'The Walking Dead' introduces "very South African" character
Meet Pearl Thorne, 'The Walking Dead' character who hails from Cape Town and whose name was inspired by Pearl Thusi.
'The Walking Dead' is gearing up for the release of its new spin-off series, 'The Ones Who Live', and South African fans are in for a special surprise.
A new teaser for the show, which is set to premiere on 25 February 2024, shows actors Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) and Danai Gurira (Michonne) discussing what viewers can expect.
The clip also gives fans a peek at some of the new characters, including one named Pearl Thorne.
Lesley-Ann Brandt, who many will remember for 'Lucifer', has been cast in the role. She took to Instagram to reveal that the character's name is inspired by her friend, Pearl Thusi.
"Pearl Thorne. I had a hand in naming this character. Pearl, after my friend @pearlthusi. Originally written as French, I’m proud we landed on her being South African and from Cape Town. An accent you never hear on screen outside of SA. February 25th on @amc_tv 🧟♀️ #walkingdead #theoneswholive #pearlthorne."
Lesley-Ann is a South African-born actress who currently lives in America. She immigrated to New Zealand in her late teens and eventually moved to the US.
Despite obtaining her US citizenship, Lesley-Ann remains South African at heart. She often shares pictures of herself supporting her home country, especially during sporting events like the recent Rugby World Cup.
Lesley-Ann and her husband dressed up as Springbok players for Halloween.
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Lesley-Ann made headlines in 2019 when she revealed that the language one of the demons in the American TV series, 'Lucifer', spoke was Afrikaans.
While speaking to her therapist, her character Mazikeen, AKA Maze, responds to a question in Afrikaans.
“Kan jy vir my verstaan wat ek praat? Want ek wil saam met jou praat en jy kan nie."
READ MORE HERE: The Afrikaans language makes it big on Netflix's 'Lucifer'
South Africans are excited to see Lesley-Ann's character on ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’.
"Yass!!! Finallyyy the SA queen is back in action... So excited for you to showcase yourselves, an opportunity each and everyone of us crave for🥹. Cannot be more proud of you," one fan wrote on Instagram.
Another fan added: "Awesome…. Keeping local is lekker alive."
Here's a look at the show's synopsis provided by AMC:
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live presents an epic love story of two characters changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. By the ghosts of who they were. Rick and Michonne are thrown into another world, built on a war against the dead... And ultimately, a war against the living. Can they find each other and who they were in a place and situation unlike any they've ever known before? Are they enemies? Lovers? Victims? Victors? Without each other, are they even alive -- or will they find that they, too, are the Walking Dead?
Main image credit: Instagram/@lesleyannbrandt, @amcthewalkingdead
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