Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor 
British-born actor Delroy Lindo who will appear at Calabash this year.
BRITISH-BORN ACTOR Delroy Lindo will be a special guest at this year's Calabash International Literary Festival, scheduled to run from Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28, in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.
Lindo is no stranger to the island, as his Jamaican mother was among the first set of persons from the Caribbean to emigrate to England, and he still has relatives in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. It was during a visit here last August that the seeds were sown for him to return to participate in Calabash.
"I spent time at Treasure Beach and Justine Henzell, one of the organisers of Calabash, asked me if I would attend next time. I told her yes, if there was an appropriate reason for me to come and this is it," Lindo told The Sunday Gleaner.
READING
The actor will read a short story from the Calabash fiction writer's workshop collection Iron Balloons at this year's festival, and although he is not sure what he wants listeners to take away from the performance, he hopes they will see the humour in the story and be able to respond to it.
Having recently returned from performing in the London production of the play The Exonerated, Lindo said acting is in his blood. "Acting chose me," was his response to the question of why he chose to be an actor. He said he had no role models or family members to emulate, but ever since he acted in his school's nativity play at five years old he was hooked.
"And I have no regrets ... it's extremely difficult to maintain an acting career, but I've been fortunate and it's been rewarding," he said.
Many actors are usually asked whether they prefer working the stage or film. Lindo explained that there is no substitute for the connection with the audience; it's a difficult comparison, but when on stage the audience becomes a special part of the process.
DIFFICULT FOR BLACK ACTORS
Lindo told The Sunday Gleaner that it is difficult for black actors to get good roles, because there are more actors than there are projects available for them. "The more selective you are the more difficult it becomes to get work, so you have to become proactive," he said.
To that end he has purchased the rights to the book Damaged Goods, which he will adapt to a screenplay. It is his first such venture and he is optimistic. Lindo also has a television series that will start next month.
Recent memorable film roles include David Mamet's Heist, The Cider House Rules, Spike Lee's drama Clockers and Malcom X. On television Lindo will next be seen in Kidnapped, which will begin airing in the fall season.
The surprise along his career path was to think that in order to have an acting career one needed only to do good work. "I completely misread that; this industry is relationship-driven. I came to this realisation relatively late. It is not a meritocracy, you have to know everyone and they must know you," he said.
For aspiring actors Lindo had these words: "If there's anything else you are able to do and be happy do it, because show business can be harsh. If, however, you are called to be an actor and nothing else, follow the path, develop your craft and learn how to hear 'no' but keep moving ahead without letting anything stop you."
He would like to play the role of National Hero Marcus Garvey because of his incredible importance and it's a story that has world epic proportions, a lot of drama and represents a man with large presence.
