Ella Bright, who plays Hannah Wells on Prime Video’s Off Campus, says her British accent traces back to growing up in London—after being born in New York and spending her early childhood “back and forth” before moving to the UK.
When viewers hear Ella Bright speak as Hannah Wells on Prime Video’s Off Campus, the British accent doesn’t exactly feel surprising. But in real life, Bright says it took a specific turn—one that started with New York and moved to London early enough that the accent just stuck.
The 19-year-old actress is American-born, yet she developed a British accent after growing up in London. Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this past week, Bright opened up about her path to the accent and her family’s life in the UK.
Bright described how her childhood moved before settling: “It was kind of a back and forth until I think I was six years old. And then, yeah, we’ve been in London my whole life. But my dad’s from Oklahoma and my mom’s from California. so not British really at all apart from the accent. which is kind of random. but I’ve got two British sisters.”.
She also explained that she still lives with her family in London. One major change came while shooting Off Campus season one in Vancouver, Canada, when she experienced living on her own for the first time.
For now, she isn’t planning to leave the family home yet. “I’m looking to move out maybe in the next year or so. but I’ve been really enjoying spending time with my family. Between filming and school. I never really got a lot of time to be with my sisters and my parents and my dogs. ” she told THR. “It’s been really a special moment for me.”.
As Off Campus continues to spotlight her on-screen romance, the real-life detail is a reminder of how quickly a performer’s background can become part of the role—even when the accent story starts miles away.
Ella Bright Off Campus Hannah Wells Prime Video The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon British accent London New York Vancouver Ella Bright interview
So she’s American but somehow magically British? Hollywood is wild.
I didn’t know Off Campus was on Prime still. But honestly accent aside, she’s cute and Hannah Wells is like… the exact kind of vibe people fall for.
Wait her dad’s from Oklahoma and mom from California but she talks British because she was in London? That’s backwards like my brain can’t do that. Also Vancouver like where are they filming, I swear it’s always Canada for everything lol.
I feel like she’s overselling it, kids pick up accents but “stuck” by age six sounds like a story. Plus she said she still lives with family in London? 19 and still at home—no wonder she’s not rushing to “be independent” yet.