Photo by Miikka Skaffari
Actress / Writer / Director

Having played minor roles in Singapore television for a couple of years, Jacintha Charles first breakthrough role was in the Singaporean smash hit comedy, "Army Daze", playing the lovable, loyal girlfriend, "Lathi". The film was based on the best-selling book and successful stage play of the same title written by noted Singaporean playwright, Michael Chiang. It remains the top grossing comedy film in Singapore of all time.

She took a break to focus on a writing career before making a comeback in a comedic stage play, 'While Stocks Last'. That was followed by her first leading role as 'Hawa Kaur' in the popular drama series, Perceptions. Her move to the United States in 2004 gave her the opportunity to study at the acclaimed American Conservatory Theatre. Slowly but surley, she started to work on film projects from up and coming directors in the bay area to acclaimed director, Wayne Wang.

In Dec 2008, with the help of the Singapore Film Commission, she wrote, acted and directed her first short film "Dreambox". It made its rounds at The Singapore International Film Festival in April 2009. She took a backseat from acting and directed her second story 'The Night Shift'in 2010 while studying film production at San Francisco's Digital Film Academy. She wrote and acted in her third short film, a noir called 'Betrayed' by the encouragement of her production partner cum husband, Miikka Skaffari, who ended up directing it as well. She wrote and directed her fourth short, The Dance, which was also supported by the Singapore Film Commission. It will be making its rounds in the festival circuit in the later part of the year.

Her acting, writing and directing projects have each helped her with either discipline in their own way. She has been working on her first feature script, 'Nightshifts' which she hopes to bring to the big screen sometime before her hair turns gloriously white.