Not your average Chappie

Chappie, Neill Blomkamp's latest locally flavoured blockbuster, stars Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver,and zef rappers Yo-landi and Ninja, from Die Antwoord.

It tracks the life of Earth's first thinking, feeling robot. Tiara Walters spoke to Copley.

You and Neill keep collaborating - why?

He's one of the world's best directors and it's an honour to go into battle with him in this extremely competitive industry.

We also flow creatively. A couple of years ago I developed a character based on Cape Town gangsters, which I had wanted to use in Men in Black 3, but Hollywood didn't go for it. So I sent a couple of improvised character scenes to Neill just to share it with him. That's how Chappie was born.

Which aspect of Chappie challenged you the most?

In a film like this the actors on set are usually acting against nothing- the robots are added afterwards. For Chappie I wore a skin-tight grey suit and was acting on set. This helped the other actors deliver realistic performances and gave animators the character to work from.

Have local success stories such as those of you and Charlize Theron made it easier for our actors?

Our accent is still the biggest consideration. Some get upset that Charlize changed hers but she had no choice. There are too many talented Americans competing for the same roles. I am in a different situation because I am a character actor. I change my accent and voice all the time.

Do Americans understand us better because of your films?

I don't know if our films have informed American audiences but they have helped keep this country and its politics on the radar.

In my travels I've noticed that the "racist white South African" stereotype has mostly faded. Now the world is asking, "What happens next?" Very high-profile people seem to know a lot more than I expect. They ask if Jacob Zuma is going to be another Robert Mugabe, why didn't we let the Dalai Lama into the country, why is the ANC forming alliances with countries such as Russia and China, which are not known for multicultural tolerance?

• "Chappie" is on South African screens from March 13