Thushari Jayasekera
Encyclopedia
Thushari Jayasekera is a Sri Lankan American
actress, performer, and writer.
. She was born in Sri Lanka
and raised in the U.S. state of California
. (In a broader sense of ethnicity she belongs to the South Asian-East Indian Americans category with an
American attitude with traditional cultural style.) Thushari was drawn to performing and writing from elementary school. She wrote skits and monologues for herself and friends to perform. She wrote and still writes poetry and questions serious situations in the world and write on little solutions. She has acted in independent films such as the Deep Sleeper, and in American & Sri Lankan American Stage productions including a role as one of the female leads in the dramas Parasthawa & Doopatha presented by the Drama Circle of California(SLADCC).
After her determination and persistence in the Los Angeles
entertainment industry, she qualified to join a performer's union,and became a member of SAG. Currently she is an AFTRA member.
She has created several independent projects for public broadcast like the Original Recipe which is a variety show with skits, interviews, and music as well as Jelly Noose. Now Jelly Noose is a blog that delivers non-urgent news around town with a Sri Lankan American flavor. Recently she launched a mini-zine titled Apsara which highlights information in the South Asian Community. Currently, she writes and performs original performance arts pieces using words, dance and movement. A well known piece is where she uses actual rain as a metaphor She, also, writes poetry and short stories. She is an announcer/emcee at festivals and events in Southern California
and brings her personal style to hosting a show. She is best known for her good acting work, volunteering, community outreach work and outspokeness.http://current.com/items/89779695/thushari_j_firmly_questions_the_sag_board.htmhttp://current.com/items/89837265/sag_awareness_near_oscars.htm
Her breakthrough role is the role of Pinky on NBC's television sitcom Outsourced.
Corporation to decorate their Rose Parade float
from 1999-2006. In 2003, her suggestion "Water Wonderland" was picked for the title of that year's award winning float. In November 2006, she visited Sri Lanka for the first time after living in the USA, and felt love for the land and the people. She was invited to entertain at a local "Housewives Association's Annual Christmas Event" where they help others come up in society. "Even though I was not a Mrs. yet, I was invited to be Mrs. Clause and announce/emcee at the event. I was recommended by a lady who has seen me act in a play in the U.S., I was really excited and it was so cool. Also, interacting with people who live life in Lanka helped me understand their condition a little better, I talked(in broken sinhalese) to anyone who would talk to me from the 3 wheeler drivers, security guards, students, soldiers on leave, store clerks, and the potential of the country is tremendous, only if they choose to exercise that potential..." Also, through a friend of the family, she was invited to participate in a segment of the Iraj Show. She participates in protests and rallies to create awareness for fair labor practices for unions.
projects online.
Articles
2011
2010
At Events
Sri Lankan American
Sri Lankan Americans are Americans of Sri Lankan descent. Sri Lankan Americans are persons of Sri Lankan origin from various Sri Lankan ethnic backgrounds who are born or raised in the United States or are naturalized citizens of the U.S. They incorporate American values into their lives and...
actress, performer, and writer.
Biography
As a child, she moved with her parents and was raised in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She was born in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and raised in the U.S. state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. (In a broader sense of ethnicity she belongs to the South Asian-East Indian Americans category with an
American attitude with traditional cultural style.) Thushari was drawn to performing and writing from elementary school. She wrote skits and monologues for herself and friends to perform. She wrote and still writes poetry and questions serious situations in the world and write on little solutions. She has acted in independent films such as the Deep Sleeper, and in American & Sri Lankan American Stage productions including a role as one of the female leads in the dramas Parasthawa & Doopatha presented by the Drama Circle of California(SLADCC).
After her determination and persistence in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
entertainment industry, she qualified to join a performer's union,and became a member of SAG. Currently she is an AFTRA member.
