Cocktails With

Nadean Rawlins

Film-maker, actress and producer

Managing Director of RAW Management Ltd

President of the Jamaica Film and Television Association (JAFTA)

Style Observer (SO): How and why did you get into film?

Nadean Rawlins (NR): My foundation is in theatre, where I have been performing since 1996. Theatre gave me a deep love for storytelling, character, collaboration and the connection that happens between performers and an audience.

Over time, I wanted to do more within the creative space and to explore storytelling beyond the stage. A close friend introduced me to the world of film, and that opened up a whole new possibility for me.

I began film-making at 45, at a time when I had accumulated life experience, stories and questions that I wanted to explore. Film gave me another way to tell those stories and to contribute to the wider conversation about who we are as Jamaicans and Caribbean people.

SO: Do you remember the name of the very first film that you watched?

NR: The first film I remember watching was The Sound of Music. This was my mother’s favourite film, actually. I may not have understood every layer of it at the time, but I remember being completely taken by the experience of being transported into another world of make-believe.

SO: What kind of impact did it have on you?

NR: I do not think I understood the film completely at the time, but I loved the music, the children and the whole sense of wonder around it. There was a magic to sitting in the Odeon Theatre and being transported into another world. I think that feeling stayed with me, the idea that a film can make you laugh, sing, feel deeply and imagine a life beyond your own.

SO: Tell us about your role as Mercy in Possession. Were you confident when you read for it that you would be successful?

NR: Mercy is a character who carries presence, history and a great deal beneath the surface. Mercy is bold, sharp-tongued with a complicated past and a deep connection to her family’s spiritual traditions. Beneath her tough exterior is someone carrying more than she lets on. What I loved about playing her was the opportunity to find the quiet details, the things that are not always said directly, but which an audience can feel.

I never take a role for granted. I went into the audition process prepared and committed, as all actors should. But casting is never only about talent; it is also about chemistry, instinct and what the creative team sees for the world they are building. I was hopeful, of course, but I was also genuinely grateful when Storm called me to say I got the role. To work with such a strong cast and a great director was a real gift.

SO: What was it like watching yourself on-screen Saturday in a packed auditorium of your peers, government officials and up-and-coming creatives?

NR: It was emotional and very affirming. Seeing the work on a big screen is always special, but sharing that moment with peers, government officials, young creatives and people who care deeply about Jamaican storytelling made it even more meaningful.

It reminded me that a production is never just about one actor or one person. You are seeing the work of writers, directors, cinematographers, designers, crew, fellow actors and so many people coming together to create something larger than themselves. I felt proud, grateful and excited about what this moment represents for Jamaican talent and Jamaican stories on an international platform.

SO: What, to date, has been your most challenging role as an actress?

NR: My most challenging role to date was Lilian Martin in Departure in the Dark, a stage play written by Jamaican Samuel Hillary and directed by Dr Brian Heap for University Players in 2013.

Lilian was an 80-year-old socialite who had fallen from grace. She was harsh, complicated and not always likeable, but I still had to find her humanity and understand what had made her who she was. She wanted to hold on to a world that was changing around her, while facing ageism, illness and the loss of the status she once had.

It was a difficult role emotionally and physically, but I loved it. It pushed me as an actress because I had to resist making her simply unpleasant. I had to find the woman underneath the hardness. That performance earned me the Actor Boy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and it remains one of the roles I am most proud of.

SO: Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that film is the next frontier for the country. What say you?

NR: I agree that film has the potential to be one of Jamaica’s most important frontiers, but only if we treat it as more than entertainment. Film is culture, employment, tourism, education, export and nation-building. It allows us to own our stories and share them with the world on our own terms.

Jamaica has extraordinary talent in front of and behind the camera. We have globally recognised music, culture, language, locations and stories. The opportunity is there, but we need consistent investment, training, policy support and access to funding so that the industry can grow sustainably and create real employment across the sector.

SO: What else needs to happen for Jamaica to be seen in the same light as Bollywood and/or Nollywood?

NR: Both are powerful industries because they built systems that reflect their own cultures, audiences and realities. Jamaica should have that same ambition, but our goal should be to build a strong Jamaican and Caribbean screen industry that is distinctly our own. That means more sustained investment in local development and production; stronger incentives for international productions to come here while creating meaningful opportunities for local practitioners; training across every department; support for writers, producers and directors; better access to distribution; and stronger protection for intellectual property.

