Lesley-Ann Brandt
Lesley-Ann Brandt | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2008–present |
Lesley-Ann Brandt is a South African-born actress who is based in Auckland, New Zealand, and Los Angeles. Brandt has acted in a number of New Zealand television series and first came to international notice with her role as a slave girl Naevia in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.[1]
Early years
Brandt was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and is a fluent Afrikaans speaker.[2] In South Africa she played competitive field hockey.[3] In 1999 Brandt emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, with her parents and younger brother.[1]
Lesley-Ann Brandt started work in retail sales in Auckland[4] before securing work as an Information Technology recruitment consultant.[3][5] Following some modelling work she was cast in a number of New Zealand television advertisements. She studied acting and was trained in the Meisner technique, an improvisational approach to character development, in 2008.[6]
Television and film
Brandt's first significant acting role was in the New Zealand television series Diplomatic Immunity.[1] As well as her lead role in Diplomatic Immunity, Brandt has appeared in guest roles on the New Zealand hospital based soap opera series Shortland Street and This Is Not My Life, a science fiction series set in the 2020s in the fictional town of Waimoana.[7]
She originally auditioned for the role of 'Sura' in Spartacus: Blood and Sand but the casting director suggested to audition for the role of 'Naevia' instead. She worked with actors John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah and producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi.[3] Her role as the slave girl Naevia in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand led to a part in the Spartacus 'Prequel' Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.[6] and the New Zealand 'coming of age' feature film The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell.[5] about the victim of a kart racing accident filmed in Howick, a suburb of East Auckland.[8] Brandt is also featuring in a new film InSight in which she plays a nurse called Valerie Khoury.[9] In May 2010 Brandt guest starred on Legend of the Seeker, another Rob Tapert / Sam Raimi produced show which was filmed in New Zealand (2009). She appeared in the Season 2 season finale Episode 22 "Tears" in the role of Sister Thea.[6]
Brandt guest starred on CSI:NY: Smooth Criminal, but has not renewed her contract for the second season of Spartacus(Spartacus: Vengeance (Spartacus) in 2011.
Personal life
Brandt lists Yoga, competitive hockey and baseball amongst her interests.[6]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell | Sharon | [10] |
| 2011 | InSight | Valerie Khoury | (in post-production)[10] |
Television
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Shortland Street | Sonia | Episode #16.178[10] |
| 2009 | Diplomatic Immunity | Leilani Fa'auigaese | in 13 episodes[10] |
| 2010 | Spartacus: Blood and Sand | Naevia | in 11 episodes[10] |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | Sister Thea | Season 2 Episode 22 'Tears'[10] |
| 2010 | This Is Not My Life | Hine / WAI TV field reporter | Season 1 Episode 10[10] |
| 2011 | Spartacus: Gods of the Arena | Naevia | in 6 episodes[10] |
| 2011 | Chuck | Fatima Tazi | Season 4 Episode 14 - Chuck Versus the Seduction Impossible[11] |
| 2011 | CSI: NY | Camille Jordanson | Season 7 Episode 14 & Episode 19[12][13] |
Music video
| Year | Band | Title | Character | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Battle Circus | "Love In A Fallout Shelter"[14] | Lead Female | Anton Steel |
| 2009 | Nesian Mystik | "R.S.V.P."[14] | Lead Female | Luke Sharpe |
References
- ^ a b c "Biography for Lesley-Ann Brandt". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ "Official Lesley-Ann Brandt Fan Site - Biography". lesleyannbrandt.ausxip.com. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ^ a b c "Cast Bios: Lesley-Ann Brandt (Naevia)" (PDF). starz.com. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ "AUSXIP Interviews Spartacus Actress Lesley-Ann Brandt". talkingxena.yuku.com. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ a b Suggs, Bob (1 January 2010). "Lesley-Ann Brandt - Plays Naevia on Spartacus". Screen Rave. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Lesley-Ann Brandt". Karen Kay Management. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ Baillie, Russell (30 July 2010). "TV Review: 'This Is Not My Life'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Hopes and Dreams: New film attracts strong cast". New Zealand Film Commission. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ "InSight (2011)". Internet Movie Database. 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Lesley-Ann Brandt Filmography". Internet Movie Database. 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1785826/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1796786/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837052/
- ^ a b "Lesley-Ann Brandt - Music Video". Karen Kay Management Limited. Retrieved 22 November 2010.