I’M BLESSED, SAYS CONNIE

Actress revels in new film role

● The role of a domestic worker in the home of a wealthy family is a far cry from the powerful Mining Elder she played in the acclaimed film Black Panther. But for veteran actress Connie Chiume, pictured, the character wields just as much power, knowing everyone’s secrets and using them as leverage to get whatever she wants.

And, of course, the appreciation of acting in a local comedy that talks to a societal issue like the blesser phenomenon is unsurpassed, she said.

The movie Blessers, produced by radio personality Tbo Touch (Thabo Molefe), premiered on Friday. Molefe makes his big screen debut in the movie as well, playing the fixer who arranges meetings between wealthy older men and their much younger conquests.

Molefe told the Sunday Times the movie started out as a conversation around the dinner table with his younger sister, Rose Molefe, who is the co-producer.

It is in the household of one of the blessers where Chiume, as MaLerato, starts cashing in, using family secrets as barter.

“It’s something I’m totally against, because older men use young girls and take advantage of them. The sad part is that the young girls are the ones who end up losing out,” Chiume said.

As an actress with 43 years of experience in the industry, she said she was glad artists were finally speaking out about the injustices in the entertainment industry, brought to the fore over recent weeks.

She is hopeful things will change.

Working on this movie, she said, was blissful and she felt respected as an actress.