Audrey ReidAUDREY Reid shot to stardom in 1997 when she made a compelling performance in the movie Dancehall Queen.
Today, more than three years later, she is still referred to by many as "the dancehall queen."
She, however, does not want to be typecast as a dancehall person.
"I'm an actress first and foremost, I am not a dancehall person," she said.
The forceful actress said she came from very humble beginnings and had no formal training in theatre.
The JCDC Festival Competition was one of the first places she exhibited her flair for acting while a student in primary school. She said her mother also saw her talent which flourished in the culture of Franklyn Town where she grew up.
"I was always an outgoing person," said Audrey," Mi mother have a saying say a puss bruk coconut inna mi eye, that's why me use to inna everyting" she said laughing heartily.
"Where I'm from in Franklyn Town, it's a stage, we would use our pastime to entertain each other. It was a big yard situation, we never had Nintendo and all that stuff in those times so we had to provide our own [entertainment]."
Audrey said she never thought that she would have achieved the success she has to date.
"It was something that I would secretly fantasise about. But to have come this far... no, didn't expect it!"
As a child Audrey didn't get much encouragement and things were made worse when she became pregnant while still a student at Vauxhall Comprehensive High.
"I was in school at the time...too young to even mention it."
She said she faced a lot of obstacles growing up but even when she became pregnant she always knew that she would overcome her situation.
"No one expected me to come out like this. I always felt that I would overcome. It was either modelling or acting and because of the pregnancy , no modelling, so I had to make the acting work," she said.
It was soon after she had her baby that she got involved in acting professionally.
"I was watching the production of Obeah Wedding which was being done near to where I lived in Franklyn Town and they were having some auditions. I auditioned and they said they would call me."
They did not call Audrey. In fact, they visited her house.
She was cast in the play and understudied for the part of a nurse. She was soon playing the lead role in Obeah Wedding as the actress who was playing the part had to leave the island. She attended the National LTM Pantomime in 1984-1985 and fell in love with it. The next year she performed in it
"To be in the Pantomime in those days was a big thing, it was something special, you know?,"
" Now... its not such a big thing anymore," she said, disappointed.
She auditioned for a part the following year and was successful. That was the only time she ever performed in a National Pantomime.
It was while working with the pantomime that she met Oliver Samuels, the man who she says, played a very integral role in boosting her career as an actress.
"Oliver was the one who believed in me," she said, "he did a lot for me and I respect him for that."
She said she took on roles in the plays Underwriters Undercover and Higglers.
After the pantomime, Oliver took her to England to do a show with him and the producer asked her to come back by herself.
She was cast in a play called Boops, she says this was where she got her big break in the acting business and soon everyone knew who Audrey Reid was.
"That's the play which gave me my name in England," she said.
However while working in England, tragedy struck. Her mother became ill.
She said she got a break from work and was able to return to Jamaica to see her mother.
Audrey, the "washbelly" of the family was very close to her mother.
"My mother worked really hard... it is since I have grown up and am able to bring things into perspective that I now realise that there were times when she was sick but would not stop working."
Audrey's mom died in November 1995.
Audrey, who says she is very devoted to Jamaica believes actors are ambassadors for their country.
"We actors are ambassadors for our country, I can't run, or deejay as such but I am very proud of what I can do for myself and my country... acting."
She says she wants to start her own theatre company in the future.
"Ah still young, vibrant and marketable" she said smiling.
"Our field is not like modelling where as soon as you start getting old they cut you. All when yuh inna wheel chair you can still get a part," she laughed.
She points out that acting is hard work and young persons thinking about a career in acting should bear this in mind and in the meantime get a job.
"The young people who want to get into theatre need to have another job, because theatre is not as vibrant as it used to be."
"As an actress/actor one has to be versatile, regardless of your background. Whatever role you are given you have to conquer it... you have to make it work."
"What you are looking at is the finished product when you see the films. Its hard work and dedication but if you are willing to make the sacrifice then go at it."
