Hillside actress Jasmine Purches will star in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and an upcoming feature film. 69388 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Alesha Capone
BORN into a family of performers, it was no surprise that Jasmine Purches became an actress, singer and dancer.
The young Hillside resident’s grandfather was a fire-eater in the circus, while her dad is a musician and singer.
“I grew up at gigs sleeping under chairs and things, which was a lot of fun,” she said.
“I first became interested acting during Grade 4, I was cast as Cinderella in a school play and since then I fell in love with performing.”
Ms Purches, 23, will soon star in a production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at NOVA Music Theatre in Nunawading from 21 October to 6 November.
She will also appear in a feature film called ‘Monster Pies’, set in the West and directed by Lee Galea, who grew up in the western suburbs.
“I love immersing myself into another character role, it’s kind of like playing dress-ups as a kid but you can continue it as an adult,” Ms Purches said.
She has also been in several short films, a Channel 31 program and been a national finalist in Miss Teen Australia and Miss Earth Australia.
“I got into modelling to make a statement at the time, to make an example for teenage girls and show you don’t have to be very thin or starve yourself to be a model,” Ms Purches said.
The talented young woman, who is also studying law and was chosen as the face of RMIT University’s Juris Doctor program this year, said she would love a career in both the justice system and as performer.
“I’d love to work in professional music theatre one day or as an actor on a television series, that has been my dream since I was a little kid,” she said.
