By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Zimbabweans were elated after 21 year old Zimbabwean born actor, Leroy Siyafa was cast in the second season of South African Netflix series, Blood and Water.
Blood and Water is a South African teen crime drama television series developed by Gambit Films for Netflix. The series won the best TV Drama at the 2021 South African Film and Television Awards.
Leroy plays the role of Sam Nkosana in Blood and Water as he makes his debut appearance in the hit series. After completing his high school education he signed up for a modelling agency and two years later received an audition for Blood and Water.
While he is still new in the film industry, starring on the Netflix show has been one of his proudest moments.
Bustop TV correspondent, Sukuoluhle Ndlovu (S.N) caught up with the actor (L.S) for an exclusive interview.
L.S: I was born on the tenth of July, 2000 at Budiriro maternity clinic. I attended primary school at Budiriro primary then moved to South Africa (in 2008). I then went to Riding primary school until the end of my primary school. I started my high school at Bloubergrant High School until I received an academic scholarship to attend Elkanah House High School in grade 10. In high school, I was involved in a host of sports and cultural activities such as Volleyball, Social Outreach, table tennis, Debating, Soccer and at one stage even rugby.
S.N: What inspired you to be an actor?
L.S: I was inspired by the fact that so many young people are looking up to me for hope and inspiration. I am inspired by the fact that l can in some way help young people to believe in themselves and to go after their dreams, for them to believe that they can achieve much greater than l have been able to.
S.N: When did you launch your acting career?
L.S: Later in my high school, (when I moved to Elkanah House) I was exposed to Dramatic arts as a Subject and that is where I began to discover the passion and talent for acting that I possess. In my last year of high school, I was cast for the lead role (which I did not audition for) in our school musical titled District six the musical. Whilst rehearsing and performing in the play, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in acting. After leaving High school, I could not pursue that career and instead opted to study software development, however, I signed up with a modelling agency as a way to remain intact with my dream of becoming an actor. Through my modelling agency, I was involved in multiple commercials, the most notable one being a Coca Cola commercial.
S.N: Why did you pursue acting?
L.S: I started acting because at one stage in the latter years of my high school career, I obtained the realisation that I had a strong passion and desire for acting and performing. Technically my acting career started when I was in high school and was cast as the lead in my school musical District Six the musical however more professionally, only recently in 2020.
S.N: Films you have starred in?
L.S: Blood & Water season 2 as Sam. Project XY short film playing Alan, a humanoid. This short film is still in post-production. I recently made the decision to pursue acting full time.
S.N: How do you view acting?
L.S: I am very passionate about the craft, l fell in love with it at a young age and ever since then l never imagined myself doing anything else besides it. I think it is a discipline that requires time and attention. It needs a lot of energy and practice but it is also a reality fun job that does not really feel like a job.
S.N: Any challenges you have faced or facing?
L.S: I have faced a lot of mental challenges but at the end of the day, l had to pick myself up and keep moving. I prayed a lot and that helped me to overcome them.
S.N: Where do you see yourself in the next 5years?
L.S: In the next five years, I will taking the world by storm and acting at an international level where my work will be available to anyone and everyone around the world.
S.N: How has acting helped you boost your career?
L.S: Acting has taught me that we all have a light within us that we have the responsibility to share with the rest of the world. That there is so much of ourselves we don’t know yet and the journey of life is one of self-discovery and on that journey, that we can help other people discover themselves as well.
S.N: Any role models?
L.S: As a Zimbabwean, one of my biggest influences in the pursuit of my acting career has been Tongayi Chirisa, who starred in Mr Bones and is now acting in the United States. He has broken boundaries that had not been broken before by people that come from where we come from. I am also massively inspired by Tyler Perry and Denzel Washington.
