Off Campus breakout star Ella Bright has addressed fan concerns regarding the nearly ten-year age difference between herself and co-star Belmont Cameli, assuring viewers that it has never been an issue during production.
Age Gap Response
The 19-year-old British-American actress, who leads Amazon Prime Video's young adult romance series as college music major Hannah Wells, was 18 when filming began. Her character enters a fake relationship with star hockey player Garrett Graham, portrayed by 28-year-old Belmont Cameli, to incite jealousy in her crush.
Speaking on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Bright acknowledged the significant nine-year age gap but insisted she never felt excluded or uncomfortable. “Not once did I feel, one, left out from being younger than everybody,” she stated. “We’re all such a family and everyone was just more than perfect, and I couldn’t be more comfortable on this set with these people. So it is funny when they say that. I’m like ‘I’m good.’”
Professional Preparedness
Bright emphasized her readiness for the role, noting she entered the job and chemistry reads with ample knowledge and understanding of the character and show requirements. Adapted from Elle Kennedy’s five-book hockey romance series, Off Campus has quickly gained popularity, following in the footsteps of HBO’s Heated Rivalry.
The series premiered earlier this month and has become Prime Video’s third-most-watched debut series ever, surpassing hits like The Boys and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Within its first 12 days, it reached 36 million viewers, according to Amazon data.
Industry Response
Peter Friedlander, head of global TV at Amazon MGM Studios, expressed delight at the fan response. “Obsession is officially in session at Prime Video, thanks to the fans who have embraced Off Campus. We couldn’t be happier to see such a passionate community come together around Season 1 of creator Louisa Levy and co-showrunner Gina Fattore’s interpretation of Elle Kennedy’s beloved story. When you earn trust and deliver for an audience, they show up — and they’ve certainly done so for Off Campus.”
The series received an early renewal in February, ahead of its premiere, with season two expected to adapt another romance storyline from Kennedy’s books. Recently, it was announced that Josh Heuston, who plays Hannah’s crush Justin Kohl, will not return next season. Showrunner Louisa Levy shared the news with TV Guide, stating, “But I love Josh and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point.”
