Cover Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli bring Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham to life in Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @offcampusonprime/Instagram)
Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli bring Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham to life in Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @offcampusonprime/Instagram)
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Meet the cast of ‘Off Campus’—Prime Video’s record-breaking new adult romance drama
Prime Video’s steamy and soapy Off Campus, the adaptation of Canadian author Elle Kennedy’s series of hockey-themed new adult romance novels, is a certified hit. It already holds the title for the third most-watched debut on the streamer. The series centres around the loves, lives and friendships of the students at the fictional Boston college, Briar University (Briar U, in the series parlance).
Season one is based on The Deal, the first book in the series, and follows the love story between music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and star hockey player Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli). In classic fake relationship trope, the two make a deal—he’ll help her get her crush’s attention by pretending to date her in exchange for helping him pass their philosophy class—and end up getting more than what they bargained for.
While the first season focuses on the main couple, it introduces audiences to the cast of characters that populate Briar University and the wider world of Elle Kennedy's bestselling series. It also sets up the rest of the books, teasing upcoming love stories in future seasons of Off Campus.
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Ella Bright as Hannah Wells
Above Ella Bright gives Hannah Wells an earnestness that’s endearing in Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @ellabright__/Instagram)
Ella Bright gives Hannah Wells an earnestness that’s endearing in Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @ellabright__/Instagram)
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During Ella Bright’s guest appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, many were surprised to learn—Kelly Clarkson included—that the lead actress of Prime Video’s hit series Off Campus speaks in a British accent in real life. As it turned out, she was born in America but grew up in London. At age 12, she starred in the BBC boarding school series Malory Towers. Later, she portrayed a 15-year-old Kate Middleton—in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment—in season six, episode seven of Netflix’s The Crown.
Off Campus marked her first leading role as the charming and earnest Hannah Wells, an aspiring singer-songwriter who fell for Briar U’s hockey star, Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli). Bright brought refreshing relatability and warmth to the part, making it easy for audiences to fall for Hannah (or Wellsy, as Garrett called her) and root for her. She also handled Hannah’s past trauma with care and sensitivity. Her chemistry—not just with her leading man but with her onscreen bestie, Mika Abdalla—stood out as one of the series’ highlights.
Bright also revealed in interviews that, despite not considering herself a singer, she performed all the vocals in Off Campus, training with a vocal coach to prepare for the role.
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Belmont Cameli as Garrett Graham
Above Tall, dark and handsome, Belmont Cameli is the perfect Garrett Graham in the hit series ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @belmontcameli/Instagram)
Tall, dark and handsome, Belmont Cameli is the perfect Garrett Graham in the hit series ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @belmontcameli/Instagram)
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As Off Campus’ sensitive and brooding Garrett Graham—Briar Hawks’s strapping hockey captain—Belmont Cameli is Prime Video’s newest heartthrob. Cameli is no stranger to romance novel adaptations, having starred as the leading man in Netflix’s 2022 film version of Sarah Dessen’s BookTok favourite Along for the Ride.
He was part of the cast of The Alto Knights along with Off Campus co-star Antonio Cipriano and had a role in the 2020 reboot of Saved by the Bell. But Garrett Graham is undoubtedly his breakout role. His Garrett is strong and soft, sexy and sweet. He’s the type of fictional boyfriend women wish existed in real life. The sparks he shares with co-star Ella Bright—immediately evident from their first chemistry read—make their connection feel genuine.
But beyond the romance, Cameli gives his character weight, especially in scenes showing Garrett struggling to break free from the shadow of his father’s NHL legacy and history of domestic abuse. In Off Campus, audiences have found a new leading man worth watching for.
Mika Abdalla as Allie Hayes
Off Campus couldn’t have found a better Allie Hayes—Hannah’s sexy, supportive best friend—than Mika Abdalla. Her Allie is vivacious and sympathetic, grounding her friendship with Hannah in reality. Meanwhile, it’s through Allie’s complicated situationship with Briar University’s resident party boy, Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn), that viewers get to know the character more—revealing a mixture of confidence and vulnerability that makes her relatable.
