“When you go on a stage never act, become.”

This advice from local stage and screen legend Leonie Forbes has become a mantra for up-and-coming actress Shantol Jackson. The 23-year-old, who is becoming one to watch in local film, television and theatre, can currently be seen in playwright Dahlia Harris’

Country Wedding, and has two films — Sugar and Sprinter — which are currently doing the circuit.

Jackson’s journey has been filled with challenges, but she was always one to see the positives. Growing up in Portmore, St Catherine, she lived with her father and stepmother and was always a timid child, but it was while attending Southborough Primary School, that her artistic abilities were recognised.

“I started doing music and speech. I had two teachers in grade 4 and 5 who taught us folk songs and how to play instruments, so I did that every lunch time. I entered the first staging of Miss Southborough and won Best Talent for a poem I did written by my grade 5 teacher. I also won the competition. The passion was there but not yet developed,” she said.

It was at Ardenne High School where Jackson honed her affinity for drama.

“You could always find me in the drama room with Suzanne Beadle. That’s when the flames engulfed me I would say. I started writing and entered JCDC and won medals. It became a part of me instead of just a co-curricular activity,” she told the

Jamaica Observer.

Her break into mainstream and commercial theatre came by happenstance at the age of 19 in Harris’ Thicker than Water. Replacing a sick friend on set, Jackson was called out by Harris to learn the lines when she needed a new actress.

“She knew I acted in high school. I went to Miss Beadle and she helped me out. Aunty Dahlia also helped me and was impressed. She would say I move like a crab because I was timid. I was amongst professional actresses and a bigger audience; not just my peers but people who are paying their money. I had to break out of the shyness and relax.”

Jackson would go on to work with Harris in 2015 for God Guh Wid Yuh and in 2016 for Same Difference.

Her most memorable moment was working in film with playwright Patrick Brown. There she learned how to transition from theatre to film through a yet-to-be released project and a 10-minute skit called The Bucket List.

Her other works include the American monologue She is inspired by Forbes, Harris, Glen Campbell, Will Smith, Eva Green and Meryl Streep but reveres one particular actress.“Viola Davis will be my mother in a movie one day. I really want to work with her. Cicely Tyson will play my grandmother.”Her ultimate goal is to give back to the theatre community and add to cultural development. “I want to be my best at telling stories. I believe in giving a voice to the voiceless. Then I can say I did a job well done. A lot of students don’t want to be a doctor or lawyer, but there are not enough facilities for students who want to do the arts. I want actors to be able to say that this is their 9-5 without having to get a second job,” she said.

Her other works include the American monologue Mountain Top andSprinter, the latter a short film directed by Storm Saulter now being shown at the Miami Film Festival. Jackson also acted in Sugar written by Sharon Leach and directed by Michelle Serieux, a project which further challenged her to step out of her comfort zone.

She is inspired by Forbes, Harris, Glen Campbell, Will Smith, Eva Green and Meryl Streep but reveres one particular actress.

“Viola Davis will be my mother in a movie one day. I really want to work with her. Cicely Tyson will play my grandmother.”

Her ultimate goal is to give back to the theatre community and add to cultural development.

“I want to be my best at telling stories. I believe in giving a voice to the voiceless. Then I can say I did a job well done. A lot of students don’t want to be a doctor or lawyer, but there are not enough facilities for students who want to do the arts. I want actors to be able to say that this is their 9-5 without having to get a second job,” she said.