Just Add Milk (JAM) are pleased to announce the winner of The Luke Westlake Scholarship 2024. Kindly sponsored by Act On This - The TV Actors Network, the winner was announced at last night’s annual ceremony at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.  

This year, the winner of The Luke Westlake Scholarship is Darcy Dixon. Dixon now receives over £6,000 in financial and developmental support over the next few years as she graduates and moves into the acting industry. Prizes include a one-year Spotlight membership, one year The State subscription and lunches with leading industry professionals such as Becky Paris (Head of Casting at The Globe).

Darcy Dixon grew up in South East London and is proudly working class.

A student at RADA on a full scholarship, Dixon says that she wants to “make work that evokes change in the world”. Dixon is incredibly excited to win the scholarship - “this scholarship means the world to me”.

Dixon is also a trustee on the board of Go Live Theatre Projects a charity that uses the power of theatre to create inspiring experiences and unlock possibilities for young people.

At 19, Darcy was the Co-Vice Chair of the Black Head Students Network, a national network of young leaders committed to propelling Black youth and achievement within schools.

Kristian Wall and Liam McLaughlin, Executive Directors of JAM, say “This is our sixth year of hosting the scholarship and our biggest yet. Darcy’s application and shortlist self tapes were unanimously lauded by the panel - she’s an incredible talent. 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”.

Niamh Dowling, RADA Principal says: “'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 this well-deserved recognition."

First launched in 2019, The Luke Westlake Scholarship was set up by the charity for working-class actors in their second year at either a drama school or university in the UK. Now it’s sixth winner, Darcy Dixon will join former winners Ayomide Adegun, Melodie Karczewski, Madison Stock, Sol Taibi and Tamzin Khan in having her acting career supported by The Luke Westlake Scholarship.

Following graduation, all eight of the shortlisted actors 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.

This year, 2020 winner Ayomide Adegun starred in the new Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and in a lead role in the John Wick spinoff The Continental.