Career counselor laughed when student with Down syndrome said she wanted to act and suggested a bakery — now she’s now the lead of a movie

When Olivia Hargroder, a dancer with Down syndrome, was born, doctors told her mother that she might not survive — she did. Now 27 years old, Hargroder is the lead in a film, representing the character of a girl who, like her, is independent and loves to dance. It wasn’t a linear and smooth journey, though. When she was young, a career counselor laughed at her and said she should forget about becoming an actor and, instead, work for a bakery. Against all odds, she rose and proved that there is no power greater than one’s own belief in oneself. She shared her story in an interview with ABC Australia News In-depth (@ABCNewsIndepth) on November 4, 2026, which has gained 17,000 views in five days.

Born to survive

When Hargroder was born, her mom instantly knew that she had Down syndrome. A gap between her first and second toes made it clear. At just nine months old, Hargroder underwent heart surgery. Her doctors stated that she had only a 20% chance of survival. When she survived, they said she wouldn’t be able to speak. When she spoke, they said she wouldn’t be able to live a normal life. She did.

He put her in a 'box'

As she grew up, Hargroder showed a penchant for performing arts, including dancing and acting. “I think Olivia showed me very early on that just because she has Down syndrome doesn’t necessarily mean that she was going to follow a certain level of intellectual impairment. She was so sparky,” Kerry Red, Hargroder’s mother, told ABC. Red revealed the instance when Hargroder went to a career counsellor and told him that she wanted to pursue acting at Australia's prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA); he mocked her by saying, “NIDA is for the elite.”

He put her in a “down syndrome box” and advised her to look for a job in a bakery. “That’s very hard when you are gluten-free,” Hargroder said, laughing. Like everything else, she defied the expectation and got into NIDA. For one year, she studied with 12 budding thespians at its Open Young Actor's Studio before undertaking other acting courses.

Dreams come true

Having been discouraged by the counselor, it must be hard for the young girl to rise on her own. Again, she did. Like the physical barrier she crossed as a nine-month-old baby, she survived the psychological barriers and eventually joined Bus Stop Films, an organization that creates opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to develop their filmmaking skills and work in the screen industry. Not long after that, she landed the lead role in a feature film directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith. 

In the movie, titled “Boss Cat,” Hargroder plays Sonja, a young woman struggling with grief and fighting for her independence through dance. "When they asked me to audition for Boss Cat, it was actually an incredible feeling to have because I've never been a lead in a feature before," Hargroder described to ABC News. Sonja is depicted as lacking rhythm in dance, which posed a challenge for Hargroder because she dances so well. "Once I found out that Sonja's not the best dancer, I found that quite hard to do. It was just a dream come true," Hargroder said. "Because I'm such a good and amazing dancer myself." The film launched a premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2026 and is set to release in Australia on December 3, 2026.

Assume that they 'can'

According to the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana (DSANI), there are approximately 400,000 to 600,000 people in the US living with Down syndrome. Each year, nearly 6,000 babies are born with this condition. Just like an ordinary person, people with Down Syndrome possess equal capability to live the life of their dreams. But as the commercial titled “Assume That I Can,” posted by the National Down Syndrome Society, depicts, the capabilities of these people are often underestimated, downplayed, and rejected by society. Hargroder is a rising example that contradicts this stereotype.

Looking ahead, Hargroder is optimistic that she will perform in a Broadway musical someday and also with her idol, Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, Smith says she is hopeful that Hargroder will continue to be hired in movies, as she’s a great actress, not an actress with Down syndrome. As for the challenges, Hargroder says, “I always managed to bounce back. I always do.”

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