About us
SquireRose Studios is dedicated to creating exceptional cinematic content that moves, touches, inspires and entertains audiences worldwide. Our mission is to create stories that challenge and transform perspectives, elevate awareness, fosters catharsis, connection, and understanding. We believe in creating possibility through the stories we tell and as a company.
Meet the Founders
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Ben Mathews is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and acting coach with wide-ranging experience in the industry. His films have won over 25 international awards and have been featured at major film festivals, including Cannes. Notably, Ben is the only Australian nominated for the Student Academy Awards for his short film “Emily” and has received a nomination for an Australian Writer’s Guild AWGIE Award. Ben's television work includes the MTV drama “Deadbeat Dads” and for the ABC, the comedy “BedHead” based on his award-winning web series, both of which Ben directed and co-wrote.
Ben Matthews
Ben's most recent writing commission is the upcoming half-hour animation "Dimitri’s World" for Fox & Co. Animation. As a commercial director, Ben has created award-winning campaigns for clients such as Microsoft, TedX, AMP, Pilot and The Australian Open. His viral campaign featuring chef Matt Moran for food charity OzHarvest garnered significant media attention and won several awards including a Bronze Pencil at the AWARD Awards and two recent campaigns for TMGM and Manscaped each won a Telly Award.
As an actor, Ben has appeared in over 30 plays including for Sydney Theatre Company and Belvoir Street, and in films and TV shows alongside many well-known actors, including two-time Oscar nominees Jackie Weaver and Rose Byrne. His theatre directorial work includes productions in Sydney and New York by David Mamet, Clifford Odets and Harold Pinter and he assistant-directed Neil Armfield on the Belvior production of David Hare’s “Stuff Happens.”
In 2017, after years of teaching at NIDA, AFTRS, and Screenwise, Ben founded Acting Mastery, an acting studio in Sydney that has become a leading institution for actor training. The studio's success is bolstered by Ben's reputation as a top acting coach in Australia, further extended by the launch of the Acting Mastery podcast and over 80K followers on Instagram. In 2024, Ben co-founded SquireRose Studios with his wife, Holly, aiming to put all his experience to use producing highly compelling long-form content for global audiences.
Ben is both a directing and screenwriting graduate of AFTRS, where he was mentored by screenwriting guru Michael Hauge. Upon his graduation, Ben received the Foxtel and Kenneth Myer Scholarships for Exceptional New Talent, and the Shark Island Award for Documentary. Ben is also a graduate of the Atlantic Theater Company, New York, where he studied under David Mamet and William H. Macy.
Ben's career demonstrates a commitment to storytelling across various mediums, marked by his ability to elicit strong performances and create powerful narratives. His work in filmmaking, acting, and coaching shows a deep understanding of story and dedication to storytelling, and to fostering new talent in the industry.
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As a producer, writer, actor, and co-founder of SquireRose Studios, as well as the co-owner of Acting Mastery, Holly-Anna Mathews is a dynamic and versatile force with a wide ranging background in the entertainment industry. Her journey from in front of the camera to a key behind-the-scenes player showcases her versatility and commitment to storytelling.
Holly Matthews
Holly’s career began with three years of intensive acting training, laying a strong foundation for her multifaceted career. The onset of the pandemic marked a significant pivot point, as she transitioned to behind-the-camera roles. Her work on the feature film “Everything in Between” not only provided her with hands-on production experience but also highlighted her knack for problem-solving, earning high praise from writer/director Nadi Sha for her critical role in the project’s success. In his words, Holly “was integral to the success of the shoot” and she “evolved into becoming the key problem solver on the production team.”
Her expertise further extended to the role of dramaturg for Tyler Dias’ web series “Packing,” where she played a pivotal role in enhancing the cast’s performances. In 2021, Holly’s career took another turn as she ventured into actor representation with TCM, which sparked her interest in actor career coaching. Leveraging her comprehensive industry experience, she has since been instrumental in guiding actors to achieve their full potential.
In 2022, Holly’s career continued to evolve as she worked in the Art Department on “Lost Flowers of Alice Hart,” starring Sigourney Weaver, at Fox Studios. This role underscored her diverse skill set and her ability to contribute significantly across various aspects of production.
Choosing to focus on leadership and development, Holly declined several production roles to assume the position of CEO at Acting Mastery. Her vision and dedication have been key in establishing the studio as a leading institution in Sydney, offering unparalleled training and mentorship to aspiring actors.
Holly’s unique blend of creative talent, leadership acumen, organisational and managerial skills, and industry insight led her to co-found SquireRose Studios with her husband, Ben. Together, they are committed to developing compelling projects that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Holly-Anna Mathews’ career is a testament to her passion for the arts, her adaptability in the face of change, and her unwavering commitment to fostering talent in the entertainment industry. Her journey reflects not just a personal evolution but a deep-seated desire to contribute meaningfully to the craft of storytelling.
Meet our Manager
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Larissa Calarco is an actor, singer, musician, and writer who has been performing professionally since she was 4 years old. As the General Manager, she works behind the scenes to ensure SquireRose Studios and Acting Mastery run like well-oiled machines.
While Larissa adores being in front of the camera and on stage, the past couple of years has seen her focus on pursuing myriad ways to expand her contribution to and footing within the arts industry. Larissa has nurtured a fierce desire to offer services, support, and guidance any which way she can, to creatives at every stage of their artistic journey.
Being part of SquireRose Studios is one way Larissa aspires to share provocative, captivating, and memorable stories that inspire, move, and resonate with audiences on a global scale. Larissa believes that storytelling is a powerful way to remind us all that we’re not alone, and more connected than we realise.
Larissa is incredibly passionate about contributing to the creative and professional development of artists, and is dedicated to helping creatives find a safe, support space to train, be mentored and guided, work on their craft, and meet like-minded individuals.
After studying Science for almost a decade and graduating with her PhD in Molecular Biology and Parasitology, Larissa has returned to the arts to pursue all things performing and is thrilled to be part of the SquireRose Studios team.