RIGHT now, Jamaican actor Marlon Samuda has a major goal in sight — success in Hollywood, centre of the global film and entertainment industry.

Samuda dreams of impacting the development of theatre arts in Jamaica, while taking the world stage by storm.

Recently, he joined Sky Pilot Theatre Company and will be playing Dr Bruce in the production Mermaid Wars, which will premiere on June 5, 2015.

He is also slated to be guest director, star and script supervisor for the forthcoming web series 20 to Life by DIVO Productions, which explores quarter-life crisis and the harsh realities of life post-college in a modern society.

Samuda has launched out on the international theatre scene displaying the tenacity of a family of very high achievers, who have quietly made their mark in various areas of Jamaican life as professionals and volunteers.

His father, Milton Samuda, is co-founder of the law firm Samuda and Johnson and is currently chairman of the national investment company, JAMPRO.

His mother, Elizabeth Vickers Samuda, is an accomplished artist and tutor who has trained a generation of performers and ballet students.

His elder brother, Matthew, is president of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party youth arm — G2K, while his sister Mariana, an artist, is gearing her education and training to make her contribution in the difficult area of criminology.

Samuda got involved in theatre when he was five years old, selling programmes at theatre performances and assisting in stage managing recitals and other productions mounted at local theatres.

While in secondary school, he won several gold medals in the Schools’ Drama Festival.

His academic achievements have been no less excellent and focussed. He graduated from New York Film Academy in June 2014 with a Master of Fine Arts in Acting for Film, completing the course in record time and as the youngest graduate in his batch.

Last summer, he landed the role of Darius Thomas in Love Games (Holidays). The director was so impressed with Samuda’s audition, he rewrote the part of Darius ‘Jamaicanising’ it.

Samuda’s talent on stage is eclipsed only by his capacity for leadership behind the camera and penchant for making sure that any production he is involved in is of a high standard at every level.

His sojourn into theatre and film fulfils an ambition rooted in a determination to make a difference and be part of that growing cadre of young Jamaicans making their mark on the world in so many different fields.