Ayanda Bandla talks about how she got her big role in “Smoke and Mirrors.”
Ayanda Bandla is just in time to make it as an actor after switching careers.
The 34-year-old actress has been playing Thandiswa in the new drama series Smoke and Mirrors for the past two months, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
Her character is on a mission to expose three men in the small mining town of Emnyameni who are fatally corrupt in the captivating show filled with suspense and intrigue. She acts inverse Zolisa Xaluva, Lusanda Mbane, Meshack Mavuso-Magabane, Angela Sithole and Kabomo Vilakazi.
I don’t consider myself to be famous. Bandla stated, “I don’t do what I do for fame; to me, it is more of an art form that I’m passionate about.”
“It’s been very energizing being in the shoes of Thandiswa. I’ve learned to be more open-minded and vulnerable in my acting as a result of her fierce combativeness and unwavering determination to achieve her goals, which I value because it allows me to push my limits.
Thandiswa, according to Bandla, works as an escort during the day and a hairdresser during the night.
“The only thing that Thandiswa and I have in common is that she also talks to people who are close to her and only steps in when she needs to. Our distinction is that I don’t have that numerous carefully guarded secrets and I want to believe that I carry on with existence without having that numerous skeletons,” Bandla said.
In addition, Bandla played Gugulethu in Identity, Katlego Nqobile in Lavish, and Lakhe Amon in uBettina Wethu. She spent her childhood in Protea North, Soweto, where she participated in school and church choirs and discovered her passion for performance art.
“Actor Leroy Gopal, who has since become a very dear friend of mine, was the one who first came across me. He was the one who recognized my star quality and encouraged me to enroll in his acting classes. She stated, “After I finished the workshops, I decided to get an agent and got my first acting job in 2016.”
“I didn’t persuade to study to be an entertainer, I’m a political theories graduate and have practical experience in worldwide relations. I also have a background in debate, which I thought I would try out. Notwithstanding, my adoration for human expressions drove me to where I’m today,” Bandla said.
Bandla stated that he was never encouraged to pursue a career in the entertainment industry as a child; frequently advised to become a doctor or an accountant.
“This is why I decided to pursue a career in media, which I did for ten years before fully transitioning into acting. In this way, whenever I had the amazing chance to get into the acting business, I made it my central goal to completely drench myself. I’m excited to see what comes next because each of my roles has helped shape who I am as an actor.