Country girl lights up UK

There are, however, also scores of other Caribbean people who work in the performing arts in many other countries of the world. Often their climb to success makes for interesting stories. One of those stories is that of another Trini born personality, UK-based Jene Von Dacre.

Born in a humble home in Ste Madeline, Princes Town, Von Dacre has now made it big in the world of theatre and modelling in the UK, where she is a model/actress and TV host. She is now back home for holidays and staying at the home of her celebrity mother Girly Sahadeo (singer). Having spent 15 years in the UK, Von Dacre is now an established actress at West End Theatre in London and has also appeared in a number of advertisements for SKY TV in that country. “I left Trinidad with the aim of studying theatre and acting. I am happy to have gotten training from the best workshops in London and now I am comfortably earning a living from modelling and acting,” a proud Von Dacre told Sunday Newsday.

The very brilliant and beautiful Von Dacre is the face the UK-based audience looks for in the theatre series Summer Nights of Comedy and Twelve Angry Women. She has also appeared in the popular Vogue magazine and in advertisements for Winter Adventure by ABTA and Foster’s Beer. She has also conducted several interviews for Bespoke TV, a show co-directed by Peter Lippman, who has worked with many well known artistes, including the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springstein, Kenny G, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams and Michael Jackson. The list goes on, as Von Dacre was one of the celebrity judges in Miss England contest held in London earlier this year and also made the round at London’s Fashion Week. “You know many people leave this country in the hope of making it big as a model and actress or performer. I wanted to earn a living off acting and modelling. Being enormously famous did not bother me; as years role by I see scores of young people struggling for an opportunity to become famous and this humbled me to an extent that I wanted to be comfortable in life and make my mark by doing meaningful work,” Von Dacre said.She emphasised that life was meant for living and not trying to compete with the best in the business. Asked if there any opportunities which came her way because of her Trini roots, she answered, “Yes. Lots, as people could not tell right away whether I was from Africa or India. I just had baffled with my dark complexion and brown hair.”

She said she also believed foreigners fare well in the UK because of the diversity, noting as people from many countries choose to build lives there. She emphasised that there is a large percentage of Caribbean people, Africans and Indians living in the UK.
Von Dacre noted that growing up in south Trinidad had helped her career a lot, since it was an enriching experience to get a taste of the country life while at the same time being exposed to the bright city lights too, with soca shows and top class restaurants and even nightclubs and casinos in San Fernando.

“I learned from a young age to appreciate the different cultures, because this is what my country has taught me,” she said, adding that the diversity of the people here is unique and she is proud to be known as a “Trini”.

Of course, she said she looks forward to Nothing Hill Carnival every year when Trini soca stars arrive to perform in London
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“It is really a treat to see the English folk in their Carnival costuming, enjoying themselves to soca music,” Von Dacre said. Von Dacre admitted that her good looks and curvaceous figure is the result of a strict vegetarian diet and yoga.

“I can easily maintain my body weight, because I live a very busy life. Rehearsing to theatre, preparing to walk the ramp, searching for proper wardrobe and doing photo shoots daily,” she said, noting that life in London means fast-paced activities from morning to night.

“Even shopping can be quite an experience, as the malls contain thousands of boutiques and other businesses.”

Von Dacre said her all-time favourite movie is Orson Welles’ 1941 classic Citizen Kane, while The Rain Man, which starred Dustin Hoffman, also impacted on her life as a young actress.

While home in TT, she was asked to judge local cultural series Mastana Bahar, accepted the offer, and now other TV offers are coming in for her as she is in the spotlight in TT.

“Although I do not mind the attention from the local media, I wanted to keep a low profile while I spent quality time with my family,” she said, although admitting she does not shy away from the cameras and is always happy to talk about her experiences.