Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025 Winner - Simrita Khela
Simrita Khela (stage-name Monica Khela) was named the winner of the Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025, receiving over £6,000 in financial and professional development support as she prepares to graduate and launch her professional acting career.
A national scholarship for emerging working-class actors
The Luke Westlake Scholarship is an annual award supporting talented working-class actors in training at UK drama schools, conservatoires and universities.
Winner
Simrita Khela was selected as the Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025 recipient.
129 applications
The 2025 scholarship received 129 applications from across the UK.
22 institutions
Applications came from 22 drama schools and universities.
Over £6,000 support
The scholarship provides financial and career development support.
About the 2025 winner, Simrita Khela
Simrita Khela is a graduating actor from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the recipient of the Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025.
Selected from a national shortlist, Simrita was recognised for her talent, professionalism and potential to build a long-term career in theatre, film and television.
Her scholarship award includes financial support towards living costs and industry development, alongside access to leading casting directors, agents and professional training opportunities through Just Add Milk.
Scholarship support
- Over £6,000 in financial and professional development support
- Assistance towards living costs after graduating
- Access to leading casting directors, agents and industry professionals
- Professional training opportunities through Just Add Milk
What the Luke Westlake Scholarship provides
The Luke Westlake Scholarship provides over £6,000 in financial and professional support to the selected winner.
The award is designed to ease the financial pressures faced by working-class actors as they transition from training into the professional industry.
- Financial assistance towards living costs after graduating
- Career development sessions with industry professionals
- Access to professional workshops and masterclasses
- Ongoing mentorship and guidance from Just Add Milk's network
Finalists eligible for BAFTA's Prince William Bursary
Following graduation, all eight finalists will be eligible to apply for BAFTA's Prince William Bursary, thanks to Just Add Milk's partnership with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
The bursary is a fund that financially supports early-career creatives, offering further support as finalists begin building their professional careers.
Finalist pathway
- Eight finalists selected from 129 applications
- Applications received from 22 drama schools and universities
- BAFTA Prince William Bursary pathway available after graduation
- Additional support for early-career creatives entering the industry
The 2025 Scholarship Prize Package
The Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025 includes a package of financial support, subscriptions, professional resources, coaching, workshops, training and industry meetings designed to help Simrita prepare for life after graduation.
Industry meetings
The 2025 prize package also includes meetings with leading industry professionals across casting, agency representation and theatre.
The 2025 Shortlisted Actors
The following actors were shortlisted for the Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025 from drama schools and conservatoires across the UK.
The 2025 Selection Panel
The 2025 scholarship winner was selected by a panel of respected industry professionals and representatives of Just Add Milk and the Westlake family.
2025 Scholarship Sponsors
The 2025 Luke Westlake Scholarship was supported by generous organisations and individuals committed to improving access to professional training for working-class actors.
About The Luke Westlake Scholarship
The Luke Westlake Scholarship is an annual award that provides an actor with financial and developmental support worth over £6,000 in their final years of training as they graduate from university or drama school and begin to navigate their way into the industry.
The scholarship was established in 2019 when Just Add Milk realised that many actors were being priced out of their careers before they even graduated.
After spending tens of thousands of pounds on training, actors must then pay for subscriptions, plays, headshots, equipment for self-tapes and other necessities to support themselves - with those from working-class and low-income families losing out due to the financial demands of the industry.
The scholarship is named in memory of Luke Westlake, a friend of JAM and a talented actor who trained with them at ArtsEd from 2014 to 2017. A diligent, fierce, working-class actor, Luke represented everything the scholarship stands for, and JAM is grateful to be supported by his parents, Bridgette and Lee, in keeping Luke's memory alive.
In memory of Luke Westlake
Luke Westlake was a friend of JAM and a talented working-class actor. The scholarship continues in his memory, supporting actors facing financial barriers as they enter the industry.
"We are delighted that the scholarship so kindly dedicated by JAM to the memory of our son Luke continues to grow from strength to strength. It is an amazing opportunity and we urge all those eligible to apply. We look forward to seeing another excellent field of candidates and this year we hope to meet in person to celebrate the fantastic talent that we know will come forward."
Simrita Khela in The Stage and Broadway Baby
Read more about Simrita Khela winning the Luke Westlake Scholarship 2025 through coverage from The Stage and Broadway Baby.
Find out about the Luke Westlake Scholarship
Applications for the Luke Westlake Scholarship open annually. Full eligibility criteria, deadlines and current sponsorship details are listed on the main scholarship page.