Grace Kelly, from Alaska and Brianne Fitzpatrick from Seattle, need your vote to progress in a prestigious RTÉ competition. Grace plays the lead role in “Hysteria” and Brianne plays one of the lead characters in “The Begrudgers”. The shows are two of eight different series which have been selected from hundreds of applicants to take part in RTÉ’s Storyland competition.

The American Idol style competition sees production teams produce a pilot for a web series and then face a public vote in order to make more episodes.  The competition will be available to watch and vote on from Monday the 13th of February on www.rte.ie/storyland.

Whether or not a second, third or fourth episode of both series get made is completely dependent on public votes. Voting for the first episode ends at 9pm on Sunday the 19th of February. The most voted for series will then be commissioned by RTÉ to make the next episode.

Hysteria is set in the not too distant future where a lethal virus has wiped out millions of people worldwide. Pregnant women are the carriers. With no known cure, containment is the only option. Pregnancy is now outlawed. Grace plays Alison, pregnant, vulnerable and on the run from the authorities.

Grace is hugely excited about the project, saying: “Being a part of Hysteria has been a great experience and one of the highlights of my career so far. I had such a great time filming and really hope we get enough votes to make more episodes ! – Fingers crossed for episode two”.

The Begrudgers follows two Irish men, who spend their life bemoaning everything and anything from the comfort of their favourite bar stools. Brianne plays Lucia, a foreigner who has just bought the pub and has big ideas to change it – something that doesn’t go down well with The Begrudgers. 

Brianne “can’t wait for the competition to begin, it was wonderful playing such a colourful character and I only hope we get enough votes so that I get the opportunity again”.

Grace has been acting from a very early age. She attended Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo and is involved in the Sonas Children’s Arts Festival which takes place in Louisburgh each year. She was an active member in DU Players Drama Society and DU Filmmakers Society Dublin, and attends the Dance Theatre of Ireland.

Brianne studied alongside Grace in Trinity College Dublin, with both girls graduating from the Drama and Theatre Department in 2009. Brianne had already trained and performed in a range of theatrical disciplines, including extensive improv training in Seattle. While studying in Trinity, Brianne became a founding member of the sketch comedy group The Mercer Island Rodeo, writing and performing sketches in the 5-person ensemble for three years.

Previous Storyland winners include ‘Hardy Bucks’ and ‘Zombie Bashers’, so Grace and Brianne, along with the rest of the team are each hoping their series will be just as successful.

Click here to watch and vote for 'The Begrudgers'

Click here to watch and vote for 'Hysteria'

Watch a clip from 'Hysteria' below:

Watch a clip from 'The Begrudgers' below: