Pam Andrews bounces back as Gail October
The sultry Pam Andrews is back on our small screens and returns to her famous role as Gail October in popular soapie Rhythm City.
The star who took a 5-year break from television and went abroad, says her return to the e-tv soapie feels like a going back to her first love. Pam was first introduced to us when she won the then popular Coca Cola Popstars in 2002, but says that acting has always been part of the plan.
“I always wanted to be an actress,” says Pam. “Winning Coca-Cola popstars just opened that door for me. I’m definitely more confident as an actress (than a singer). Pam says deep down, she really does not like singing. “I’m not a confident singer at all, I’ve come to terms with that.
But give me a script anytime and I will act my heart out,” she says.
During her break, the actress says she went out of the country because she wanted to find herself and be grounded once again. “I went there to support my husband’s business venture but at the same time I went there to rediscover myself. I was too caught up with fame at the time. I had to go somewhere I was not famous just to live a normal life. Now I know I don’t want fame or to be a celebrity, I just want to be an actress and live a normal quiet and happy life,” she says.
“The biggest lesson I have learnt about the entertainment industry is that being too famous and too much in the tabloids is not a good thing in the long run. A good balance is good,” she adds.
Assuming her role again is like going back home for her. “I loved playing Gail, I loved being part of the RC family.” The 33-year-old says being a mummy has kept her grounded and out of trouble, chuckling. Returning on screen, she will be acting alongside her son who she says is a natural actor.
“It just came up in a meeting we had,” about her son joining the cast. “It has been lovely shooting with my boy, he was surprisingly so natural. He called David Genaro his on screen daddy, cute.”
Her advice to her son about pursuing a career as an actor would be to at least acquire some form of qualification, just as a plan B. “This industry is very fickle and not stable at all. So I would advise him to first get a degree in something and then go for acting, just to have plan B.”
But for now, while juggling being a mummy and reviving her acting career, Pam is focusing on the present and making the best of what is here.
“What is most important to me right now is to just enjoy my life, raise my son and experience more joy, more love and more happiness.”
“I try not to focus too much on the future, it stresses me out. I like to focus on the now and right now I’m just in the best space ever. I’m happy. So that’s my future plan I suppose, to continue to live a happy easy life,” she adds. On the show, Gail returns with the hope of a new life and measure of stability from David, but everything comes at a cost. The character returns on screens on Thursday, November 23.-IOL