Amy Jackson

4.1. Debut and breakthrough in Indian cinema

Jackson's entry into the Indian film industry was serendipitous. In 2010, Indian film producers discovered her photographs on the Miss Teen World website and invited her to audition for Madrasapattinam, a Tamil period piece drama. Despite having no prior acting experience, she successfully secured the lead female role opposite Arya. The film, set in pre-Independence India, tells the story of a British Governor's daughter who falls in love with a local village boy. Jackson admitted that learning the Tamil dialogues for the role was a significant challenge.

Madrasapattinam was released on 9 July 2010, receiving critical acclaim and performing well at the box office. Jackson's performance was widely praised, with Sify noting, "It is an out and out Amy Jackson show. She is simply amazing to deliver lines in Tamil, and is one good reason to see the film." Behindwoods lauded her "beautiful portrayal of a lady torn between her love and the mighty empire," adding that "she looks absolutely beautiful, emotes well through her expressive eyes and is able to earn the sympathy of the audiences during tough times." Rediff also commented that she was "almost perfect as the wide-eyed young girl who is seeing India for the first time, fascinated by its culture." Her debut earned her a nomination for the Vijay Award for Best Debut Actress.

In 2011, Jackson was cast by Gautham Vasudev Menon as the female lead opposite Prateik Babbar in Ekk Deewana Tha (2012), the Hindi remake of the successful 2010 romantic drama film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. She portrayed Jessie, a Malayali Nasrani Christian character who falls in love with a Hindu boy, facing opposition from her father. The film was released in February 2012, and Jackson received praise for her performance and her on-screen chemistry with Babbar. BehindWoods stated that "she has done wonders," while The Times of India remarked that "she never disappoints."

Jackson returned to Tamil cinema in September 2012 with a supporting role in Thaandavam (2012), starring alongside Vikram and Anushka Shetty. Filming for Thaandavam took place in both India and London, allowing Jackson to visit her family and friends. This marked her second collaboration with director A. L. Vijay. She played the role of Sarah Vinayagam, a British-born Anglo-Indian girl who wins the Miss London title and even dubbed her own Tamil lines for the film. Her performance earned her her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Tamil at the 60th Filmfare Awards South ceremony.

She made her Telugu cinema debut in Vamshi Paidipally's Yevadu (2014), where she starred as Shruthi alongside Ram Charan and Shruti Haasan.

4.2. Major Indian film roles

In 2015, Jackson took on her biggest project to date, starring as supermodel Diya in Shankar's romantic thriller film, I. This film was one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, requiring over two and a half years for production, with a significant portion filmed in China. Released on 14 January 2015, I received mixed critical responses, but Jackson's performance garnered favorable reviews. Deccan Chronicle described her as "simply superb" and "another highlight of the film," noting her "mature performance." Sify called her "the biggest surprise packet in the film" and "perfect eye candy." As a result of her performance, she was ranked #1 in The Times of India, Chennai Edition's list of the most desirable women in 2014.

Following I, Jackson signed on for Prabhu Deva's Singh Is Bliing (2015), where she starred opposite Akshay Kumar. She had initially been cast in Venkat Prabhu's supernatural thriller Masss (2015) but later withdrew when the script and her character's role were altered. Instead, she joined the cast of Velraj's Thanga Magan (2015), featuring alongside Dhanush and Samantha Ruth Prabhu.

In 2016, Jackson starred in Thirukumaran's Gethu, portraying an Anglo-Indian girl, a role for which she received positive reviews. She then played the lead female role of Annie, a Malayali teacher, in Atlee's Theri, opposite Vijay. Her performance in Theri was well-received, and the film went on to become one of the most profitable Tamil films of all time. That same year, she also appeared in Freaky Ali, Devi, Abhinetri, and Tutak Tutak Tutiya, with special appearances in the latter three.

In 2018, Jackson starred as Sita in Prem's Kannada film The Villain, alongside Shiva Rajkumar and Sudeep. She also portrayed Nila, an andro-humanoid robot, in Shankar's highly anticipated film 2.0, co-starring Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar. After a five-year hiatus from acting, Jackson returned to film with Mission: Chapter 1 in 2024, playing the role of Sandra James. She also appeared in the Hindi film Crakk in 2024, portraying Patricia Novak.

4.3. International and television work

Jackson made her American television debut on 25 September 2017, when it was announced that she had been cast as Imra Ardeen in The CW's superhero drama series Supergirl. Her character first appeared in the third season of the series, which is based on DC Comics characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros Television. She continued in a recurring role through 2018.

Jackson also made her British film debut as Nimisha in Boogie Man (2018). She has also been involved in shooting a "gritty BBC drama series," though further details about this project have not been disclosed.

5.1. Fashion and media presence

Jackson is a regular attendee at prestigious events such as the BAFTA, Cannes Film Festival, British Fashion Awards, and various International Fashion Weeks. In 2017, she was chosen as the muse for L'Agence at The Green Carpet Fashion Awards during Milan Fashion Week. Her image has been featured in editorials for leading fashion magazines, including Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, and Hello!. She has also served as a brand ambassador for companies like Yardley of London and Ponds.

In 2017, Jackson, in collaboration with the New York-based company EscapeX, announced the launch of her official mobile application, "Amy Jackson Official App," providing fans with a glimpse into her life and projects. She also co-founded a restaurant in London with her mother.

5.2. Philanthropy and advocacy

Jackson is deeply committed to social causes and actively supports various charitable initiatives. She is a patron and spokesperson for several organizations, including the Sneha Sargar Orphanage for Girls, the Being Human Foundation, Cash and Rocket, St. Jude's Hospital in Mumbai, and the Girl Child education program in India.

A staunch vegan and animal rights advocate, Jackson has been an ambassador for PETA since 2016. In 2014, she participated in a PETA campaign, posing with her rescue cat to promote the adoption of animals from shelters. She also supports the Elephant Family organization in their mission to reduce human-animal conflict across Asia. Her humanitarian efforts were recognized in 2018 when she was honored with the United Nations' International Day of the Girl Child Award.

8.1. Film

8.2. Television