Anarkalli Aakarsha Jayatilaka (born July 11, 1987) is a Sri Lankan film and teledrama actress. She was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2004 and represented Sri Lanka at the Miss World 2004 beauty pageant. She made her acting debut in Iti Pahan at the age of eight. Since then, she has acted in about ten films and six teledramas, including the comedy Pissu Trible (2003), directed by Sunil Soma Peiris.

PERSONAL LIFE

Anarkalli Aakarsha was born to Jayantha Jayatilaka, a director of Film Location Services, and Indrani, a fashion designer. She was raised in the capital Colombo and had her entire education at the Colombo International School.

CAREER

Jayatilaka's first public opportunity to act came when Somaratne Dissanayake and Renuka Balasuriya, who directed and produced the teledrama Iti Pahan in 1995, were in search of a little girl who was fluent in English. In the drama, she performed the role of "Daisy Susan" beside renowned actress Vasanthi Chaturani.

After a lapse of almost seven years after playing this role, she returned to acting in 2003. At 15, she was cast in a lead role in Pissu Trible. Subsequently, she performed in several successful movies such as One Shot, Dhana Rina, Sonduru Wasanthaya and Hiripoda Wessa in pivotal roles, and in Anjalika and Nilambarey in supporting roles.

She also acted in a South Indian film, Chettinadu Tangam opposite Raj Kiran.

After Iti Pahan, she received acclaim in teledrama performances with her roles as "Inoka" in Sihinayak Paata Paatin and 'Tanya' in Santhuwaranaya.

She also works as a model, brand ambassador, presenter and often makes appearances in song visuals