The new Prime Video series Off Campus is getting attention for more than just its steamy romance scenes. Fans are talking about the age difference between lead actors Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli. She is 19, and he is 28. This nearly nine-year gap has made some viewers uncomfortable.
But Bright is now speaking up to set the record straight. She says the age difference was never a problem for her. In fact, she feels completely safe and happy working with her older co-star.
Ella Bright says she understood everything about her role before she even signed the contract. The actress shared these thoughts on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast on May 26. She explained that the show’s creator, Louisa Levy, told her exactly what to expect.
“Listen, I came into this job and during the chemistry reads with more than enough information and knowledge and understanding of what this role required,” Bright said. “I just fell in love with Hannah and these scripts immediately. Like, there was never a question that I wouldn’t want to do this.”
Why Fans Are Talking About the ‘Off Campus’ Age Difference
In Off Campus, Bright plays Hannah Wells, a 20-year-old music major. Cameli plays Garrett Graham, a star hockey player who is also 20 on the show. Even though their characters are the same age, the actors are not.
Bright was born on November 27, 2006, making her 19. Cameli was born on February 28, 1998, making him 28. When fans learned the real ages of the actors playing the romantic couple, some expressed worry online. They questioned if it was appropriate for a teenager to film intimate scenes with a man nearly ten years older.
Bright understands why people might feel concerned, but she wants everyone to know she never felt weird about it. She explained that the entire cast and crew treated her like family.
“I get people’s concern, but also not once did I feel left out from being younger than everybody,” Bright explained. “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.”
She added with a laugh that she finds the online worry a little funny. “So, it is funny when they say that. I’m like, ‘I’m good. I’m completely good’.”
Inside the Preparation for Steamy Scenes
The new Prime Video series does not shy away from physical romance. Since Bright was only 18 during filming, the production team took extra steps to make sure she felt ready.
Showrunner Louisa Levy made sure every actor knew what their job would require before filming started. Bright shared that the team had different levels of nudity based on what each character needed. Her character, Hannah, had briefings for partial nudity. Her co-star Mika Abdalla, who plays Allie, had briefings for full nudity because that character is more confident with her body.
“Her idea was that for Hannah the briefing was like partial nudity and for Allie it had to be full, just because Allie, she’s got this amazing confidence about her, and she is so free with her body,” Bright said. “And sex is just such an important part of her life. It is honestly just showing the difference between these characters.”
Bright stressed that no one was kept in the dark. “Everyone had full understanding of what we were going into,” she said.
Creator Louisa Levy also spoke about this topic. She told Variety that she had a direct conversation with Bright before closing her deal. Levy wanted to be sure the young actress was comfortable with the script.
“If I had felt she wasn’t ready, I would have pumped the brakes immediately,” Levy said. “But she was so game. And we have an extraordinary intimacy coordinator, Kathy Kadler, who had conversations with not just Belmont and Ella but with all the actors who had any intimacy work.”
The Real Bond Between Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli
Despite the internet chatter, Bright and Cameli share a strong friendship. They are not dating in real life. Reports confirm that Cameli is in a relationship with television writer Raina Morris. Bright keeps her personal life private and is publicly single.
The two actors became close quickly after meeting. Their first meeting was during a chemistry read, which is a standard acting test to see if two actors look good together on screen. Bright told People that the casting directors wanted to feel the tension in the room.
“I remember the first time I met Belmont, we did the first kiss scene between Hannah and Garrett, obviously without the kissing,” Bright recalled. “But it was really funny, because we would get really, really close and they would go, ‘And cut!’”
Off camera, they became fast friends. They worked very long days together, sometimes up to 16 hours. Bright said that kind of schedule forces people to get along.
“We have so much fun together. He’s the greatest,” Bright said about Cameli. “I really look up to him a lot.”
In another interview, Cameli agreed that they got along from the very start. “Ella and I just have a ton of fun,” he said.
What ‘Off Campus’ Is About
For those who have not watched yet, Off Campus is based on the popular book series by Elle Kennedy. Season one follows The Deal, which is the first book in the series. The story takes place at Briar University and follows an elite ice hockey team.
Hannah and Garrett start with a fake dating arrangement. She needs to make her crush jealous, and he needs help passing a philosophy class. Of course, their fake feelings start to turn into real ones. The show premiered on Prime Video on May 13, 2026.
The show has already been renewed for a second season. Bright and Cameli have confirmed they will return, even though each season focuses on a different couple from the book series.
Cameli reassured fans that the main characters are not going anywhere. “We will be along for the ride the whole time,” he said.
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The ‘Heated Rivalry’ Connection
Hockey romance is becoming a popular genre in TV. Fans have compared Off Campus to another steamy show, Heated Rivalry. Bright admitted she is a big fan of that show.
“It’s so cool to be in that same orbit of conversation,” Bright said. “The world really loves ice hockey at the moment, which is great for us.”
Cameli noted that hockey romance is finally getting its moment. “There’s romance around sports everywhere you look. Hockey is just one that hasn’t really been done in this way,” he said.
Bright and Cameli continue to promote the show together. They attended fan conventions and gave interviews as a pair. Their easygoing friendship seems to put most fan worries to rest. Bright remains clear that she is happy, safe, and proud of the work she did on Off Campus.
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