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ChristyKeller.com

"Starring Role" by Rosemary Barnes, Express-News Staff Writer.

Sometimes, not often, a character featured in a commercial will become so popular they reach a pop culture icon-like status in a community.

That's what happened last year to Christy Keller, a part-time actress who auditioned for and won the part of "Jackie." She's the tough yet courteous and outspoken make-ready employee in a commercial for the Ancira Nissan dealership that first aired in April 2004.

The perky Jackie character has long, blond hair, wears a blue baseball cap backwards and always sports a big smile. Her signature "Oh yeah!" comment closes each spot.

The performance scored a huge hit with viewers.

"We had no idea that the Jackie character would become a star," said Wills of the PM Group, which created the character and pens the Ancira spots. "Things like this just happen in advertising. When the public embraces a character, they go all the way."

The public not only bought Jackie as one of auto dealer Ernesto Ancira's employees, they also were convinced the young woman was one of his daughters. Neither was the case.

But since the first spot aired, Keller has become an Ancira employee, with a renewable contract to continue playing Jackie indefinitely.

Originally, the plan was to shoot just the one spot featuring Jackie. Because of the popularity of the character, five more have been filmed and another is scheduled to begin shooting June 1.

Ancira, who for 30 years has been a highly visible pitchman for his dealerships and numerous civic causes, said he was overwhelmed by the public's positive response to Jackie.

Ancira has received thousands of letters and e-mails praising Jackie's positive outlook on life. During personal appearances at Ancira dealerships, fans line up just to meet her.

"She hit a nerve with people. She's very authentic, very believable," Ancira said. "One woman told me that she had been down and depressed until she saw Jackie in one of our commercials. I've gotten lots of comments like that. They talk about her like she's a televangelist. She's a true phenomenon."

Keller, an electrical engineering major at St. Mary's University, said she didn't expect to land the role and certainly didn't anticipate the public adulation.

"I just took direction. To some extent, I played myself," Keller said. "It feels weird to get such a wonderful response. I've never experienced anything like it."

Before the Jackie commercials, Keller had planned to spend the summer waiting tables at a local restaurant. But now she has the financial freedom to devote three months to her longtime ambition, acting.

She has studied acting with a local coach over the years and plans to pursue her studies full time this summer.

Last summer, she had a featured role in "Hit Man's Regrets," a locally produced movie scheduled to premiere in June.

"For the long term, my plan is to get my degree and head out to Los Angeles to see what's ahead for me in the acting field," Keller said. "My experience with the Ancira commercials has boosted my self confidence. It's such a joy."