Olive Perry: The Central Character in ReelShort's Vertical Drama Adaptation – and the Actress Who Plays Her

This compelling vertical drama character steps into a secret-filled summer in the Hamptons, where loyalty, hidden identities, and unexpected romance collide

ReelShort's "A Hamptons Summer Affair with My BFF's Brother" centers on Olive Perry, a young woman navigating loyalty, secrecy, and complex relationships. Tasked with helping her best friend maintain his inheritance, Olive steps into the elite Hamptons social scene under false pretenses.

Her journey through deception, personal stakes, and forbidden romance makes her the driving force of the series and a standout figure in the growing vertical drama trend.

Inside Olive Perry's Scandal-Driven Arc

Olive agrees to pose as her best friend Sam Rodriguez's girlfriend for the summer, aiming to help him protect his inheritance. Facing financial strain and fighting for custody of her younger brother, she views the arrangement as a way to secure stability for herself and support Sam.

Her plans unravel when she discovers that Sam's brother, Diego Rodriguez, is the man she shared a one-night encounter with shortly before arriving at the family mansion. Torn between loyalty to Sam and her attraction to Diego, Olive finds herself at the center of a complex love triangle within a conservative, politically ambitious household.

As the summer progresses, Olive and Diego secretly rekindle their connection while the stakes rise around Sam's hidden sexuality and family reputation. When Diego's ex-girlfriend, Stacey Johnson, exposes the truth, Olive faces betrayal, public fallout, and difficult personal choices.

Supporting performances from Quinlan Deakin as Sam Rodriguez, Paige Tonkin as Stacey, and Jean-Pierre Yerma as Romero Rodriguez, along with Jen Boxer, Linden Trescott, Craig Walker, Jacob Born, and Kylie Clarke, frame Olive's journey and highlight the tensions within the series.

The Actress Who Brings Olive Perry to Life in the World of Vertical Drama

Australian actress Brooke Baxter brings Olive Perry to the screen with a blend of poise, vulnerability, and emotional depth. Growing up in Newcastle and Sydney, she began dancing around age nine or ten, which introduced her to performing and stage presence.

Attending a performing arts high school, she discovered acting through school productions and interactions with professional actors, setting the foundation for her screen career.

The Sydney-based actress transitioned from stage and dance company work to television appearances, commercial auditions, and eventually vertical dramas. Her experience in dance continues to inform her performances, providing fluidity and precise expression that enrich Olive's character.

Her screen credits include the TV mini-series "Vampire's Forbidden Kiss," where she plays Rina Hayle, and short films such as "Fashion Kills" (2023) and the "A Grim Tale" series, including "A Grim Tale: Cult of Balor" and "A Grim Tale: Fill-Up's Funhouse," portraying the psychic Mila.

In a July 2025 interview, Baxter reflected on vertical-drama production, "When you do verticals, it's not like a traditional set. You learn your lines quickly. So, you get your scenes a day, and you learn your script really, really quick. Some, I've learned scenes before I've shot them."

She also shared her hopes that vertical dramas will offer more dynamic storytelling and character development. She emphasized the importance of showcasing both leads with equal depth, noting that often the female characters have "so much character development" and "a lot of layers," while male characters are left one-dimensional.

She encouraged exploring diverse genres, such as dance or horror, and highlighted stronger, more independent roles for women, saying she wants to see leads who "can fight back and less needing of the man, more like a partnership."

By combining her technical discipline from dance with acting versatility, Baxter ensures Olive Perry remains the emotional anchor of "A Hamptons Summer Affair with My BFF's Brother," navigating loyalty, romance, and family intrigue.