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Off campus Star Mika Abdullah reflects on her character’s journey in the first season of the romantic series.
The 26-year-old, who plays Allie Hayes, explores the college student and aspiring actress’s path of self-discovery in the series. The character is Season 1’s best friend, Hannah Wells, portrayed by Ella Bright, whose relationship with NHL-bound hockey player Garrett Graham, portrayed by Belmont Camelli, is the central plot of Off campus“Season one.
Allie is an equally quirky best friend who embodies her own leading lady material. Off campus He was adopted Bridgerton Model, so Abdullah’s ally will one day be the female lead in the series; However, it is not clear which season at this point.
“I learned very early on that Allie’s story is more prevalent in season one than it is in season one The deal“And it’s nice,” she says Hollywood Reporter In the last zoom. The actress is referencing the Elle Kennedy novel, which is part of the titular author’s name Off campus The book series on which the first season of the show is based.
“Allie is Hannah’s best friend and roommate. You can’t let these people be side characters in one season,” she adds. [even if] Technically, it’s not mentioned much in the books because it doesn’t make sense.
When Season 1 begins, Allie is immediately introduced as a free-spirited, fun-loving best friend. She is in an on-and-off and seemingly never-ending relationship with her boyfriend, Sean. But by the end of the season, things look very different for the aspiring actress.
“She lives in this forced way,” Abdullah says. “She has a lot of big ideas about what she wants for her life in an ideal way.” “Like most 18-, 19-, 20-year-olds who have just left home for the first time, they discover that sometimes your expectations don’t line up with what is meant for you in life.”
As the season continues, Allie realizes that the life she thought she wanted for herself doesn’t actually align with her desires. “We see her finding herself and feeling comfortable being honest in a way that is new and scary and confusing for her,” Abdullah says. “But then we also see her putting up this facade in front of her best friend, who is going through something so much more.”
“We see this complicated thing where Ally is very emotional and very vulnerable, but she’s able to hide that in order to be there for the people she loves, which is what attracted me to her in the first place.”
The actress was attracted to how grounded the characters were in the series. “They’re all using the facades of exactly how they want to be,” she says. “And then we get to see them in the ways they interact with other people who might be closer to them, or the way they are when they’re alone.” “I don’t think that’s something you’ll always see in this genre.”
Abdullah has had a largely positive experience with Mohebi Off campuswhich had a dedicated fanbase long before Prime Video came into the picture. She describes the fans as very nice which is shocking.
“It was exciting to give people what they wanted because I think the characters are honored in such a beautiful way, and it’s just a really great opportunity to see these characters from a book that you already know so well and love in slightly different scenarios,” she says.
She adds, “Imagine that your favorite show from childhood has just been remade. You’ll be able to see your favorite characters in different situations, and you’ll be able to see more of their lives. We’re including a lot of iconic scenes or moments or anything from the books in the show, so I’m really excited for book fans to see those scenes.”
Book series Off campuswhich begins with The dealfollows a new but connected couple in each book. The show plans to maintain this model. Season 1 dives into the age-old romantic trope of the fake-dating with music student Hannah Wells, who, in true hockey fashion, is often called Wellsy because of her love interest, Garrett Graham. Graham is the son of a professional hockey legend and captain of the Brier University hockey team.
Luisa Levy serves as creator and co-producer, and executive produces alongside her colleague Gina Fattore. Wick Godfrey, Marty Bowen and James Seidman are executive producers of Temple Hill. Leanna Billings of Billings Productions and Neil Flaherty also serve as executive producers on the series.
All episodes Off campus It’s now streaming on Prime Video. He reads THRCover the show here.
