Actor and producer Violet Levinson has taken her passion for the arts from the Five Valleys of Stroud to the heart of New York’s theatre scene.
The daughter of world-renowned fashion designer Selina Blow, Violet grew up in Stroud. She trained at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and has built a career spanning acting and producing across both England and the United States, with acting and producing credits across theatre and film, including producing Dennis McIntyre’s Modigliani with KB Theatre Productions Ltd. at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024.
Violet co-founded Red Door Productions, which has produced sold-out Off-Off Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and received strong critical recognition across New York City, including coverage in The Village Voice and recognition from Broadway critics Elizabeth Zimmer and David Walters.
Her recent acting credits include Mindy in the Off-Broadway production of 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress (dir. Roxane Pes); the “complexly raw” Debbie Irons in Edward Allan Baker’s Face Divided (dir. Kirsten Russell), for which she was singled out by Broadway critic David Walters; and Babe Botrelle in Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Crimes of the Heart (dir. Eve Bianco).
Now based in New York, Violet reflects on the journey that took her from Stroud to the stage — and why the town she grew up in will always remain a special part of her story.
Looking back on your life, when have you been happiest?
Coming to New York as a teenager, landing at JFK completely on my own just two days after a breakup, and starting my intensive training at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute was a defining moment.
Actors I admire, such as Sally Field and Claire Danes, trained there, and it was the first time I realised acting could be more than a passion I had suppressed. I could pursue it professionally — and I am so glad I did.
What has been the biggest disappointment you’ve had to overcome?
I’m very hard on myself, and if I feel like I haven’t achieved what I wanted to in a certain amount of time, I can really let it affect me.
I’ve learnt how important it is to stop and recognise how far you’ve come, rather than always focusing on what’s next. It’s important to be proud of what you’ve achieved before immediately chasing the next thing.
What’s your ultimate guilty pleasure?
I’m not sure this counts as a guilty pleasure because it’s such an iconic film, but I could watch Bridesmaids on repeat.
It always puts me in such a good mood, and Melissa McCarthy’s character is one I’ll happily quote at any opportunity. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever get bored of it.
Is there a smell that instantly brings back memories?
The smell of treacle tart instantly takes me back to Mills Café just off the high street in Stroud.
My mum and I discovered it one afternoon after school and never looked back. If it was Mum’s birthday or I was coming home after being away, she’d always get one of their enormous treacle tarts. We’d drive miles just for one.
They sadly stopped making them, but that smell will always remind me of my childhood.
If Hollywood made a film about your life, who would play you?
A young Carey Mulligan.
She completely transforms into every role she plays and is incredibly versatile. Whether she’s playing Daisy in The Great Gatsby or Edith Pretty in The Dig, her performances have such emotional depth.
She completely inhabits her characters, and that’s exactly what I strive to achieve.
Who’s the most famous contact saved in your phone?
If we’re talking true Stroud celebrities, it has to be my uncle, Amaury Blow.
Walking anywhere with him in Stroud takes twice as long because he’s constantly being stopped by people who want to tell him how much they love the delicious condiments he makes through his company, A Wild Garden.
What makes Stroud such a special place for you?
Having grown up there, Stroud feels incredibly nostalgic.
Even going into Batemans sports shop reminds me of summers before school started, when my mum would reluctantly have to buy me yet another hockey stick for the winter term.
The cinema holds so many memories too — Sunday afternoons grabbing a Fat Toni’s and then settling into the cinema chairs with Tango Ice Blasts, watching whatever action film my brother had convinced us to see.
The market was another favourite, picking up pastel de nata from the Portuguese stall and bumping into friends and family doing exactly the same thing.
What I love about Stroud is the sense of community. Everyone seems to know everyone, and there is such a warm and welcoming feeling throughout the town.
If you were in charge for a day, what’s the one thing you’d change about Stroud?
Less ticket wardens…
What’s still at the top of your bucket list?
I love travelling, and next on my list is Bolivia. I’ve always wanted to see the famous Salt Flats.
What’s the most valuable lesson life has taught you?
Always ask for people’s CVs before giving them the job — which sounds obvious, but it’s something I learnt through experience.
Recently, through Red Door Productions, we produced Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart. W had to let one team member go just five days before opening night. It was incredibly challenging, but it reinforced how important it is to have a team you trust and genuinely enjoy working with. Trust your instincts when warning signs appear.
What advice would you give to the next generation?
If you have a burning desire to do something, do it.
Viola Davis’s reflection that “the true definition of hell is when the person you became meets the person you could have become” is something I often think about.
We all have dreams and passions. Whether it’s becoming an artist, an actor, or pursuing any other ambition, it is important to chase it, believe in it and give yourself the chance to make it happen.
Who has inspired you the most?
My mum.
She has given me so much courage and support to follow my dream of being an actress. Having moved to New York at the same age as me and being an artist herself as a fashion designer, she understands the determination and commitment it takes.
She comes to every single one of my shows and invites anyone and everyone she can think of — she’s practically Red Door Productions’ unofficial PR lady.
From a young age, she introduced me to the arts, taking me to exhibitions at the V&A and even bringing me to a catwalk. We talk about art constantly, and our views are often in sync.
To have someone who roots for me in the way she does is something I will always be grateful for.
What achievement are you most proud of?
It must be the culmination of where I am today: moving to New York to continue pursuing acting and now co-founding Red Door Productions. I am so proud of the five of us—Isabella Candillier, Carolina Buhck, Roxane Pes, Ana Radice-Morras, and me. We all come from different parts of the world, yet together we’re creating work that is selling out across New York City, gaining recognition and receiving strong critical reviews from the likes of Elizabeth Zimmer, former Editor and Senior Critic at The Village Voice for over 30 years, and David Walters of The New York Theatre Guide. Most importantly, we’re producing work that is affecting people. We’re building a community of people who follow our work, want to produce with us, and are excited to see what we do next, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.
What always makes you laugh?
My brother, Gus.
He’s hilarious, a brilliant impersonator and a fantastic storyteller. Whenever he tells a story, everyone around the table is usually in hysterics.
If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be?
Louis Theroux, Marilyn Monroe and Amy Winehouse.
It would definitely be an intense dinner, but Louis would know exactly the right questions to ask, and I’d happily sit back and listen.
What book and song would you take to a desert island?
Just Kids by Patti Smith and Across The Universe by The Beatles.
Finally, in three words, how would you describe Stroud?
Colour, community and art.
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