Keith 'Shebadda' Ramsay (forefront) in a scene from the play, 'Bashment Granny'. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Keith 'Shebadda' Ramsay is known for his hilariously flamboyant roles.

Now being featured in the popular play, Bashment Granny, Ramsay now has Jamaica echoing the catch phrase, "Mi deh pan di borda line."

The border line of what many might ask. He said the role should not be taken seriously as he is only giving a very convincing performance.

"Yuh haffi understand seh a suh people stay. The reaction is mixed because not everybody ago want to si you mek it to di top," he said.

"People call mi all sort a name, Seh mi a gay and mi a dis, but I am making the money. Mi nuh watch dem. If dem seh you a suh, mek dem gwaan talk. People haffi sometimes haffi hate you before they love you."

In his role as Shebadda, Ramsay epitomises the Jamaican 'carry-guh-bring' stereotype who hustles to get exactly what he wants. Despite his current role, he said he does not want to people to take it for who he is. This is all in his quest to make to to the top.

Ramsay, orininally from Franklin Town in east Kingston and attended Clan Carthy High School, said his public acting was limited to church (New Testament) plays and the Area 4 Police Youth Club.

Public attention

Following his performance in the made-for-TV series, 'Comedy Buss', Ramsay started to receive public attention. But while he did not win the competition, he caught the eyes of Bashment Granny's co-star and writer, Garfield 'Trevor' Reid.

"A straight a Hollywood mi waah guh yuh know sir ... If Sheryl Lee Ralph can deh deh, why me can't deh deh too," he said.

Ramsays said of his acting skills: "Mi nuh need no practise sir. Me a natural. People ask me dat all di time, but where mi come from is a stage. Mi always deh pan stage."

With that said, he maintains he is only playing a character. In fact, he said he has "not one but many" girlfriends, with Keisha being the "one up there.

"God bless me wid dis yah talent and yuh can't mek people stop yuh. Dem can seh all dem want, I am making money, nuff money."

- A. J.