Abdalla has been honing her craft since her early days on Netflix’s Project Mc2. She also had a five-episode story arc in season eight of The CW’s popular superhero series The Flash, playing Phantom Girl, and appeared as a patient in a multiple-episode arc in season one of HBO Max’s hit medical drama The Pitt.
Up next for the actress is season two of Off Campus. Based on The Score, the third book in the series, the second season is set to see Allie and Dean take the spotlight. Audiences can expect more of Abdalla and Kalyn’s electric chemistry, as well as the next chapter of their love story.
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Stephen Kalyn as Dean Di Laurentis
Above Like his co-stars, Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ marks Stephen Kalyn’s big break (Photo: @stephenkalyn/Instagram)
Like his co-stars, Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ marks Stephen Kalyn’s big break (Photo: @stephenkalyn/Instagram)
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Built like a Greek god, with an insatiable appetite for hedonism, Dean Di Laurentis, played by Stephen Kalyn, would be easy to dismiss as another college playboy. But it takes only a few episodes to see that Dean has hidden depths: he’s big on consent, is the number one Hannah and Garrett shipper, gives surprisingly insightful relationship advice and actually fell first and fell harder for Allie Hayes.
Like most of his castmates, Off Campus is Kalyn’s big break. He’s built up a presence on Prime Video, though, playing a recurring role in Gen V—the spinoff to the critically acclaimed series The Boys—and making a guest appearance in the Cruel Intentions reboot.
Season two is set to bring the love story of Allie and Dean to the fore. However, fans of the couple’s slow-burn romance and sizzling chemistry will need to wait till next year to learn what happens after season one’s explosive cliffhanger.
Antonio Cipriano as John Logan
John Logan is Briar Hawks’s popular right wing, Garrett Graham’s loyal best friend and (series-exclusive character) Jules’s beloved older brother. Although he's warm and friendly, he walks around with a huge chip on his shoulder, weighed down by a difficult family history and fears of an uncertain future.
He’s played by Antonio Cipriano, who debuted in the Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill in 2019. He was also in National Treasure: Edge of History, the Disney+ spinoff of the Nicolas Cage film franchise, and HBO Max’s Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, the continuation of Pretty Little Liars.
In season one of Off Campus, audiences learn that John’s a yearner, thanks to his unrequited crush on Hannah, and fiercely loyal to Garrett—sacrificing his feelings and ultimately supporting their relationship. Meanwhile, John’s own love story is expected to take centre stage in season three. Based on The Mistake, the second novel in Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book series, the third season should follow his second-chance romance with Grace Ivers (played by India Fowler), who, by all indications, will be soft-launched in season two.
Jalen Thomas Brooks as John Tucker
Above Jalen Thomas Brooks goes from HBO Max’s ‘The Pitt’ to Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @jalenthomasbrooks/Instagram)
Jalen Thomas Brooks goes from HBO Max’s ‘The Pitt’ to Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’ (Photo: @jalenthomasbrooks/Instagram)
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Rounding out the core hockey squad in Off Campus is Briar Hawks’s forward John Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks). As the youngest, John is often on the receiving end of some good-natured teasing from Garrett, Dean and John Logan. A bit about his background is revealed in the first season, including his love for cooking, Type-A tendencies and close relationship with his single mom.
Brooks is best known for his recurring role as Nurse Mateo Diaz in HBO Max’s critically acclaimed medical series The Pitt (where he even shared a scene with Off Campus co-star Mika Abdalla). He also starred in The CW’s Walker and the Eli Roth horror movie Thanksgiving.
While Tucker is introduced in the first season of Off Campus, most of his scenes revolve around his friendships with his teammates. However, readers of Elle Kennedy’s novels know that Tucker eventually gets his own love story in The Goal, the fourth book in the series. Featuring an accidental pregnancy storyline and a more mature side of the easy-going hockey player, it is one of the arcs fans are most eager to see if Prime Video continues adapting the bestselling books.
With season two already confirmed and more books in Elle Kennedy's bestselling Off Campus series waiting to be adapted, audiences can expect to spend plenty more time at Briar University. From Hannah and Garrett's swoon-worthy romance to the future love stories of Dean, Allie, Logan and Tucker, the cast of Off Campus is only just getting started.
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Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
