I’ve had the pleasure of getting Sarah Brocklehurst, BAFTA-nominated producer of The Outrun and founder of Brock Media, ready on multiple glamorous occasions. The brief has varied from Dua Lipa pop icon to red-carpet Bulgari glamour, complete with security escorting Serpenti diamonds to and from Sarah’s neck for the carpet walk.
One of my missions for Beauty Class is to create a platform for the kind of accomplished women who have informed opinions on everything from vitamin C serums to the perfect red lipstick, and Sarah embodies this perfectly. She’s a powerhouse producer who can discuss film financing and smudgeless liner with equal passion.
Scheduling meant this conversation happened over Zoom whilst Sarah was working abroad. But even through pixelated video, her trademark warmth, razor-sharp intelligence, and infectious enthusiasm came through just fine.
To start, we had to ask Sarah how it all began.
Sarah: Storytelling was always important to me. As a kid, I read a lot and put on plays. As I grew up, I became enchanted by film and the idea of creating something on a bigger canvas that can be seen all over the world and last forever. Even now with The Outrun, people still get in touch saying they just discovered it and I know it will continue to find people when they most need it.
Beauty Class: As a producer and businesswoman, how do you balance creativity with commercial decision-making?
Sarah: Being a producer is fundamentally about that balance and it's what I love most about the role. The way you navigate different needs, allowing art and creativity to flourish by giving it the right support in terms of budget and framework, while being in tune with the audiences who will eventually consume the work and determine its value.
Beauty Class: Does either side come more naturally?
Sarah: They both come quite naturally to me. I love being the driving force of encouraging, facilitating, and pushing a creative project into existence. I bring a business brain and a "get things done" stubbornness. I rarely give up and that’s down to working on stories I'm super passionate about.
Beauty Class: Your company Brock Media has recently announced a new partnership with a major European studio. How does that feel?
Sarah: It’s been incredibly exciting growing my company from the ground up. For a long time it was just me learning how to produce. Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to grow the team and scale up and now I'm at this really exciting point where I can really level up my ambitions.
Beauty Class: How has your confidence evolved through this journey?
Sarah: There's much less self-doubt now. The way I see it, the steepest part of the mountain has been scaled. The first 10 years were the hardest because there's no guarantee you're going anywhere and everything's a gamble. Now, I’ve built my experience and track record so while I’m reaching for bigger goals, but in terms of confidence, it’s a lot easier.
Beauty Class: What drives your choice of stories?
Sarah: I'm really driven by making stories that will be inspiring, empowering, and entertaining and finding connection in our humanity. I'm particularly interested in telling stories about women who are gloriously complicated, who live unconventional lives. I guess I'm often drawn to subjects I have some personal connection to. I’m on a mission to bring British East Asian stories to the screen. I love epic emotional stories and characters who offer fresh perspectives.
Beauty Class: How has working in visual storytelling changed how you use beauty?
Sarah: It's interesting because I sometimes consciously put on a character. I'm aware of the story I can tell or character I can create by how I dress and do my hair and makeup. I can bring confidence, drama, or something more relaxed depending on what the day needs from me.
Beauty Class: Do you remember when beauty first felt powerful to you?
Sarah: For as long as I can remember, as soon as I discovered makeup, I was obsessed. My best friend and I would go through all our mums' makeup, throw it all over ourselves, while listening to the Spice Girls. I remember wearing a lot of red lipstick as a teenager, I mean I still do!
Beauty Class: What's your current favourite red?
Sarah:Lisa Eldridge Strawberry Shock. It's a summer red and it's spectacular. I've actually just bought a second one because I finished the first, which I haven't done with a lipstick for a very long time.
Beauty Class: What are your current beauty essentials?
Sarah: Weleda Skin Food for sure, both light and original. I'm also very particular about eyeliner. I love putting dark liner under my lower lash line, and I need it to smudge but then stay, and the only one I've found that does that perfectly is the Lisa Eldridge Glide Eye Pencil. Also, I love the Skin Design London 30% Vitamin C serum.
Beauty Class: Any beauty rules you've completely broken?
Sarah: I never take a break from shellac on my nails. You’ll never see me without it. Also, I sunbathe as much as I can, but I wear SPF. I'm not interested in a life tucked away from the sun.
Beauty Class: What are you craving more of right now?
Sarah: I want to find a book that really inspires me. You know that magic feeling when you can't stop thinking about someone’s writing and the story becomes part of you, like when I first read The Outrun. I'm craving new projects that will make me dream big and pour all my energy into bringing them to the screen.
Beauty Class: What do you hope women take away from your story?
Sarah: I think finding your people in whichever industry you're in is vital. Of course, running a business or managing a large project demands immense tenacity, but the reason I've got here is because I've assembled an amazing team and network of collaborators. Talented lovely people who are as passionate and exacting as I am. Sharing the journey is the real joy.
Interview by Jacinta Ruscillo for Beauty Class
Photography by Lauren Leadbitter
Styling by Sidney Korboe
Makeup by Jacinta Ruscillo using Charlotte Tilbury
Sarah wears COS and & Other Stories.