Olivia Grant
Olivia Grant
Old Bedalian 2007

Have you undertaken any kind of further study since leaving Bedales and have you gained any further qualifications?

Foundation degree: LAMDA 2008. 

BA 2008-2012: 1st Class Honours, University of East Anglia studying American Literature & Creative Writing, with a year abroad at UC Berkeley.

What kind of work are you currently involved in, and how and why have you come to be doing it?

I've been working with the Casting Director, Lucy Bevan, (Beauty and the Beast, Ready Player One) for the past three years. We've spent the past year working on the film version of Cats which has been an epic amount of hard work, but I'm so proud of the cast we've put together. After I graduated university in 2012, I worked as a runner/PA on sets of films including The Theory of Everything and Florence Foster Jenkins, which was a great experience, learning production from the ground up. The hours were and gruelling but it reinforced my love for film, and eventually led me to realise casting was where my passion was. All of this began because of my wonderful experience being in and directing plays at Beadles as a teenager and being supported by the Drama staff.

Did attending Bedales help you in getting to where you are now and how satisfied are you with what you are doing?

Bedales cemented my passion for the arts, and is the reason I was determined to pursue my career. I had the opportunity at school to direct and be in plays in a fantastic theatre, which I’m so grateful for. Above all, Bedales instilled confidence in me that I never had as an only child at a London day school. My core group of best friends eight years on are all Bedalians.

Have you been involved in any other interesting activities or occupations since leaving school?

Getting to do a year abroad at UC Berkeley is one of the most daunting things I’ve ever done, but it was the best experience. It gave me an absolute love for gender studies, and I’ve since written two articles on feminism for Harper's Bazaar online, and been published in Elle UK & Australia.