Forging a Career in the Arts - Sixth Form Enrichment talk with OB Olivia Grant

By Holly, 6.1 (Year 12)

On Monday 24 March, we welcomed Old Bedalian Olivia Grant (2005-07) for a talk during our ‘Forging a Career in the Arts’ Enrichment session. A casting director with a decade of experience, Olivia worked at Lucy Bevan Casting from 2015 to 2024 before establishing her own freelance practice in London. Her credits include Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025), Masters of the Air (2024), and Lee (2023).

During the talk, Olivia shared her journey from Bedales to casting. While still at school, she worked as a runner at the Royal Court Theatre, gaining valuable industry experience. Initially set on acting, she completed a foundation year at LAMDA but found the competitive nature of the profession didn’t appeal to her. Wanting to stay in film, she studied creative writing at university, which eventually led her to casting. She started as an assistant, worked her way up to associate, and is now a casting director.

She encouraged students to take every opportunity, whether through courses, shadowing professionals, or reaching out directly. She advised looking up assistant directors on IMDb and emailing them about runner opportunities, keeping messages brief, personal, and professional. A well-written email and a follow-up thank you can make a real difference.

Olivia also stressed the value of versatility; she encouraged actors to develop additional skills, such as writing or filmmaking, and to keep watching, reading, and analysing work. The industry is a business, she noted, and rejection is often due to factors beyond an actor’s control rather than talent. The key is resilience, professionalism, and a strong work ethic—if you are reliable and people enjoy working with you, more opportunities will come your way.