12th December 2023
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is thrilled to announce that second year BA Professional Acting student, Tamzin Khan, was awarded the Luke Westlake Scholarship 2023 last night (Mon 11 Dec 2023).
The Scholarship was set up in memory of actor Luke Westlake who trained at ArtsEd from 2014-2017. Since it was established in 2019, the Scholarship has supported four working class actors in their second year of drama school training. The top prize includes a one-year subscription to Spotlight, script vouchers for Nick Hern Books, meetings with casting directors and vouchers towards development sessions and workshops.
Eight finalists were chosen from over 150 applications received from across 27 institutions across the UK. Following graduation, all eight of these finalists will be eligible to apply for BAFTA’s Prince William Bursary, thanks to Just Add Milk’s partnership with British Academy of Film and Television Arts. This bursary is a fund that financially supports early-career creatives.
Tamzin commented, “I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone at Just Add Milk, and to Lee and Bridgette Westlake for kindly awarding me this fantastic scholarship! This award is undeniably a life-changing opportunity for aspiring working-class actors and I am extremely grateful to you for all of your generosity.
“The Luke Westlake Scholarship gives actors unbelievable opportunities and support that you just don’t come by in everyday life – especially to people from backgrounds similar to mine. I am so proud to have grown up in Bristol and to have gotten into my dream drama school at BOVTS – and now this! It is a privilege to be involved with such a kind and special group that are so committed to lifting others up to reach their dreams. I am so grateful to all of you.”
Liam McLaughlin (Executive Director of JAM) says: “This is our fifth year of hosting the scholarship and our biggest yet. Tamzin’s application and shortlist self-tapes were unanimously lauded by the panel – she’s an incredible talent. We’re excited to watch Tamzin’s talent grow in her final 18 months at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and we can’t wait to watch her flourish when she enters the industry next year. Tamzin represents everything the scholarship stands for, so we’re delighted to support another brilliant working-class actor”.
Ali de Souza, Director of Drama at the Theatre School commented: “On behalf of the BOVTS community I would like to extend my enormous gratitude to the JAM Team for awarding Tamzin the prestigious Luke Westlake Scholarship. We are all absolutely delighted for Tamzin. She is a wonderful actor and this is so well deserved!”
Alongside Tamzin, the shortlist for 2023 included fellow BOVTS student Jass Beki. The School is immensely proud of them both and extends its congratulations to Jass and the other shortlisted drama school applicants on their achievements.
Previous winners of the scholarship have had huge success, including the 2020 recipient Ayomide Adegun who secured a lead role in the John Wick spin-off, The Continental, and starred in autumn blockbuster The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The winner for 2022 was BOVTS actor Sol Taibi.
To find out more about the Luke Westlake Scholarship, please visit justaddmilkjam.com.
