It is always inspiring to hear of someone who always knew what they wanted to do in their life. So many of us follow the path that we are given, others cut the path that wish tread. Trailblazers such as this are often hard to find, but these hard working, driven souls often prosper by daring to dream and making those dreams a reality.
Jamie Bernadette is one of these people. Making strides in the entertainment industry has been her life long goal and her determination mixed with her abundance of talent has seen her rise quickly to become one of the industries most sought after actresses.
Born Jamie Bernadette Watkins in Kankakee, Illinois, a small town south of Chicago, she was the youngest of 9 children. Jamie was dreaming about being on the big screen since a child of about age 5. She watched movies repeatedly and acted out the scenes, mimicking the actresses she loved. Jamie began acting in Community Theater productions at about age 10 and did some theater in high school as well. Jamie came to a crossroads in her life when she had the choice to stay in her beloved hometown, settle down and get married, or venture out to Los Angeles where dreams of acting awaited her. Most everyone in her small town married and had children at a young age so to do anything but was quite a shock to her friends and family. Jamie came to the decision to try out Hollywood and left with $600 in her pocket and drove across the country by herself.
Her very first acting credit was in the third episode of HBO's TV show "Tell Me You Love Me", in which Jamie played a dancer. This earned her SAG (Screen Actors Guild Union) card. The series revolved around the lives of three couples, all having intimacy issues in their relationships and the therapist they seek advice from who has issues of her own.
After that it was non-stop for Jamie as she went on to act in commercials, films and television shows. Her first movie role was in the 2008 Thriller Son of Sam, based on the story of the titular serial killer that stalked New York in the 1970's. The movie was directed by Ulli Lommel who Jamie would go on to work with on further projects, Absolute Evil and Nightstalker.
Over the following years more substantial parts started heading Jamies way as her star began to rise. Larger supporting roles and leads in such films as MILF, Justice on the Border, Steampunk Samurai Biker Chick and Manhaters all helped to cement her growing reputation as a talent to be reckoned with.
Many of Jamie's projects have become fan favourites and received cult status. A fine example is "All Girls Weekend". Written and directed horror auteur Lou Simon, the movie centers around a group of girlfriends who find themselves in the middle of a forest surrounded by a mysterious force intent on picking them off one at a time. Jamie plays Nancy, a plucky young lady at the heart of the group who must deal with the horror around her and try and survive what has become the weekend from hell.
The title of scream queen is often linked to Miss Bernadette. Her work in the horror genre often sees Jamie at her captivating best. Her leading role in the horror film "The 6th Friend", which she also produced and co-wrote, has garnered her many Best Actress awards on the film festival circuit and the film has also won many Best Feature Film awards. The film looks to be released in 2018. She is also the lead in the much-anticipated sequel to one of the most notorious films ever made, the original 1978 film "I Spit on Your Grave". The sequel is titled "I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà Vu" and boasts the return of the original director Meir Zarchi and actress Camille Keaton.
Jamie has many more up coming projects in the works including The Furnace, a drama directed by award winning director Darrell Roodt. As lead, Jamie plays Mary a young woman who's life is in turmoil after a tragic accident. She and her husband were in a car crash leaving Mary with a collapsed lung and causing the death of her husband. She accepts the help of a stranger who encourages her to take up her passion for running and trains her to push her boundaries despite her handicap. It is a story of self belief, healing and friendship.
If we are to take anything away from this success story it should be to always follow your dreams. We are all capable of making them come true. Jamie and her work is evidence that with talent, hard work and a singular vision any thing is possible.
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