Leeanda lands hot role with hunky Boris
AFTER 43 hairstyles, 5 000 wardrobe changes, 10 000 tweets and a daily fight for parking at the studio, TV actress and comedian Leeanda Reddy has left Isidingo.
She played the role of Priya Kumar for seven years but left the soapie set in March and is now starring in an international TV series alongside Hollywood hunk Boris Kodjoe.
Filming for the series, which is based on the Deon Meyer novel Dead Before Dying and is titled Cape Town, wrapped up shooting in the Mother City last month.
In the series, Reddy plays Kumari Nayar, a cybercrime expert. “She is bright, techsavvy and connected — nothing like me,” said Reddy. “She works for a Hawks-like organisation based in Pretoria and her expertise is enlisted in Cape Town. There are oth- er layers, too, since she has history with one of the characters, Sanct Snook (Kodjoe). Sanct and Kumari worked together in the same unit and were embroiled in a love affair.”
She described Kodjoe as being guarded at first.
“But when you get beyond your own preconceived notion of a big star, you meet one of the most down-to-earth guys who doesn’t take himself too seriously,” she said.
“He is not just a beautiful face; he makes everyone working with him comfortable.
“He is playful and funny on set but also very professional and passionate.
“Working with Boris and [Norwegian actor] Trond Espen Seim was enlightening. They are both huge stars internationally but extremely giving and collaborative as actors.”
Reddy said she left Isidingo to pursue film projects, both as an actress and a writer, and to look into other roles on the small screen.
“We don’t grow if we don’t go to new opportunities. I felt an instinct that it was time to move on.”
She added that she was overwhelmed by the response she got on social media to her leaving the soap. Her last scene aired on June 1.
“People have been expressive and emotive in their messages and comments.
“I was touched by this and especially the acknowledgement of my work as an actor,” said Reddy.
“I am scared, because I don’t want to let them down with future roles.”
We don’t grow if we don’t go to new opportunities