Thushari Jayasekera is a Sri Lankan-American actress, performer, and writer.
Contents
Biography
Jayasekera is an American actress of South Asian origin. She was born in Sri Lanka, then moved with her parents to the United States, and grew up in California.
She was always drawn to performing and writing. 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 writes little solutions. She has acted in independent films such as The Yal Devi and Man Without a Head. She has appeared in American and Sri Lankan-American stage productions, including as a female lead in the dramas Parasthawa and Doopatha, presented by the Drama Circle of California.
Jayasekera has created several independent projects for public broadcast like Original Recipe, a variety show with skits, interviews, and music. SHe also created Jelly Noose, a blog that delivers non-urgent news around town with a Sri Lankan American flavour. She launched a mini-zine titled Apsara which highlights the South Asian community.
Currently, she writes and performs original performance arts pieces using words, dance and movement. A well known piece is one in which 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. She is known for her acting, volunteering, community outreach work and outspokenness.
Her breakthrough role in prime-time television was Pinky on NBC Universal network's sitcom Outsourced from 2010 to 2011.
Activities
Jayasekera volunteered with Rain Bird Corporation to decorate their Rose Parade floats. 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 US. She was invited to entertain at a local Housewives Association's Annual Christmas Event. "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 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..." She participates in rallies to create awareness for fair labor practices for unions.
Highlights
Featured in the Shine on Hollywood Magazine, May 2013
Named an ambassador for Rainforest Rescue's Lanka Conservation programs, April 2013
Film and television
Moonbound24, 2016 Doughboy Films (BabyLoon)
Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23, 2011 ABC, FOX (executive assistant)
The Original Recipe 2006 (creator)
Audiobooks
Love Marriage: A Novel, 2012, Audible Inc.
Stage plays
2009 Ramayana - adapted for children
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)
Presenter
Golden Raspberry Awards 2016
Golden Raspberry Awards 2015
Golden Raspberry Awards 2014
Golden Raspberry Awards 2013
Golden Raspberry Awards 2012
Web series/webisodes
Moonbound 24
Hollywood Wasteland
Double Cross
Performance art, sketch, animation, dance and movement
Jayasekera creates her own performance arts pieces and creates experimental mini story
projects online.
Girl on the Sidewalk
Laila Light
Buzz Killers
The Biachchi Show
Jelly Jam
Kundumani-Dance & Movement
Tears in the Rain
Talk It Out
