interview by JANA LETONJA
Olive Abercrombie has built an intriguing screen career, with appearances in The Haunting of Hill House, Outer Range and Young Woman and the Sea. Now, she’s stepping into an entirely different universe as Bianca di Angelo in the third season of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Away from acting, she plays guitar and piano, writes songs and creates stories and characters of her own. Ahead of Bianca’s arrival on screen, we spoke with Olive about growing up creatively, entering the Underworld, meeting the expectations of a passionate fandom and imagining the artist she might become.
photography by KARLA DAVIS
Were you already a Percy Jackson fan before joining the series? What do you remember most about the moment you found out you were going to play Bianca di Angelo?
I hadn’t read the series or seen the show until I was cast. But the second I got the job, I ate up The Titan's Curse book and became obsessed with Bianca and the possibilities of what I could bring to the role. By the time we filmed, I was on book 4 and already a huge Percy nerd, freaking out meeting the cast and Rick. Now I’ve caught up on the the first 5 Percy Jackson books, the first 5 Heroes of Olympus books, and I’m on to Trials of Apollo. I want to read the Nico Di Angelo Adventures. Emo Nico’s the best.
Bianca is such a beloved character among readers. When you knew the role was yours, did excitement come first, or did you immediately feel the weight of fans’ expectations?
Pure excitement because, not going to lie, I knew I was right for this role. The expectation weight came after the casting announcement, when everyone I know started texting me freaking out. I do feel a lot of responsibility to the fans to be the best Bianca I can be. Hopefully good pressure.
How did being a fan yourself affect the way you approached the character? Were there details about Bianca that you felt particularly protective of?
I wanted to bring out Bianca’s fierce love for Nico and her role as protector, in addition to highlighting the fact that she’s really on her own quest, a quest of belonging.
Your casting announcement created a huge reaction at Comic-Con. What was it like suddenly experiencing the intensity of the Percy Jackson fandom from the other side?
The casting announcement at San Diego Comic-Con last year went crazy. This year, paneling in front of 7.000 fans in Hall H was even crazier. I’d never been to Comic-Con. Meeting fans in real life during the SDCC signing and later at D23 was so peak. I love all the hand-made gifts and fan art I’ve gotten over these past few months and cherish every single one.
Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about the Bianca we’re going to meet on screen? Is there something about her that might surprise people who only know her from the books?
I can’t give away too much, but what I can say is Season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians surprised even me.
You’ve already worked across very different worlds, from The Haunting of Hill House and Outer Range to Young Woman and the Sea. Do you think growing up on sets has changed the way you see storytelling?My whole entire life I’ve loved storytelling and I still do. Growing up on sets gave me more appreciation for what happens behind-the-scenes and all the careful world-building involved. And I love the art department. I could hang out there all day. I’m really lucky to have been on so many spooky sets.
Do you remember the first performance — film, television, theatre or music — that made you realise you wanted to become an actor yourself?
Well, growing up on set just doing acting was huge. Learning from great actors like Daisy Ridley, Josh Brolin, Tom Pelphrey, Imogen Poots, Alexandra Daddario, and getting their feedback, that all really made me feel that I was on the right path.
Outside of acting, you play guitar and piano and write your own songs. What does music give you creatively that acting doesn’t?
I love the instant fulfillment that writing or learning a song gives you. Sometimes when working on a series or a movie, it takes months, and sometimes years, to see the finished product. Being able to start and finish a good song in a few hours is just so much fun.
You also create your own stories and characters. Do you think you might eventually want to write or direct and build worlds of your own?
100 times yes. I already love drawing and writing my own characters, and really do hope to be on the other side soon when it comes to making something for the screen.
When you’re not working, what are you obsessed with right now — a musician, book, film, artist, piece of clothing, or something completely unexpected?
At the moment I’m obsessed with crafting and trying to make more physical art. I love making clay sculptures of characters I like, and you can just guess how messy my desk is.
You’ve spoken about caring deeply about human rights and particularly women’s rights. As a young person with a growing platform, how do you think about using your voice for things that matter to you?
I feel very passionately that people shouldn’t be treated differently based on gender, who they love, or who they are. And I think a young person’s voice is super important because it’s our planet next. I’m gen Z-Alpha and I think it’s up to our generation to point out what is unjust. We should make it our job to educate people on what is happening.
