B. Jayashree

B. Jayashree (born June 9, 1950) is a veteran Indian theatre actor, director and singer, who has also acted in films and television. She is the creative director of Spandana Theatre, an amateur theatre company based in Bangalore, established in 1976.

She was nominated to the Upper house of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha in 2010. She was awarded the Padma Shri, fourth-highest civilian honour by Government of India in 2013.

Her grandfather was noted theatre director, Gubbi Veeranna, who founded the Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company.

Early life and background

She was born in Bangalore to Basavaraj and Malathamma, and later graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi in 1973, where she trained under noted theatre director and teacher Ebrahim Alkazi.

Career

Over the years, she was worked in notable theatre personalities, including B. V. Karanth. She has acted in Kannada films, like Nagamandala (1997), Deveeri (1999) and Care of Footpath (2006). She has also briefly remained the director of Mysore-based theatre institute, Rangayana.