| Intro | Actress |
| Is | Actor |
| From | United States of America |
| Type | Film, TV, Stage & Radio |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 19 April 1975, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, British Overseas Territory, United Kingdom |
| Age: | 45 years |
| Star sign | Aries |
Desreta Jackson (born April 19, 1975) is a Virgin Islander actress, producer and entrepreneur. She is best known for her role as Young Celie in the movie The Color Purple.
Table of Contents
Early life and education
Jackson was born in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and immigrated to the United States at the age of nine. Her family settled in a skid row area of Los Angeles and her mother collected cans to support her. After two years, her mother found housing in South Central Los Angeles. After acting in a scene in a school play, she told her mother that she wanted to take drama classes. Her mother enrolled her in acting classes to keep her away from gang activity where they lived in California.
After landing various roles in television and movies, Jackson earned a degree in Directing from Los Angeles City College.
Acting career
Jackson’s career began after only a short time in acting school. She was at a casting call for the movie The Color Purple when she was spotted by Producer Reuben Cannon. She was called back for more casting calls after her first audition. She landed the role of Celie Harris, played by her (Young Celie) and Whoopi Goldberg (adult Celie Harris), who is forced to marry a wealthy young local widower (Danny Glover) who abuses her.
Jackson continued her career while landing roles in both television and film.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Self | 25 year reunion of cast from The Color Purple |
| 2008 | Creating Celebrity | Self / Producer | |
| 1992 | Sister Act | Teenage Girl | Minor Role |
| 1989 | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Appeared in episode 2 (Racial Matters) which aired on October 19, 1989. | |
| 1987 | Mighty Pawns | Lucy | Made for TV movie starring Rosalind Cash, Shawn Harrison, and Desreta Jackson. |
| 1985 | The Color Purple | Young Celie |
Theater
- Andie (1995)
- Alien Garden (1996)
- Carr, Jay (19 July 1987). “Purple Powerful”. The Boston Globe. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- “Film: “The Color Purple,” from Steven Spielberg”. NY Times. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- Bogle, Donald (1989). Blacks in American films and television: an encyclopedia. Fireside. pp. 61, 150. ISBN 0671675389.
- “THEATER REVIEW : A Funny Social Study at Theatre Center”. LA Times. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- “‘Alien Garden’ enthralls, disturbs”. The Gazette (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City). November 9, 1996. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
Personal life
Jackson is the founder of BlackSilk Products, a hair care product company that she launched in 2011. She began the business from home in 2002, making her own hair care products such as oils, hair treatments, as well as shampoos and conditioners.
Jackson is also actively involved in philanthropy and is said to have invested $1.1Million into rebuilding her community.
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