Darcy Dixon wins Luke Westlake Scholarship 2024

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Darcy Dixon

Darcy Dixon has won this year’s Luke Westlake Scholarship, which supports working-class creatives in their final years of training.

The south-east London born actor was named the sixth winner at a ceremony held at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre on December 5.

Dixon, who is currently on a full scholarship at RADA as well as being a trustee of charity Go Live Theatre Projects, was selected from a shortlist of eight finalists, whittled down from more than 170 applicants from 29 institutions across the UK.

Following their graduations, all eight finalists will be eligible to apply for BAFTA’s Prince William Bursary, in partnership with charity Just Add Milk.

As well as receiving more than £6,000 in financial and developmental support, Dixon wins a one-year Spotlight membership, a one-year subscription to The Stage and networking opportunities with industry professionals including Shakespeare’s Globe’s head of casting Becky Paris.

In addition, for the first time in the scholarship’s history, all the finalists will receive a one-year Spotlight membership.
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The Luke Westlake Scholarship, which was established by JAM in 2019, will also enrol Dixon on a True Edge stage combat course, provide her with a full headshot package with photographer Andy Brown and award her £100 of Nick Hern Books vouchers.

Dixon, who at 19 was the co-vice chair of the Black Head Students Network, a group dedicated to empowering black young people in school, said the achievement "meant the world to [her]", and that she was determined to "make work that evokes change in the world".

Meanwhile RADA principal Niamh Dowling added: "It is vital to ensure that talented artists are supported whatever their circumstance so that the arts are representative and accessible to everyone.

"The Luke Westlake Scholarship is a wonderful initiative that plays an important role in opening doors. We are so grateful for this support and delighted that Darcy will benefit from this opportunity. Congratulations on the well-deserved recognition."

Liam McLaughlin and Kristian Wall, JAM’s executive directors, said Dixon’s application and shortlist self tapes were "unanimously lauded by the panel".

"We’re excited to watch Darcy’s talent grow in her final 18 months at RADA and we can’t wait to watch her flourish when she enters the industry in the summer of 2026. Darcy represents everything the scholarship stands for, so we’re delighted to support another brilliant working class actor," he added.

The prize has previously supported actors including Ayomide Adegun, who last year starred in the Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Judges for this year’s scholarship featured Death of England star Thomas Coombes, fellow actor Varada Sethu, Applause for Thought director Raffaella Covino, agent Bex Elliff, casting director Rob Kelly, director Akaash Meeda, casting associate Faye Timby-Taylor, Westlake’s parents Bridgette and Lee Westlake, and McLaughlin and Wall for JAM.