Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Pearl treated like gold in US
Actress misses home but is in sync in New York
PEARL Thusi was clearly homesick.
“I even missed the problems we have in South Africa and the crazy newspaper headlines that you’d only find in this country,” she giggled.
The 28- year- old actress longed to speak in her mother tongue to her friends and family.
“I miss speaking Zulu. I miss that like crazy,” she said.
“I made it a point to start learning other African languages. I miss being corrected when I attempt Xhosa, Tswana, Sesotho and even Nigerian phrases.”
Thusi spent the past few months conquering New York as she settled into her role on popular US TV show Quantico, but returned home for a second stint on MTV Base Africa’s Lip Sync Battle Africa.
While busy on set as co-host, she was thrilled to have time to spend with her loved ones, especially her daughter.
“It’s great to be home, with my family, my partner, my friends. And the weather and food is just so great.”
“South Africa is home and that will never change. My heart is always here no matter where my mind and career go.”
But Thusi had few complaints about life in New York
In fact, she said, she had fallen in love with the Big Apple.
“It’s such an incredibly diverse and magical place with lots of vibrancy and energy. It feels like home.
“As much as I miss home and all my loved ones, I am feeling very fulfilled and happy there.
“The world is also small, even in New York I’ve made so many connections through people from home – it’s amazing.”
Thusi also revealed what life is like as a foreigner in the US since Donald Trump became president.
“The election results and the subsequent headlines upset most New Yorkers because there’s a strong belief in equality and assimilation.
“I have had the odd proTrump conversation that has offered an interesting perspective. I also come from a country that fought hard for democracy. And what happened in America is democracy.
“The world is meeting a version of America we don’t often get to see in the movies. I’m an actor, I observe, I try not to judge.”
Things in the workplace have been incredible for Thusi, too. The actress says she has been treated like “gold” on the set of Quantico.
“I feel unbelievably blessed and favoured.
“The team of people I work with are all invested and love their work. I’ve found myself reaching heights with my own level of investment in my work.”
Thusi stars alongside tal- who plays Owen Hall, the lead instructor at the CIA’s training facility “The Farm”.
She says it has been an “unbelievable” experience.
“They are a diverse group of people, a melting pot of talent, brains, and nations… every conversation is different and has so many perspectives, politics, religion, food and any other topic becomes a learning experience and an opportunity to grow and challenge yourself.
“I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve worked with a group of such kind, humble, giving and gracious people.”
While Thusi looked forward to getting back to the Quantico set, she says all her focus now was on co-hosting Lip Sync Battle Africa.
“I’m a big believer in African entertainers interacting and working together so the idea of this show is more than just work for me.
“It feeds into the vision I have for Africa. My own African dream – where borders are merely lines in a map and we are a unified and stronger continent that sustains itself and is so strong in every way that we never need aiding again.
“Africa is the motherland – the rest of the world should be looking to us for guidance. Doing this show is planting the seeds to grow that vision.”