ALTHOUGH he is yet to be officially notified, actor Carl Bradshaw said he is extremely grateful to be selected for a national honour at King’s House in St Andrew come Heroes Day, October 16.

He will be invested with the Order of Distinction — Officer for his contribution to Jamaica’s entertainment industry.

“I was informed of the news by my peers after it was announced on the local airwaves,” Bradshaw told Jamaica Observer.

Still, he’s thankful for the gesture.

“As a Jamaican who has done most of my work in Jamaica, it is a great feeling to be honoured. Not a lot of persons are honoured by their country, so I am joyful that I was chosen,” he said.

Bradshaw has racked up an impressive list of acting credits. These include roles in The Harder They Come, Smile Orange, Dancehall Queen, Third World Cop, The Lunatic, Kla$h, Countryman, Club Paradise, The Mighty Quinn, One Love, and Better Mus’ Come.

Bradshaw’s talents are not only limited to acting. He represented Jamaica at the 1968 Central American and Caribbean Games in Cuba as a quarter-miler, and also participated in the 400-metre hurdles.

He said his journey into film was by chance.

“It wasn’t planned. When Perry Henzell came to Jamaica to film The Harder They Come, a teacher at Excelsior named Yvonne Jones asked me to tag along with her to a meeting with him. I wasn’t part of the meeting, I just accompanied her,” he said.

After meeting Henzell he was cast as an extra to play the role of Jose.

“It was originally suppose to be a few lines, but my role later progressed,” he said.

He then went to study film techniques at the Eugene O’Neill Foundation in New York.

“That’s how I got started. In 1968 when I began acting, I never knew that I would get such an honour. However, I am not surprised as everything I do to the best of my ability,” he said.

With more than four decades worth of film, it’s hard for Bradshaw to choose his favourite role, but lists The Harder They Come, Smile Orange and Third World Cop among his fans’ most memorable.

“The older generation will call me José for my role in The Harder They Come; Smile Orange fans will call me Ringo; and those from Third World Cop era will call me Oney,” he said.

Bradshaw offered a word of advice to aspiring actors.

“Try to market your craft. Become your character when acting, read your script, research and communicate with your producer,” he added.

The other arts and entertainment awardees are: Bunny Wailer (Order of Merit); Robert Russell (Order of Distinction — Commander class); Prof Keith Morrison (Order of Distinction — Commander class); Copeland Forbes (Order of Distinction — Officer rank); Rosina Moder (Order of Distinction — Officer rank); Carlos Malcolm (Order of Distinction — Officer rank); Lloyd Stanbury (Order of Distinction — Officer rank); Ferdinand “Bobby Little Bra” Gaynair (Order of Distinction — Officer rank); and Joseph “Josey Wales” Sterling (Order of Distinction — Officer rank).