SHEBA takes on HOLLYWOOD
Artiste pursuing acting
She’s widely known as dancehall artiste Sheba, but she’s working to be known as Tasheba Campbell, an actress with credits in movies by Hollywood giants Steven Spielberg, Stephen Sommers and Tyler Perry.
To this end, Sheba has spent the past few months navigating the film industry in the US.
“I went to LA, but it’s not as easy as they make it look on TV,” Sheba told
THE STAR. “I even tried venturing into voice acting, too, through agents for cartoons and animated series because I can do different accents and voices. So if I can’t make it in the actual film world, I’m going to do voice-overs … . It’s kinda like sending out résumés, so I’m still waiting for something to come back to me. I was about to start a mini acting class before I returned to Jamaica, so when I return to the States before year end I’ll pick up on that. ”
This interest isn’t new. Sheba, 37, said her dream career was rooted in film and theatre while attending the then Spanish Town Comprehensive High School in St Catherine.
“I was an A-student in drama and always the main writer, coordinator and lead actress in our productions,” she shared. “I’ve wanted to do this since I was smaller, which is why I was surprised that mi end up inna music. It was either acting, dancing, or hairdressing, which I still basically do, but music was never in my train of thought.”
After making a successful entry into music in 2009, Sheba said she tried to use the space to get her foot in the film and theatre industry.
“I tried to get links, but sometimes people blow you off and give you the runaround, so mi never get to actually go on a set or talk to anybody like that,” she said. “I think I sent some DMs to Stages Productions, mi nuh know if dem see it or read it. Mi did really want a role in Me and Mi
Kru, never got it. I was also busy at that time with music, so mi did haffi put that aside and focus on music.”
She was able to integrate her acting skills in music videos like You and
Him Deh, one of several collaborations with Vybz Kartel. She hopes to one day put these skills to use alongside stars like Keanu Reeves, Taraji P. Henson, Chris Hemsworth, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Kevin Hart.