SCREEN QUEEN

She’s taken her crafty lawyer character across four hit TV shows, but Shannon Esra tells us why her Still Breathing role is her best yet

- SIYA TSEWU

SHE’S the go-to lawyer when you’re in a tight spot. She’s a woman with a reputation for being fierce and ruthlessly defending wealthy clients, no matter what their scandalous crime.

And it’s not for nothing that she’s known as the “Stein Remover” – and why she’s a character everyone loves to hate.

Sandra Stein has given her haters plenty of opportunities to see her in action – she’s the only character on TV to have appeared in four of Mzansi Magic’s most popular shows.

Shannon Esra, the woman who plays her, is thrilled to be able to bring Sandra to life.

“I am very grateful for the character and to Mzansi viewers who are very bold in showing their appreciation for her,” Shannon tells DRUM.

Lawyers aren’t always pleased at the storylines about the profession, saying there’s too much that isn’t as it would be in real life, but viewers can’t get enough.

Shannon says women have walked up to her to tell her the character has inspired them to study law.

“Yes, there are negative comments but more than 98% of the response received over the years has been positive,” she says.

Back in 2017 the crafty lawyer became an instant hit in The Queen when she defended Harriet (Connie Ferguson) in a murder case.

Then she won over a whole new set of fans in The River when she represented Lindiwe (Sindi Dlathu) in her divorce case.

And who can forget her epic courtroom battle with the Morules in The Throne?

Recently, Sandra made history when she appeared in Mzansi Magic’s new hit show, Gomora, prompting fans and fellow actors to comment on her history-making crossover success.