Burnley actress lands role with Hollywood's Pierce Brosnan in new film "Giant"about Prince Naseem Hamed
A talented homegrown actress is sharing the silver screen with leading Hollywood actor Pierce Brosnan in the newly released film “Giant.”
Based on the life of Prince Naseem Hamed and his rise from schoolboy boxer to world champion at 21, Burnley’s Olivia Barrowclough plays the role of journalist Vicki Quinn, who becomes one of the first reporters to interview the protege, played by Amir El-Masry, at the age of 10 before his talent was recognised and his career took flight.
The film had its premiere in London ahead of its theatrical release on January 9, and is already a hit with the critics. A fictional character, Olivia portrays Vicki as a strong female role model in a male dominated world. She said: “The character becomes a listening ear for some of the men where talking about their feelings is not something they may feel able to do in a boxing gym.”
The entire film was shot on location in Yorkshire, mainly in Leeds, in just 22 days and Olivia (29) spent eight of those on set. She described the scenes with Pierce, who plays Naseem’s boxing trainer Brendan Ingle, as quite ‘surreal’ adding: “He wore a lot of prosthetics, so at times I had to remind myself this is actually Pierce Brosnan.”
Olivia grew up in Burnley with her parents, Patrick and Linda, and attended St Mary Magdalene’s Primary School. She then went on to study at St Augustine’s RC High in Billington and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Sixth form. She studied acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
London based Olivia is signed with United Agents and her past TV work includes three months of filming for a HBO children’s series Theodosia, where she got the chance to play the part of a ‘baddie’ called Nigella, a role she relished. She has also worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The National Theatre and had parts on TV dramas Shetland and Casualty.
Olivia also had a small part in the hit TV drama Bridgerton, an alternative history regency romance TV series created for Netflix. Olivia said: “It was only a small role but I really enjoyed it. The costumes and sets were just stunning.”
Olivia credits Burnley Youth Theatre, which she first attended at the tender age of five, for igniting her love of acting, saying: “My mum sent me with my brother, George, as she wanted us both to have the same hobbies to make it easier in the school holidays.
“I loved how we were treated like serious actors as if we were in a professional production. I owe my career today to Burnley Youth Theatre and to Pip Hindle.”
Olivia believes the North has a fantastic reputation for producing quality drama, comedy and strong characters and to have a career like Bolton born actress Maxine Peake, known for her roles as Twinkle in Victoria Wood’s “Dinnerladies”, as Veronica Ball in “Shameless”, Martha Costello in the BBC One legal drama “Silk,” and Grace Middleton in the BBC One drama series “The Village,” would be the dream for Olivia.