Pearl’s big move
Quantico’s second season is bringing more action, more twists and a local face to TV.
Quantico Season 2 Fridays (from 28 July) M-Net City (*115) 18:00 & 19:00
If you missed season 2 of action show Quantico (2015- current) thanks to unannounced production breaks and the show being squashed back into the schedule earlier this year, it’s catch-up time. Quantico is airing double-bill bursts to give your Fridays a much-needed boost of adrenaline, as well some local flavour. We chatted to Pearl Thusi (host of Lip Sync Battle Africa, 2016- current) to get the scoop on her role as lawyer Dayana Mampasi, working on the international series and what she learnt on the set…
Where does your character fit into the
Quantico puzzle? She has hidden cards and is complex. Like the others, she is working through her life story as the plot develops. Dayana and Alex (Priyanka Chopra) are the strongest females and how they connect, or don’t, will be interesting to watch.
How did you land an audition on a big
name international show? They wanted an actress to represent Africa and had their own shortlist. We were asked to send audition tapes and it was gruelling. I did a lot of prep work.
Who told you that you’d been cast? My agent called me – it was very exciting. It only sank in once the first episode aired; then in was real and no one could take it away. It was truly real! What did you know about the show? That it’s diverse – character-wise – and has done well. I had an appreciation and respect for Priyanka as an actress and international female figure, as well as [production company] ABC for having such a diffe-rent take on making TV. How did you meet your cast? It was so cool – we did a table-read and it was great to feel part of a global family. Priyanka is from India, there were Americans obviously, Canadians and actors from Mexico. We went to dinner and got to connect and meet. And what makes Quantico different from your usual acting work? The accents [Laughs] – and there’s a lot to absorb. Like? Well we’d be on set from 06:00 and there is dynamic action. It’s nonstop moving and physically taxing!