By Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
TOTAL SUBMERSION into the ghetto girl character 'Nicey' in Basil Dawkins' 'What the Hell is Happening to Us Dear?,' has put the icing on Carole Makeda Solomon's acting career.
The 2003 Actor Boy 'Best Actress,' upstaged top class performers such as Faye Ellington, Karen Harriott, Bertina McCauley, Sabrina McDonald and Christine Bell, delivering a hat-trick to 'fast bowling' Director, Douglas Prout and handed a beacon to female actresses in western Jamaica.
"When I saw the names of stalwarts such as Karen Harriott and Faye Ellington, I thought to myself, this is quite a tall order, this is gonna be quite a feat to achieve," she told the Flair.
Although the character 'Nicey' is somewhat removed from who Makeda really is, she said she fell in love with the personality the first time she read the script.
"She expounds words of wisdom; she is worldly and wise and it was a challenge to reach deeply and literally get into her skin."
Actor Boy's 2002, 'Best Actor', Fabian Thomas, who has worked with Makeda, told the Flair, he gets goosebumps just watching her on-stage. "She is incredible, amazing and immensely talented."
He said the difference with Makeda is her ability to give, "some actors take, she gives."
And Actor Boy's 2001 'Best Actor' Lloyd B Smith's says he hopes that with the number of top awards the city now have under its belt, it will be an inspiration for locals to support local productions.
"When a Kingston production comes to Montego Bay, the venue is packed to capacity, it is unfortunate that audience turnout for plays produced here is not the same."
HUMILITY
A great admirer of Makeda's work, Smith, spoke of her humility and tremendous attitude towards working hard. "In the theatre we tend to have primadonna's, she is not one of them, she is a team player and a damn... good actress."
Makeda's passion for theatre and the performing arts started with her involvement in a community theatre group in her hometown, Wolverhampton, England. Her 20-year illustrious career includes the roles of writer, director, actress and dancer.
Her Jamaican parents will tell you that she has always been quite expressive throughout her childhood, "I was a different cut," she laughed as she reminisced about her youth days. Within seconds a look of sadness crept into her eyes as she reflected on her only brother who died in 1982. "Losing my brother was one of those things that catapulted me, spurred and inspired me to make the best of all the opportunities that come my way."
Living in a predominantly white society and fascinated with her African cultural heritage as a young woman, it came as no surprise to her family when she assumed the name Makeda during her tenure as a Radio Announcer at a United Kingdom radio station.
"At that time I was coming into my own in terms of identity, it was part of my evolution as a person," she said.
Added to her racial and cultural identity, she has recognised the integral role Jamaica has played in helping her to find her spiritual identity.
She moved here in 1995 with her parents. Her acting credits in Jamaica include, 'Rachel Robinson,' in David Heron's 'Against His Will,' 'Titta' in Basil Dawkins' 'Forbidden,' and Mama/Woman 2' and in Fabian Thomas' 'Voices.' Currently she plays the lead role in David Heron's 'Ecstasy,' at the Fairfield Theatre, Montego Bay.
Other lead roles include being mother of her two-year-old son Menelek and Branch Manager for NEM Insurance Company Jamaica Ltd., Montego Bay. Makeda's personal code of life is the holistic development and balancing of mind, body and spirit. "All else falls divinely in place," she says.
