‘No regrets’ - Actress Pauline Stone celebrates 80th birthday in style

The call to Pauline Stone Myrie's 80th birthday celebration at  Pompano Beach in South Florida arrived many weeks ago by way of a glittering black, gold and white evite. After studying it, one knew immediately this was a not-to-be-missed milestone celebration, one that Pauline wanted to keep small and intimate between family and close friends. 

The riveting gathering last week Saturday ran from sunset to midnight, and it was fully loaded throughout with sensational flashbacks on the life and career of a powerful and indelible pillar on the Jamaican entertainment landscape. 

Party guests were treated to moving tributes from family members and longtime friends. Classic Jamaican oldies music and a spirited live performance from singer Hal Anthony, plus mouthwatering Jamaican dishes and hysterically funny tidbits, from Pauline Stone Myrie herself made the night unforgettable.

 Rip-roaring belly bottom laughter erupted when Stone Myrie related how she fell “braps” from a june plum tree as a young girl. She continued with recounting how she met and fell in love  with her soul mate, lover, confidante and husband of 43 years, Curtis Myrie. 

But the jaw-dropper for the evening was a viewing of Pauline's first film project from 60 years ago, Life with the Littles,  a half hour clip that revolved around the shame and uneasy moments that came with widespread illiteracy across Jamaica, and the efforts to introduce an adult literacy programme, JAMAL,  to alleviate the crisis.  

The iconic Jamaican actress certainly has an abundance of proud times to remember.  She has done nine LTM pantomimes, playing alongside greats, such as Ranny Williams and Louise Bennett. Some of her most memorable moments in theatre were roles in The Rose Slip, Mother Courage, Stanley Fay Pularchie and P and In The Beautiful Caribbean. As far as films go, Pauline Stone Myrie most enjoyed Cool Runnings and Dancehall Queen. 

Pauline's dazzling career in acting started shortly after graduating from Montego Bay High School in the ‘Second City’, and relocating to Kingston for university. ‘She connected with Lennie Little-White, also from St. James, for the production of 'The Golden Necklace' directed by Little-White. 

The production was entered in the Adult Drama Festival and Pauline won the award from Best Supporting Actress. That was her theatrical take-off tarmac and she never stopped flying onstage and in movies in the decades that followed. 

"I have reached a milestone in my life and looking back, I have no regrets," the tall and sharp-witted West Indies cricket fan stated. "I feel grateful that my granddaughter Tracey Stone planned this wonderful celebration and I am eternally thankful too to my family members and friends who have sustained and supported me throughout the years with unending outpourings of love." 

In a post event interview, Pauline Stone Myrie, reminisced on her great love for travel, having explored India, Europe, South America and the Caribbean basin, among other lands. She also recalled some memorable colleagues in her creative journey, Louise Bennett, Ranny Williams, Oliver Samuels, Volier Johnson, Leonie Forbes, John Candy, Malik Yoba, Doug E Doug, Leon, Paul Campbell and Audrey Reid.  

A word of advice from veteran Pauline Stone Myrie to the next generation of upcoming talent? 

"Pursue your dream and never give up," the youthful octogenarian stated emphatically. "I had always wanted to act from I was in school and I never stopped trying until I achieved my dream." 

While building a solid and enviable track record in entertainment, Stone Myrie also enjoyed a successful parallel career in public relations, corporate marketing and working with global NGOs. 

Among those who joined the extraordinary celebration in South Florida were Avery Thame, Angela Thame, Dr. Kirk Thame, Anthony Edwards, Dr. Errol Campbell and wife Karlene, Yvonne Stone, Hugh & Sandy Stone and Colin and Annette Smith.