We also have to grow audiences who value and support Jamaican stories. The talent is here. The stories are here. What we need is the infrastructure, investment and long-term belief to match them.

(Photo: Karl Mclarty)

SO: Were you able to assemble a dream film crew, who would they be?

NR: I feel fortunate because, since making films in 2020, I have completed six short films and have already begun building a core team of people I trust creatively. That relationship is very important to me. My director of photography, Gareth Corbran, and I have developed a strong understanding of each other’s approach, and I look forward to making many more projects with him.

I would also love to work with Bradford Young. I admire the depth, texture and emotional intelligence in his cinematography. As a director, I am excited about continuing to work with the incredible actors we have here in Jamaica, including Shantol Jackson, Sakina Deer, Maylynne Lowe, Jean-Paul Menou, to name a few.

I am currently developing what feels like a dream project for me,
Fallen Angel,
Devil Concubine, and I am grateful to have an excellent Jamaican producer, Analisa Chapman, on that journey with me. For me, a dream crew is not only about big names. It is about working with people who are talented, collaborative, generous and committed to telling the story truthfully.

SO: And where would your dream shoot location be?

NR: My dream shoot location would be wherever the story takes us. Jamaica has so much to offer beyond the familiar postcard images. There are the Blue Mountains, the coast, the rural interior, old colonial houses, inner-city Kingston, small towns, rivers, cane fields and places that hold layers of memory and history.

Mixologist Sheldon Spencer serves up a freshly crafted Appleton Rare Ginger to Nadean Rawlins. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

I want to put the Jamaica we know on-screen in all its complexity and beauty. The locations should not simply be a backdrop; they should feel like part of the story and part of the character of the film.

SO: Shifting gears now, how would you best describe your fashion style?

NR: My style is modern, relaxed and polished, with a bit of edge. I love clean lines, strong statement pieces and clothes that feel confident without trying too hard. I like fashion that is forward and practical enough for my life but still has personality.

SO: Were you able to walk the Hollywood red carpet, which design label would you choose to wear and why?

NR: I would choose Original Flower Child. I love her sense of drama, femininity and individuality in her designs. For a Hollywood red carpet, I would want to wear something that feels bold and memorable, but still me, elegant, modern and with an edge.

SO: Who would do your make-up?

NR: Definitely Oneil Baugh! What a talented MUA! He understands make-up and what works for his client and the event. With Oneil, he knows what great red-carpet make-up should look like: Luminous and ready for the cameras.

Appleton Rare Ginger 2 oz Appleton Estate 12-Year -Old Rare Casks Rum 4 oz ginger beer Garnish w/ a ginger fan .

SO: Heels or flats?

NR: Sneakers! I tore my Achilles tendon in 2020, and since then I have become a serious sneaker person. Comfort is important to me now. But, of course, if the occasion calls for heels, I can absolutely rise to it.

SO: A night in or out?

NR: A little of both. I enjoy a good night out with great food, music and friends, but I also really love being at home, relaxing and spending time with my dog, Victor Bear. With my busy schedule, home is often my favourite place to be these days.

SO: What’s on your Netflix watch list?

NR: I love character-driven dramas, psychological thrillers and true-crime documentaries. I recently rewatched
Ozark, which I still love, and Breaking Bad remains one of my all-time favourites. I am always drawn to stories with complicated characters, high stakes and strong writing.

SO: What’s your go-to Appleton cocktail?

NR: Appleton Estate 12 with ginger beer, lime and plenty of ice, refreshing, a little spicy and not too sweet.

SO: What are your handbag essentials?

NR: My phone, charger and my fan. I am now in menopause, so I absolutely cannot leave home without my fan!

SO: What’s your summer go-to fragrance?

NR: Versace Yellow Diamond. It is fresh and elegant, perfect for me. Been my go-to fragrance for over 10years!

SO: Finally, what’s your personal credo?

NR: Do not wait for permission to take up space. Build the room, tell the story, and bring others with you.

Nadean Rawlins plays the character Mercy in Possession.