The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live is the highly anticipated spin-off series from the hit franchise The Walking Dead, which ran for eleven series before it ended in 2022.
Lesley-Ann Brandt is an actress best known for her role on the TV series Lucifer. Brandt plays the role of Pearl Thorne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
Ahead of the show’s debut, Lesley-Ann Brandt revealed all about playing the role of Pearl Thorne.
How did you get the opportunity to be a part of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live?
I auditioned for the role. I sent in a tape, and then I got a call back to meet with Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira, which was great. At the same, I was up for another project; so, I was trying to figure out how I could do both, but then it got to the point where I would have to choose and, after receiving Andy’s support, I decided to do The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. I think I made the right decision.
The Walking Dead is a show like no other, with an extraordinary following. Coming into it with a new character, what did you do to prepare for this challenge?
I binge-watched the whole show from beginning to end. It hooks you in! I just really wanted to understand the relationship between Rick and Michonne well, what made these characters so special, and the tone of the show. And I soon realized why it is as successful as it is. I think Andy is a phenomenal talent in creating this very beloved sheriff, and then Michonne is an amazing character who is such a badass. It’s really centred around human experiences.
Who is Pearl Thorne, your character?
Like Rick, Thorne is a survivor. The difference is that even though he tries to conform to this military organization and the system, there is just something instinctually within him that will always be catered to his family and the people he loves, whereas I feel Thorne has given up a little bit. The world has beaten her down; but she finds some kind of solace in her friendship with Rick and feels they could achieve something together, especially after the way she was really shaken up by Okafor dying.
Okafor is the person who brings her into the military organization known as CRM (Civic Republic Military).
Yes, and he sees that Rick and Thorne are special or “As” as he calls them. His intentions are admirable because he wants to change the system from within and reform what this military organization is and does. He believes he can do it with these two people, mentoring them to think differently.
What do you believe an actor like Craig Tate brought to that role?
You needed someone like Craig for this big role with a lot of dialogue because the character has to be able to challenge Rick to think differently. I liked how he played it with this sort of unique New Orleans drawl.
And how was it for you to play a character who is, like you, South African?
I loved it! Originally the character was French, but I made her South African, which was cool. I gave them different options in my audition, and Danai and Andy were both huge advocates of that. Thorne is someone who is not apologetic about being who she is, and Danai and I, being from the African continent, understand the grit and toughness that women back home have due to everything we have gone through as people and as a community. But at the center of us there is also a vulnerable middle; you just have to cut through all the layers. We are like onions…
You mentioned how Andrew Lincoln was instrumental in you getting this role, and then you had the opportunity to work closely with him. How was that experience?
Andy is truly the kindest human being. He genuinely cares about this character and doing right by the fans. It’s very easy to become jaded when you play the same character for so long, but he isn’t. Andy is very committed, and he takes his preparation very seriously. And when you join this family, I think that if you are not someone who works the same way, you would stand out very quickly. So, it’s not enough to just know the lines; you must have thought about everything coming in. I remember I had lunch with him on one of my first days on set, and he made me feel very welcome straight off the bat, knowing I had a limited time to tell my character’s story. It all started with an initial email he sent me – one of the nicest I’ve ever received from an actor about my work – regarding me joining the cast, and I’m very appreciative about that. Both Andy and Danai care so much about this.
So, how was the shoot?
It was great, but also tough. I mean, we were in New Jersey shooting at night at 21 degrees; so, if you are a precious person, this is not the shoot for you. You must be gritty and prepared to look a little bit crazy on camera, as long as you are telling the truth. I loved it because it reminded me a bit of my indie filmmaking, where things happen, and you must learn to roll with the punches. And that’s what all the actors did, especially Andy. So, I really enjoyed it. It was challenging in a very cool way and different to other experiences like Lucifer.
Did you enjoy the physical aspect of it?
Always! I think that how a character moves and enters a room or even fights inform you a lot about who that person is. Thorne is formidable in that way, but she also has a real heart to her that I love. We meet her years after she has been trying to get back to South Africa, but she has been beaten down and needs to feel valuable.
In that sense, another key character is Major General Beale, played by Terry O’Quinn.
Terry is such a gentleman. I think that once Okafor is out of the picture, Major General Beale becomes Thorne’s mentor, but he’s a little bit more dangerous.
How was it to work with filmmaker and showrunner Scott M. Gimple?
I met Scott on Zoom, and what I am so appreciative about is that he allowed me to come in and make this character my own, letting me push the boundaries a bit too. For instance, South Africans are known for going straight to the point, and he was very open to me incorporating that into the character. I was just very grateful to him for making me feel I could bring my ideas because, whether or not he agreed, that door was always open. Scott is under a lot of pressure, as he is looking after the whole universe of The Walking Dead. So, it’s a huge job, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for it.
So, how do you look back now at the whole experience of being a part of this project?
I feel so lucky for having made this decision. I’m sure fans will be happy with The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.