She has a soft spot for animals, especially horses, having grown up watching her mother, a riding instructor in Liverpool. At fifteen, she contemplated becoming a dolphin trainer. An active sportswoman, she was part of the school team in netball, hockey and swimming. But it was winning the Ms Teen World contest and the Ms Liverpool crown that changed the course of Amy Jackson’s life.
For one who never thought of working in film, Jackson found herself taken on a new trajectory after Tamil director Vijay roped her in for his film Madrasapattinam. There has been no looking back.
Jackson, the new heartthrob in Tamil celluloid world with her upcoming film, I, is one busy bee.
The back-to-back schedules and challenges of working in a new industry amid a new culture and language seems to have left the child in her untouched. Her bright eyes speak before the words tumble out.
Did India ever figure in her dreams?
Jackson laughs loudly.
“Never as an actor,” she said emphatically, “though I did long to travel to India with friends someday, but not being a movie star here.”
In I she plays Diya, a model, who has her roots in Tamil Nadu. A Shankar film doesn’t come easy and the perfectionist moulded her into a Tamil woman.
“He wanted the demure look, not the confident look that I carry,” recalled Jackson.
“I had to work on my posture, my mannerisms and the way I speak. Everything had to be like a Tamilian girl. Shankar’s attention to tiny details is unbelievable.”
Not to forget the lengthy Tamil dialogues. For one shot she had to study two pages. Jackson has no regrets though and calls I a milestone in her career.
“When I signed the film I had just turned twenty. It has been three years of working under Shankar. I have grown.”
This is the second time she is paired opposite Vikram, after Thandavam. Praising her co-actor’s dedication and passion Jackson added, “He is incredible.”
Not wanting to spill more on her role, Jackson added Diya was a performance based character that called for intense emotions giving her an opportunity to push her boundaries.
Up next is a film with Udayanidhi Stalin and then another with Dhanush. She is also reading couple of scripts from Bollywood.
Yes, the Liverpool girl does miss her family, her horses and hanging out with friends. Her mother travels with her always though.
“She is my rock and my best support system,” said Jackson.
What Tamil words did she pick up?
Jackson loses no time in reciting a Tamil dialogue from I in her British accent. I can’t help smiling as I grasp the last line, “Dhool kalippithu Pol Irrukkuthu.”
