Grad Talks Acting With Drama Classes

Last week actress Jaclyn Bethany visited Prep’s drama class to share her experiences working in the acting industry.

Jaclyn loved acting from the time she could walk and talk. Her dream as a child was to play Annie on Broadway. Unfortunately, that was not her parents plan for her; they believed she needed to get an education first. Jaclyn grew up here in Jackson, MS and went to St. Andrews for middle school where she met Mr. Kenneth McDade, who is now Prep’s drama teacher.

In eleventh grade, Jaclyn switched to Prep and participated in all of the musicals and plays. After she graduated in 2007, she spent two years at Millsaps where she started a theatre program. Halfway through college she transferred to Fordham University in New York City to finish her studies.

After she graduated in 2012, she was not quite sure what she wanted to do. She spent a year working in the fashion industry as a stylist but was drawn back to acting and directing.

Recently, Jaclyn was in Tate Taylor’s “Get On Up,” which is said to be a major Oscar contender. Right now she is about to start filming a short film, “Olivia Martha Ilse.” She is not only one of the main stars in it, but she is also the writer and director. We asked her how she learned how to do all of this, and she said, “You can teach yourself a lot by researching yourself.”  At only 25 years old, Jaclyn Bethany has a great career ahead of her.