I'm Talking About Pearl Thusi

The actress gives us the low-down on filming hit US TV show Quantico, finding herself in NYC and the struggles of eating right on set

- Leigh Champanis-King

As media darling Pearl Thusi springs from her shuttle, all happy smiles and effortless beauty, it’s difficult to believe that she is struggling with jet lag. Back in South Africa while Quantico – the television series she is currently filming in New York – takes its Christmas break, she’s still on NY time. I’ve had a good eight hours of sleep and I’m not sure that I’m going to be able to match her energy.

This abundant energy is how Pearl has achieved so much in her 28 years. Not only has the mom from Durban forged a successful modelling career, starred in movies, hosted TV and radio shows and now landed a role in internationally acclaimed television drama, Quantico, she has also carved out a career as a successful business woman with the launch of her own hair care range, Black Pearl Hair, and is a dedicated advocate for wildlife and domestic animals.

Believe it or not, last year got off to a slow start for the actress. This didn’t last long, however, as she started work on two shows, Lip Sync Battle Africa and a talk show. “How 2016 flipped for me and my career was just unbelievable... It was only right that it led up to an international stage at some point. But I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly,” she says. “I was considering having a baby. That was my plan. I wasn’t going to leave my career as such, but just start building a family.” Being a working parent can be difficult without the right support structures, but Pearl knows first-hand that it’s possible to do it. Her plan was to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in July and then fall pregnant in August. But she’s always wary about making plans. “I think in this industry, and life in general, you’ve got to roll with the punches, you know? I like to say roll with the blessings. You can have a plan, but things will change.”