Former Clients Claim Talent Agent Deceived Them, Leaving Dreams in Tatters
Amid the excitement of securing roles in Netflix productions and lucrative commercials, actress Thea Beyleveld felt optimistic when she signed with talent agent Archie Purnell. Eager to advance her career, she believed Archie was fully committed to helping her achieve her goals. However, that excitement quickly soured as alarming allegations surfaced online about fake acting credits and delayed payments. Disillusioned actors began sharing their unfortunate experiences under the hashtag #BodhiGate.
“The one thing that caught my attention was [the] late payments,” Thea recalled. “My heart immediately dropped.”
Numerous former clients reported significant financial losses and feelings of abandonment, while Archie declared bankruptcy. The UK lacks licensing requirements for talent agencies, leading to regulatory gaps that clients have discovered the hard way.
As an employment agency, Bodhi Talent Agency was legally obligated to make payments within ten days of receiving funds. Nevertheless, clients experienced months-long waits for overdue payments. Thea, for instance, sought clarification from Archie about her payments for work on The Crown and a car advertisement, only to learn that she was owed £12,960, with the agency having received full payment months earlier.
In January, she confronted Archie directly, expressing her outrage in a letter: “Words cannot express the rage, betrayal, and hurt you have caused me.”
The situation escalated as ten former clients, all members of the performers’ union Equity, pursued legal action to recover nearly £40,000 but dropped the case after Archie’s bankruptcy filing. The BBC interviewed around 30 former clients, many sharing similar frustrations regarding unpaid work and delayed payments. Jack Bence, known from the sitcom Bad Education, claims he is owed over £7,000 for a hotel ad and other projects.
Jack felt the financial pressure as he sought the second installment for the hotel ad, receiving an assurance from Archie that he would send £2,000 from his own funds to alleviate Jack’s stress. “That actually made me a bit emotional… but now I feel isolated and angry.”
Other actors affected include:
- Michelle Parker, claiming nearly £4,700 for her work on a Disney+ project.
- Susie Riddell, distressed over nearly £2,900 owed for work on Grace.
- Angela Wityszyn, waiting for payment for a job she filmed over two years ago.
- Sarah Tattersall, feeling blindsided over a small unpaid amount for a TV pilot.
While Jack and Thea knew Archie only by that name, records reveal his real name is Jamie Thomas Fisher. Originally from Wigan, Jamie began his career as an actor but had little success in that field. Despite claiming to have received prestigious training, his credentials have come under intense scrutiny. Layla Shirley, who signed with the agency in 2022, faced misrepresented audition opportunities, including a self-tape request for a burger commercial despite being vegan.
Frustrated by her experience, Layla began sharing her story through her podcast, The 98%, highlighting the struggles of actors in the industry. She also raised concerns about Jamie’s other agency, Luna Kids Casting, which claimed to secure work for child actors.
Parents, like Sarah Wilson, faced rising costs after signing their children up with Luna Kids, only to discover discrepancies and fake credits listed on their profiles. Jamie also ran Access Workshops, which charged actors for mandatory training sessions while claiming that a portion of the fees would be donated to charity.
The #BodhiGate scandal has prompted urgent calls for better regulation within the UK entertainment industry, where only 2% of actors are able to make a sustainable living. Equity announced that, after seeking legal advice, they found no prospect of recovering funds owed to clients.
As investigations into the agencies continue, Thea and Jack remain anxious about recouping their outstanding payments. “It really makes you question everything,” Thea lamented, feeling deeply betrayed by someone she once regarded as a friend and ally in her career.
