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‘Working on Deep State was great’

 

After an appearance in award-winning Hollywood film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, local actress Lily Banda returns with a role in British espionage thriller, Deep State 2. Now Lily’s fans are watching her latest exploits through DStv Fox channel 131. In this interview with our reporter YVONNIE SUNDU (YS), Lily (LB) talks of how her journey into acting has been so far.

Banda (2ndL) in one of the scenes in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Y

S: Tell us more about Lily Banda

L

B: I am an artist.

 

 

Y

S: Some Malawians know you as a musician and a poet. How did you branch into acting?

L

B: It’s been wonderful expressing myself through many art forms and yes, music and poetry have been among them. I have four albums, namely, Black Kiss, Odd Hours, Original Thought [which was a poetry album] and Just Go. Add to that my latest single Bad at Love which is out now. The video for the song has also been released.

 

YS: When did you start acting and how has been the journey so far?

L

B: The role of Annie Kamkwamba in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind [an adaptation of Malawian William Kamkwamba’s true-life story] was my first, and now I am playing Aicha Konate in Deep State 2. Annie’s story is one of lack of opportunity in accessing education, something which is a timely issue. It delves into the matter of who we choose to educate in the home and why? On the other hand, Aicha is a character that is doing something to benefit her country, but she also has a brother and sister to think about. Going through that journey was interesting.  It makes you think if it fell on you to do for others, to do for your country, what would you do? The wonderful thing about Deep State 2 is that you don’t have to have watched season 1 to enjoy it. Season 2 has interesting stand-alone stories and it goes back six months before Season 1 which is cool because you get to see the genesis of Season 1 characters.

 

Y

S: What was your reaction when you landed a role in The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind?

L

B: I was very happy and felt very honoured to be a part of telling the William Kamkwamba story. The awe-inspiring story of Kamkwamba has been heard all over the world and it is exciting that its positive impact can be experienced cinematically. The story is about the possibilities that can come about if we allow ourselves an opportunity to change. It was an honour to be part of the crew who all worked tirelessly and were committed to tell the story of the boy who harnessed the wind.

 

Y

S: How was it working with another bunch of award-winning actors in Deep State 2?

L

B: Working on Deep State 2 was great, and we had a lot of great actors such as Walton Goggins and Zainab Jah joining Season 2. And of course, the returning cast members such as Joe Dempsie, Karima McAdams, Anastasia Griffith and Petri Alistair is going to make the season an awesome show. A lot of twists and turns each episode will literally have people on the edge of their seats wondering what happens next. I am excited for people to see Season 2.n

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