Hunter becomes the hunted

Jagveld, based on a story by the acclaimed author Deon Meyer, stars actress Leandie du Randt Bosch in the lead role. SM spoke to her about the film and her killer character

SCHOOLTEACHER and avowed pacifist Emma le Roux is on her way home to the family farm in the Great Karoo. She has made the trip a thousand times without incident, but then fate intervenes.

She witnesses a murder committed by a drug syndicate. Urged to capture Emma by their leader, a violent psychopath played by Neels van Jaarsveld, this band of henchmen set their sights on this innocent-looking schoolteacher.

But Emma isn’t quite what she seems. Trained by her ex-army father to see everything as a weapon, she turns the tables on her pursuers. The hunters are now the hunted.

This is the basic plot of Jagveld, directed by Meg Rickards and written by Deon Meyer. We spoke to Leandie du Randt Bosch, who plays Emma. You are naturally going to draw comparisons with Uma Thurman’s Kill Bill role. Did that character inspire your portrayal of Emma?

Yes, definitely – especially just to see how one delivers lines and fights at the same time. She and Angelina Jolie were, in my opinion, the coolest references, but I chose Uma as I felt I could relate to her persona more. Also the whole film has more of a Quentin Tarantino vibe.

You have, in the past, referred to yourself as a method actor. How did you prepare for this role?

I do like to get fully immersed in my characters’ lives. Unfortunately in the past my roles did not really require that of me as my characters have always been girly and nice and sweet – not very serious roles. But this time, for the first time, I had to start becoming harder as my character’s storyline progressed.

That required me to really be focused every day and not make jokes on set or try and make friends with everyone like I usually do.

I was more reserved on set and did not speak to my fellow actors much as my character wanted to kill them, so for that day on set Leandie also wanted to kill them (laughs) – if that makes sense.

As you point out, this film is quite a departure from your previous roles. What was your initial reaction to the script?

I loved it. Few people know this, but I want to play psychologically challenging roles – gruelling roles, and characters who are faced with danger and turmoil of some sort.

I want to play different kinds of characters, which allow me to immerse myself in other people’s lives and come to understand or empathise with them.

Playing Emma’s character gave me a lot of compassion for women who have been raped or have been a victim of violence. I feel self-defence is something all girls should be taught at school, and boys should be taught early how to treat girls and women with respect.

I really want to say how sorry I am to any woman who has been hurt by a man physically and I want to urge women who are currently in that situation to speak up, get help and to fight back – don’t let them get away with it.

Are you a tomboy at heart?

Yes, I think I am. Definitely in the way I speak and react to uncomfortable situations. I like dressing up – but not in a Forever New (the store) heels type of a way – in my secondhand retro way. But I prefer flats, I don’t mind getting my hair dirty or wet, and I speak my mind.

I am very honest and straightforward. I have a brother, so I grew up not feeling sorry for myself, being able to take jokes and having to stand up for myself verbally and physically.

That said, I Iove my girlfriends and spending time with them. But my friends are also tough girls who are not afraid to be themselves and say what they feel.

What is your favourite scene in the movie?

It is the scene with me and Edwin van der Walt, who plays Boela. He is the one actor I felt made me go out of reality, being able to react as if someone really wanted to hurt me.

He is also very method and we actually did not speak for two days on set while being in the zone for that scene.

Are you a fan of action movies? What would you say is your favourite action film and why?

I am a bit of a fan. It depends on the type of action film and which actors are in it. I really liked Pulp Fiction as I am a Tarantino fan, but not Tomb Raider, for instance.

I also enjoyed Deadpool because there is comedy in it. So it depends on the genre – like, action buddy comedies.

Emma’s backstory in Jagveld is fascinating. Do you think she deserves a prequel?

Yes, I definitely do (laughs) thanks. She is so complex and layered and we have not uncovered a lot of her personality and personal life in the film, so there is still a lot to discover. – Entertainment Reporter