'Off Campus': Ella Bright defends 10-year age-gap criticism with Belmont Cameli; says she felt 'comfortable and supported'

Ella Bright, the 19-year-old British-American actress from 'Off Campus', defends her steamy onscreen scenes with her costar Belmont Cameli, who is nearly 10 years her senior. The actress addresses concerns about their age gap and intimate scenes. Bright opens up about her experience filming the romance series and her professional relationship with her on-screen love interest.

During an appearance on the 'Not Skinny But Not Fat ' podcast, Ella Bright reveals that she was 18 years old when the series was filmed. "I get people's concern, but also not once did I feel, one, left out from being younger than everybody," she says. "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."

Ella Bright on preparing for her 'Off Campus' role

Bright shares that she comes into the job with thorough preparation. "I came into this job and during the chemistry reads with more than enough information and knowledge and understanding of what this role required and the show," she explains. "And I just fell in love with Hannah and these scripts immediately. There was never a question that I wouldn't want to do this."

'Off Campus' is based on the best-selling books by Elle Kennedy about an elite college ice hockey team at the fictional Briar University as they navigate relationships, friendships, and young adulthood. Bright plays Hannah, a music student who devises a fake dating scheme with hockey star Garrett (Cameli) to catch the attention of her crush, Justin (Josh Heuston). Things get complicated when Hannah and Garrett develop feelings for one another.

Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli's on-set chemistry

Bright previously opened up about her relationship with Cameli during an interview at Creation Entertainment's Page, Screen and Everything in Between convention in Whippany, N.J. "I remember the first time I met Belmont, we did the first kiss scene between Hannah and Garrett, obviously without the kissing," she says. "But it was really funny, because we would get really, really close and they would go, 'And cut!' It was really, really fun."

Off-camera, she describes her TV love interest as "the best" and notes that they become "very fast friends." "We have so much fun together. He's the greatest," Bright adds. "[We] met at the chemistry reads, we got each other's numbers, and we've just been friends ever since."

"When you spend that much time with someone on set—we'd have like 15, 16-hour days you have to be just the best of friends. I really look up to him a lot," she concludes.

'Off Campus' is now streaming on Prime Video.