WALKING AMONG THE DEAD
Lesley-Ann Brandt is proud of her roots and her latest role proves just that
FOR five years she played Mazikeen in the hit series Lucifer.
Now South African actress LESLEY-ANN BRANDT is starring in a new show.
She’s joining The Walking Dead franchise in a spin-off of the post-apocalyptic series titled The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
The show stars The Walking Dead actors ANDREW LINCOLN (Rick) and Danai Gurira (Michonne) who are reprising their roles, with Lesley-Ann as one of the lead characters.
Michonne tries to reunite with her lover, Rick, while Rick finds himself in a war between the living and the dead.
Lesley-Ann plays the role of a South African military woman named Pearl Thorne, who has a strong local accent, a refreshing change from her usual American twang.
“I love being able to bring out the accent I use when I speak to my family,” she tells YOU.
“I was excited to bring a South African character from the Cape Flats to a show that has such a big following.”
She was thrilled when she was approached for the show.
“I had a competing offer and had to make a choice. I think I made the right one,” she says with a smile.
Her favourite part of filming was getting to work with the amazing cast.
“I love getting to work with actors I respect,” she tells us.
Mazikeen was more of a carefree teenage role, but Pearl is the opposite – all militant and severe because of her Navy background.
Filming took place in nearfrostbite conditions and Lesley-Ann found it very hard going.
“My face kept freezing and we’d go into the vans to warm me up each time.”
You needn’t have watched the spin-offs to be entertained by this show, the actress says.
“If you like love stories, you’ll love this. It’s just that it’s a love story set in a post-apocalyptic era.”
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is airing in the US. The South African release date is yet to be announced.