Elsa O’Toole
(BAFTA, Film Critics’ Circle)
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’ alumnus. Aged (5-17) trained under Royal Ballet’s Elizabeth Kennedy. Actor. Indie Filmmaker. BBC TV researcher/producer. Film journalist & broadcaster. UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund Script Reader, (now BFI)…
Elsa’s screenplay ‘Welcome to SAG’ (BAME, LGBT, satire) was selected for Cannes Film Festival’s European Feature Film Development Initiative – fellow alumni include: Sally El Hosaini (Unicorns, The Swimmers) & Umut Dag (Cracks in Concrete, Kuma).
As an actor, Elsa shot ITV comedy The Geeks in Hollywood; collaborated with Bill Nighy, Sir Ridley Scott, Gene Hackman, Sir David Hare, Brenda Blethyn, Diana Quick, Fidelis Morgan and producer Nik Powell; enjoyed seasons @Royal National Theatre, West End, Old Vic Theatre, Glasgow Citizen’s Theatre, and 40+ TV dramas, films, adverts. Won Carleton Hobbs BBC Award; starred in Tennent’s Pilsner Lager UK campaign (famed for shooting in reverse/backwards); Marek Kanievska’s Nescafe Coffee UK/Eur campaign & Danone’s French/Euro campaign portraying Josephine Baker.
A Fox Searchlight syndicated writer on titles including Keri Russell’s Waitress; was invited to attend inaugural Abu Dhabi Film Festival; 15-years as film journalist include features & interviews with: Peter Dinklage, Naomie Harris, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Viola Davies, Steve Coogan, George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Gurinder Chadha, Harrison Ford, Thandiwe Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Walters, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman & Sir Dirk Bogarde for iconic role in The Servant, adapted by Harold Pinter – copy available in BFI’s Reuben Library collection. Elsa moderated press conferences: Cannes Film Festival, BFI & London.
She produced BBC TV’s EMMA Awards, 2nd Unit Director of Samuel L. Jackson, engaging David Oyelowo, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington & Maya Angelou for live TX ceremony.
Elsa’s Covent Garden-based, BAME film/TV production company We Can Films script ‘Blasted’ was shortlisted by Film London & Screen West Midlands. She directed x7 videos for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, developed Serbian thriller ‘Foreigner’ with Mel Raido, produced ‘Clowning Around’ & was AD on music video ‘The Ghosts – Underrated’. She developed UK/French WWII feature entitled ‘Endurance’.
Elsa funded/wrote/directed Blasted shot with BAME, able/disabled crew – chosen by Cannes Short Film Corner, nominated Best Foreign Short San Diego Black Film Festival, Best Actor UKIVFF 2016, Runner Up IWMFF, Best International Short Honorary UMFF, selected MIFF, BUFF, DOFIFF 2016 & PTFF (Canada), Clin d’Oeil & CineDeaf Rome Film Fest 2017.
As broadcast journalist Elsa covered LLGFF/FLARE for 10 years, was senior writer/film editor for: Virgin Media, The Voice Newspaper, LWT’s Whose London, BBC London, LBC, TV Times, Ten Alps Publishing (now Zinc Media), Young Performer Mag & Southwark News. She contributed to: BAFTA Mag, Tartan Films, South London Press & Pride Mag.
2025 – We Can Films is excited at our new collaboration on a female-lead drama, based on real life events…
RANDOM FACTS:
British Fencing Association (now BF) – Elsa has Bronze & Silver (foil). Speaks Swedish. Has volunteered for Crisis at Christmas since 2008. ITV’s The Price is Right – Elsa risked brain damage as a Hostess on x2 series, but survived. Just. Well barely…