Bangalore, Mar 20 (PTI) UPA government on Friday nominated state theatre doyenne and popular actress B Jayashree to the Rajya Sabha (RS). Jayashree is the first artiste from the State to be nominated to the RS.

''It is an honour for Karnataka more than anything else,'' said theatre actress B Jayashree on her nomination to the Rajya Sabha today. "I am overjoyed at this honour as it is not only for Kannada theatre but for Karnataka more than anything else", she told PTI.

Jayashree (60), who has served the Kannada theatre for over last five decades, said "while I am overwhelmed. I am also very scared of the huge responsibility that the post entails. I hope I will do justice to the tremendous responsibility that has been given to me and will make all efforts in that direction."

Jayashree, grand-daughter of acclaimed theatre personality Gubbi Veeranna, had also acted in nationally-acclaimed Kannada films including "Nagamandala", in which she won the best supporting actress award in 1995-96, and lent her voice to Kannada theatre as well as films.

Striking a nostalgic note, Jayashree said "It has been a long and fulfilling journey. I still remember the role of Vedashishu that I played in Dashavatara produced by my grandfather".