Creating her own work
A charmed life of either organised chaos or chaotic organisation. That’s how Chatsworth-born Leeanda Reddy, former actress on Isidingo and now restaurant owner, describes her life. JOLENE MARRIAH chats to the Gauteng-based allrounder about women empowerme
Q: What did you study and why?
A: Bachelor of Arts, graduating with an honours in speech and drama from UKZN. I didn’t have a plan, I followed my heart and hoped God would take care of the rest. Q: Your career choices have varied over the years. Can you elaborate?
A: I started working part-time during school and university holidays and this has stood me in good stead with regards to seeking employment for myself.
Gosh, now that you’ve made me reminisce, I’ve been in almost every sector of labour hahaha!
I was a cashier, a waitress, a telesales person (I lasted a week), a retail sales consultant, public address announcer, drama tutor, pathology laboratory technician, a writer, a radio DJ presenter, a TV presenter… and that’s apart from being an actress pretending to have all manner of jobs.
Most of my career has been a challenging yet determined one in the arts.
I knew that to be an artist meant work would not be continuous and that I would have to create my own regularly… actually, I’m still doing that.
My work has involved writing, directing and producing. I MC for corporate and private events.
In performance, I started in theatre, before my first screen job as a TV presenter, thereafter I did TV acting jobs on dramas and soaps. I have done local and international film. I hope to do more.
Mustard Seed Productions, a production company set up by my friend Krijay Govender and myself in 2008, was a means for us not only to generate work for ourselves and others, but to pool our strengths to produce our own creative magic. Q: You recently opened your own restaurant – why, and what’s it been like so far?
A: Err… because Robert De Niro did it? Just kidding.
Getting together around a feast of food has been a central part of my family life from childhood right up to today.
When the restaurant opportunity presented itself, my sister and I thought “let’s make it that place” – a total social experience that is a home away from home.
Table 29 in Midrand, Johannesburg, is the rustic, chic new restaurant of which I am co-owner.
We created a destination restaurant with all the appeal of good food, atmosphere and a stunning location.
There is a kids’ play area and even a conversation pit around a large boma fire.
We are still in the early stages and so far have serviced many happy customers, and by word of mouth we’re attracting even more.
Many have said it is homely and inviting. We hope it will thrive into the success we envision. Q: Going from acting to business is very different; has this always been a lifelong dream, or is it true that woman can succeed in almost anything they set their minds to?
A: Acting was always the passion; entrepreneurship more the necessity. I’ve been in the risky business game my whole life, lol.
As an artist, I’ve learnt to manage my career as a business.
We are referred to as “independent contractors”, after all, artists don’t get any of the benefits that corporate employees get. This means you always have to try and stay one step ahead.
My finance and accounting knowledge, however, leaves much to be desired and I leave that to the experts.
But when it comes to wearing different hats, its something I’m quite used to. Q: Why do you think celebrating Women’s Day is important?
A: Because women still face gender-based challenges daily. Women have to overcome and prove a lot more than men to be taken as seriously.
The fact that women performers get paid less than their male counterparts, for instance, is a worldwide reality.
And do women deserve a holiday named after them? Hell yeah! Q: Who was your first female mentor and why?
A: My mother. She was my first teacher and example. A simple, humble woman who was able to inform and empower my thoughts, attitude and ambitions with the simplest tools at her disposal. Q: People talk about balancing work and home, what has been your secret?
A: Women are incredibly strong beings. We step up to the tasks at hand when we are most needed to. There are times when I have to turn down jobs when my family needs me more, and times when I lean on my family support if a good career opportunity arises.
Let’s say it’s a charmed life of either organised chaos or chaotic organisation. Q: .Do you think it’s important for women to support and empower each other?
Always. Women should be raising each other up.
I personally feed off and am inspired by the strong, hardworking women who surround me – from my own family to friends and colleagues who persevere under various circumstances. We also need to have fun with each other: laugh, dance, pamper, and be crazy with our girls. Q: With more women taking on more responsibility in the home and outside it, many complain of being stressed. How do you destress?
A: I find stress unavoidable, I haven’t learnt the art of suppressing it. It’s become par for the course. But when what needs to be done is done, the rewarding feeling afterwards is gigantic.
It swallows up any feelings of stress that came before. Destressing then, for me, is revelling in the aftermath of a job well done. Q: Tell POST readers about your family?
A: My husband Clive Chetty and I started dating in high school and have been together ever since. We have two sons, Yorke Chetty, 13, and Zion Chetty, 5.
Our family time is precious – fortunately, the boys think we are still ‘cool’. Holidays with exclusive family time are a must, as well as regular gettogethers with the extended family.