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The sky is the limit for Multi-Award-winning Actress Extraordinaire
Audrey Reid
by Indi Mclymont-Lafayette, Journalist
For noted multi-award-winning actress Audrey Reid, 2024 was a great year for her as she
copped two major awards, the Queens of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremony (QORICHC) in
March 24, 2024 and the Order of Distinction (Officer Rank) in October.
But she is anticipating even greater things in 2025.
“The sky is the limit for me. The offers keep coming in and I am thankful,” said Reid, who is still
basking in her OD honour.
“I have had awards before this but when it is a national honour by your own country, it hits
differently,” she said.
The Story
Her previous awards include:
1998 Jamaica Observer All woman award For Top Female Achiever
1999 Jamaica’s Actor Boy Award for the Stage Play ‘When the Cats Away’
1999 Marcus Garvey Award for Best Caribbean Actress
2007 Inductee into the Jamaican Theatre Hall of Fame for Film, Stage and Television
2007 Award for contribution to Theatre by Sunshine Theatre Company, Florida
2012 Bigga High Achiever Award for Outstanding Performance in Film and Theatre.
These last two awards bringing the number up to eight awards that she has received to date.
The trailblazing actress is arguably best known for her roles in Jamaican blockbuster movies
such as Dancehall Queen and Third World Cop as well as Almost Heaven and Ghett’a Life.
Always intent on showing her versatility, she has also made her mark on the stage starring in
over twenty (20) productions such as Obeah Wedding, Boy Blue (UK and Ja), Guava Jelly,
Embassy Saga and Wicked Bitches. Initially though, the play that launched her career in England
and made her a household name was Bups, where she played the character, Vinette. Higglers
was also another popular play in the UK.
She was also a part of a recent production with Oliver Samuels and his team called Teet and
Tongue which toured the United States, England, several Caribbean islands including Jamaica.
“We had sold out shows all over – we had to take it to Canada twice,” said Reid.
For her, one of the biggest motivations is her fan-base and being able to bring them joy.
“It humbles me to know the joy my work brings to people. I am extremely humbled and
grateful,” said Reid while adding that she had to thank all the fans who have supported her over
the years. “I love meeting people and hearing them say that they were just watching one of my
plays or they might recite a line from a character that I play and we laugh,” said the actress,
who hails from Franklin Town in Kingston.
She explained that she credited all her awards and all that she had been able to achieve to he r
upbringing in that tough community with a strong no-nonsense mother, Gloria Hibbert.
“My strength comes from my mother – I learnt so much from her. I don’t remember her being
sick or tired,” she said. “(Because of her) I am motivated and inspired from within to ensure my
kids have a better life than I did.”
With all her kids now being adults, the mother of three is focusing on continuing to build her
career.
She says she has no plans to ease up on acting anytime soon. For her, acting is something that
she will be doing as long as she can.
“The good thing about theatre is that there is no age limit. So, I am not thinking about leaving
the stage any time soon. I am still young, and all my faculties are functioning so I will continue,”
said Reid, who enjoys cooking and going to plays and the movies when she has spare time. With
her OD, she is also now more resolute in playing her part as an Ambassador for Jamaica.
“We are ambassadors for our country, and we have to represent well,” she said.
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