For Lesley-Ann Brandt, success is not measured by the roles she lands in Hollywood, but by the life she has built beyond the cameras.
The South African-born actress, whose credits include Lucifer, Drift and Zombie Apocalypse, has carved out an international career, taking on characters that challenge expectations and push her beyond her comfort zone.
With post-production on the second season of Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent wrapping up, Brandt remains busy with the demands of an industry where the next opportunity is never guaranteed.
But when asked about the role she considers her greatest achievement, her answer has little to do with fame or professional recognition.
“As being mother to my son!” she says.
It is a reminder that, despite the demands of an international acting career, the most meaningful parts of her life are not necessarily the ones audiences see on screen.
From Athlone to Hollywood: a journey she never planned
Born in 1981, Brandt grew up in Athlone before leaving South Africa for New Zealand just two weeks after matriculating.
Her path into adulthood looked different from that of many young South Africans, and the life she leads today was not necessarily the future originally envisioned for her.
Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledges the role that access and opportunity play in shaping people's lives.
“Where I sit today in life is not necessarily the future that was envisioned for me. That wasn't for lack of talent, it was really just opportunities and resources,” she says.
It is a perspective that informs her commitment to the Kay Mason Foundation (KMF), where she serves as patron.
For Brandt, the foundation's work speaks to the importance of recognising potential rather than defining young people by their circumstances.
“Sometimes when we look at charities in Africa there's an association of poverty, and that's all you see. While there are socioeconomic obstacles for young people, what, for example, the KMF programme is doing, is tapping into potential, allowing children to grow and to be real changemakers in the country – which is what we really need.”
Why education is personal
Brandt's connection to the foundation was highlighted at its Hummingbird Ball, held at Zeitz MOCAA on October 7.
Addressing guests by video, she welcomed representatives from South Africa's business, finance and cultural communities who gathered in support of the organisation's mission.
The event followed the previous year's London ball, which brought together actors and high-profile guests.
One of Brandt's highlights was meeting actor Jeremy Irons, whom she describes as someone she greatly admires.
“He also generously stepped up again for the Cape Town Hummingbird Ball, donating his Bvlgari watch for auction,” she says.
Yet, beyond the glamour of the events, it is the foundation's purpose that matters most to her.
Brandt believes education can have a lasting impact, not only on individual learners but also on the country as a whole.
“When you invest in a child's education, the long-term value for a country is invaluable,” she says.
She points to South Africa's high unemployment rate and social challenges, including gender-based violence, as reasons why young people need opportunities to develop confidence, independence and a sense of purpose.
“We're teaching our boys and girls to step into their own power and reach a set goal. We do have a responsibility as a wider community to create those opportunities for them.”
For Brandt, supporting young people is about helping them see what is possible and giving them the tools to work towards it.
The actress who refuses to play it safe
On screen, Brandt is drawn to characters who are layered, complicated and sometimes uncomfortable.
She is particularly interested in stories that allow women to be more than one-dimensional characters, with room for contradictions, difficult emotions and unexpected choices.
“Sometimes women can be written one-dimensionally, but there are such incredibly juicy roles in television, particularly for women,” she says.
She points to Furious, a Hulu series starring Emmy Rossum and Lola Petticrew, as an example of a production that explores women's anger.
In her experience, she says, people can sometimes be reluctant to explore those emotions.
That willingness to push beyond the obvious has also shaped her own work.
One of her proud moments in a recently completed film, Bender, involved advocating for greater complexity in the story's matriarch and helping to reflect the realities of life in Ireland in 1979.
“I just look for interesting different points of view. I never judge the characters I play,” she says.
It is an approach that allows her to explore characters without reducing them to easy labels or simple explanations.
From period dramas to action
Brandt is not interested in becoming predictable.
She enjoys period productions and action roles, and recently took on a romantic comedy, continuing to explore different sides of her craft.
“The job of the actor is a challenge,” she says.
Her early work in Spartacus introduced her to the demands of period storytelling and accents. Since then, she has continued to look for opportunities that allow her to transform herself on screen.
“I do see myself as a chameleon,” she says.
One example was The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, where she used her Capetonian accent while playing a military officer.
Working alongside Danai Gurira and Andrew Lincoln, and hearing her Cape Flats accent in a major franchise, was a particular highlight.
“People didn't realise it was me, and so I think I just want to keep people guessing, I suppose,” she says.
For Brandt, that ability to disappear into a role is part of what makes acting exciting. She wants to keep exploring characters that look, sound and feel different from those she has played before.
The reality of Hollywood
Despite her international career, Brandt is clear-eyed about the realities of working in Hollywood.
She does not pretend that success comes down to talent alone, or that every rejection is a fair reflection of someone's ability.
“The 'no's' and the lows and the disappointments, those are where the diamonds are formed right in the middle of that fire,” she says.
It is advice she would give to scholars finding their own paths, particularly those who may face setbacks before reaching their goals.
Brandt describes her own life and career as unconventional and says she is grateful for the experiences that have shaped her.
Her message is to resist allowing other people's opinions to determine your sense of worth, while remaining committed to the work required to improve.
“This world owes you nothing. And especially in Hollywood, it's not a meritocracy. The best person for the job doesn't always get the job. The most talented person doesn't always get the job.”
She acknowledges that hiring decisions can be influenced by factors beyond an individual's control, including politics.
But she believes those decisions should not define how an artist sees themselves.
“So truly, be prepared to do the work. Nothing worth anything comes easy.”
Beyond the spotlight
For Brandt, professional ambition and giving back are not competing priorities.
Her work with the Kay Mason Foundation reflects a belief that opportunity can change the direction of a young person's life, just as access to opportunities helped shape her own journey.
Having left South Africa shortly after matriculating and gone on to build an international acting career, she understands that life rarely follows a perfectly written script.
Her story is not presented as a blueprint for success, but as a reminder that setbacks, unexpected turns and hard work can all form part of the journey.
As she continues to explore new roles, motherhood remains the achievement she places above the rest.
And through her commitment to education, Brandt is helping to create opportunities for young people to write their own stories, with a future shaped by their potential rather than the circumstances into which they were born.