Actress with Down syndrome lands lead role in feature film

Olivia Hargroder, a dancer with Down syndrome, secured the lead role in the feature film Boss Cat after overcoming medical challenges and social skepticism.

Hargroder survived major heart surgery at nine weeks old in Australia, despite doctors predicting she had only a 20% chance of survival. As she grew into an adult, she developed a passion for dance and acting.

When she informed a school careers counselor of her goal to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the counselor laughed at her ambition and suggested she work in a bakery instead. Hargroder continued her acting studies and joined Bus Stop Films, an organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities develop filmmaking skills. This experience helped her prepare for an audition for Boss Cat, a film directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith.

She won the role of Sonja, a character who uses dance to express emotions while navigating grief and a fight for independence. The film premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2026 and will release in Australia on December 3. Hargroder plans to pursue further goals, including performing in Broadway musicals and dancing on tour with Taylor Swift.