all of them, and she finds comfort in the support of her castmates. Production for Season 2 is set to begin almost immediately after the press tour wraps, leaving Bright very little time to sit with whatever comes next. However, she seems entirely at peace with that, as she never imagined that she would be able to get a role like this.