She has created several independent projects for public broadcast like the Original Recipe which is a variety show with skits, interviews, and music as well as Jelly Noose. Now Jelly Noose is a blog that delivers non-urgent news around town with a Sri Lankan American flavor. Recently she launched a mini-zine titled Apsara which highlights information in the South Asian Community. Currently, she writes and performs original performance arts pieces using words, dance and movement. A well known piece is where she uses actual rain as a metaphor She, also, writes poetry and short stories. She is an announcer/emcee at festivals and events in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and brings her personal style to hosting a show. She is best known for her good acting work, volunteering, community outreach work and outspokeness.http://current.com/items/89779695/thushari_j_firmly_questions_the_sag_board.htmhttp://current.com/items/89837265/sag_awareness_near_oscars.htm
Her breakthrough role is the role of Pinky on NBC's television sitcom Outsourced.
Activities
She has volunteered with Rain BirdRain Bird
Rain Bird Corporation is a large privately held manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, based in Azusa, California.-History:...
Corporation to decorate their Rose Parade float
from 1999-2006. In 2003, her suggestion "Water Wonderland" was picked for the title of that year's award winning float. In November 2006, she visited Sri Lanka for the first time after living in the USA, and felt love for the land and the people. She was invited to entertain at a local "Housewives Association's Annual Christmas Event" where they help others come up in society. "Even though I was not a Mrs. yet, I was invited to be Mrs. Clause and announce/emcee at the event. I was recommended by a lady who has seen me act in a play in the U.S., I was really excited and it was so cool. Also, interacting with people who live life in Lanka helped me understand their condition a little better, I talked(in broken sinhalese) to anyone who would talk to me from the 3 wheeler drivers, security guards, students, soldiers on leave, store clerks, and the potential of the country is tremendous, only if they choose to exercise that potential..." Also, through a friend of the family, she was invited to participate in a segment of the Iraj Show. She participates in protests and rallies to create awareness for fair labor practices for unions.
Film and television
- Apartment 23
- Outsourced, NBC 2010-2011
- Secret Lives of Dorks
- Man Without A Head
- Yal Devi released March 2009
- the Original Recipe 2003-2006
- the Deep Sleeper 2005
Stage Plays
- 2009 Ramayana-adapted for the kids
- 2008-Sketch Comedy
- 2007-Doopatha
- 2006-Dolige Sihinaya,
- Stye of the Eye(Durang Durang) with the Actor's Collective at the Underground Theater,
- Duty First
- 2005-Parasthawa, Muwan Pellessa(stage drama in Los Angeles)
Performance art, dance and movement
She creates her own performance arts pieces and creates experimental mini storyprojects online.
- Kundumani-Dance & Movement
- Tears in the Rain
- Talk It Out
External links
- http://outsourced.maxupdates.tv/pinky-thushari-jayasekera/ Good Actress
- http://srilankafoundation.org/news/2009/03/02/talking-movies-with-sri-lankan-american-actress-thushari-jayasekera/ Talking Movies with Sri Lankan American Actress Thushari by Nishantha Wickramasinghe
- http://current.com/items/89837265/sag_awareness_near_oscars.htm Creating SAG awareness near Oscars 2009
- http://current.com/items/89695134/c_news_personal_glimpse_of_a_pod_vid_maker.htm Artistic Video Pod Framing
- http://jellynoose.blogspot.com/ Jelly Noose
- http://www.angelfire.com/film/livejelly/minizine.html Apsara
- http://www.angelfire.com/my/apsara/raindance.html Rain Dance
- http://www.poetry.com/user/thushari-jayasekera/7824829/ Poetry
- http://srilankantube.com/item/51V6SHCKRGQT56M1 Rose Parade
Articles
2011
- http://www.sandy-lo.com/meet-pinky-from-nbcs-outsourced-played-by-thushari-jayasekera/ on Starshine Mag and Sandy-Lo.com
2010
- http://www.hollywoodactorprep.com/blog/2010/09/ethnic-actor-type-background-open-call-becomes-series-acting-role-on-nbcs-outsourced/ at Hollywood Actor Prep/Dana Kaminski
At Events
- http://diversitynewspublications.com/2011/01/actress-thushari-jayasekera-attends-the-second-annual-tasty-awards Tasty Awards Diversity News/Examiner
- http://diversitynewspublications.com/2011/01/actresses-tish-roberts-and-thushari-jayasekera-to-attend-david-harrison-levi-grammy-birthday-extravaganza at Birthday Party