In the new CBBC comedy series High Hoops, Ella Summer plays regular character Charlotte alongside Darci Hull, Isha Kaur, Frankie-Jae Simmonds and Robert Webb. High Hoops follows the life of basketball player Aoife (Darci Hull) and the basketball team that Ella’s character Charlotte is part of, and Ella, along with the cast, attended the recent BAFTA screening, with the show released on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 17th March. Last year, Ella played Agent Osip in episodes of the new Odd Squad UK, and she had voiceover work for gothic horror film Nosferatu, which was directed by Robert Eggers. Further screen work for Ella includes playing Young Caroline (Lyndsey Marshal) in the Paramount+ thriller series Insomnia, filming as Eva Feldman in the 2022 Christmas Special of All Creatures Great and Small, and working on commercials including for Starling Bank. This summer, Ella is due to film Series 2 of High Hoops, and she has filmed a comedy show with Rosie Jones called Disability Benefits. Ella chatted to us about new CBBC comedy series High Hoops, playing the regular role of Charlotte in the show and filming as Agent Osip for episodes of the new Odd Squad UK.

How did you feel finding out you’d booked the regular role of Charlotte in the new CBBC comedy series High Hoops, and can you tell us about your character?

I felt amazing and very proud of myself for getting the role of Charlotte! It was quite a lengthy audition with a lot of in-person recalls. So to find out I actually got it was incredible. Charlotte is a ditzy, carefree, cat-obsessed young girl who doesn’t care what other people think.

What is Charlotte like to play and how was it filming alongside the rest of the cast, which includes Darci Hull, Isha Kaur, Frankie-Jae Simmonds and Robert Webb?

Charlotte was so much fun to play because I could bring in little bits of my own character into her. She had lots of hilarious lines, which is always the best! Also, the outfits were fun to wear, even if they were a bit ‘out there’ at times. 🤣

It was so awesome to share the experience with all of the cast. We were all so supportive of each other and it sounds cheesy but I made friends for life! The adult cast were such an inspiration of how to act on and off set.

Can you tell us about High Hoops, and who do you think it will appeal to?

High Hoops is a CBBC comedy series, which follows the life of Aoife and her trials and tribulations and the friends she makes along the way. She joins the basketball team that me and the other girls belong to, hence the name of the show.

It will appeal to ages from seven to 80 because my grandparents are loving it! 🤣

What do you remember from your first day on set of High Hoops and what was it like reading the scripts for the first time?

On my first day I remember the crew being insanely kind and generous and just having so much fun. The first time I read the script was with the director and the rest of the cast at the round table. It was such a great experience reading the script all together. It felt very surreal and it was the first time I’d ever done anything like that.

How did you find the experience attending the recent screening event with BAFTA, and how was it seeing the show be released on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Monday 17th March?

It was super cool and exciting being at the screening with BAFTA! I loved watching the other people watching it. Seeing them smile made me feel so good. The show being released is wonderful because now everyone gets to enjoy it and not just me! Hearing from my friends that they are really enjoying it is a great feeling.

What are you enjoying most about playing a regular character in a new CBBC series?

I’m enjoying the friendships the most because we all lived together for the three months of filming and built on those relationships but also I’m doing what I love all the time and it’s never ever boring (except maybe the tutoring).

You play Agent Osip in episodes of the new Odd Squad UK, had you seen the original Odd Squad series before auditioning and what was it like joining the UK series?

Of course I watched the iconic Odd Squad prior to auditioning and loved it! And to know that I was going to be in it was super cool because it was a regular watch for me.

What is it like on set of Odd Squad UK and how was it getting into character as Agent Osip?

It was lovely on set because I was around kids my age and so we got along very well. It was so fun getting into Agent Osip because she had a cockney accent which made it 100 times better to play. At first, I was only supposed to be there for a day but then they asked me to come back as they had rewritten a later episode where Osip played a bigger part in the story, which was a really nice complement.

We understand you are also part of last year’s Gothic horror film Nosferatu, can you tell us about working on the release?

I did voiceover work for Nosferatu. It was so thrilling to know I was part of this incredible film and cast! And Robert Eggers was an amazing director because he was literally directing me into the character. This role involved lots of screaming!

How would you describe your character Young Caroline (Lyndsey Marshal) in the Paramount+ thriller series Insomnia, and how was it filming your scenes?

Young Caroline was a very jealous person and didn’t have a great mindset for life. It was great fun to do those scenes in Insomnia because I felt like a totally different person whilst also creeping myself out a bit! The car crash scene was hard to play because the person playing my dad is an awesome actor so I almost believed him when we did the death scene!

What are some of your favourite memories from your time filming the 2022 Christmas Special of All Creatures Great and Small as Eva Feldman?

Some of my favourite memories from filming the Christmas Special of All Creatures Great and Small was definitely being with the cast and crew! I just got on with them so well and felt so comfortable around them. Also, there was one time where I found an All Creatures Great and Small: What Character are You? quiz and I showed it to the cast. They all did the quiz and none of them got their own characters! It was also my birthday on set and everyone made it so special and surprised me mid-scene with a big birthday cake… that was the best.

How is it being involved with commercials such as Starling Bank?

I did the Starling Bank advert over two days in London. I had to clean a car and it was so windy that I got soaked and then freezing cold to the point my lips went blue! I still had so much fun doing that and plus it was an excuse to get a hot chocolate! It was also insane to see my face on huge billboards around town.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

My parents have told me I could perform ever since I could walk and talk. I just love making people smile, laugh and even cry, it makes me feel proud of myself. When I’m acting, I just forget about Ella and transform into someone else which is super cool. After I did All Creatures I just got a buzz because I didn’t get nervous in front of the cameras. I just love it!

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch and how do you like to spend your time away from acting?

This is a hard question but definitely Friends, Grey’s Anatomy and Gilmore Girls. They’re all my comfort shows that I watch again and again. It’s really bad because all I do is critique the acting because I’m learning whilst being entertained. There are too many films I adore but here are some of my favourites; The Wild Robot is my ultimate favourite animation – I cry, I laugh and I’m filled with joy all at the same time! Crazy Stupid Love is also a great one with an amazing cast. Last but not least is 50 First Dates, which is my comfort film.

Away from acting I enjoy spending time going out with my friends, and being out in the park with my family playing rounders. I also love just chucking sticks for my dog wherever she goes! I enjoy doing sports such as badminton, netball, not so good at football but I try my best. I do also love to shop (oops)!

What are you hoping the next few months bring for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about?

I’m really hoping to land a big role in any kind of movie (if I’m being picky, I would love an action one). And just carrying on doing loads of self-tapes to get myself known in the industry. I’m due to film the second season of High Hoops over the summer, which I’m very excited to do and see everyone again! I’ve also filmed a comedy show with Rosie Jones called Disability Benefits, which I’m looking forward to watching it when it comes out.