Anelisa Phewa’s role on ‘Law, Love and Betrayal’ is an ode to his father

Anelisa Phewa said his role on Law, Love and Betrayal is an ode to his father, who is a lawyer.

The actor born in KwaZulu-Natal plays James Makaula, a smart and vicious lawyer who is as comfortable in the boardroom as he is in the bustling streets of the kasi. He described his character as the Kobe Bryant of the team.

“It’s an interesting show. My father is a lawyer. I hadn’t done something like this before, and the platform is big. If we go into the nuances, it’s that he looks a certain way and presents a certain way but when you start to unravel him, you begin to see other sides of James. He’s got layers, and that’s what drew me to him,” he said.

“This show is so exciting for us because it’s challenging and slick. But for me, it’s also about the idea of my dad and his friends with their swag. They are judges and lawyers. So it’s an ode to my dad. That’s what excites me the most.”

Apart from having scored a new gig, Anelisa said working alongside renowned thespian Nimrod Nkosi, Pearl Modiadie and Siya Sepotokele for the first time has been an experience he will never forget.

“They are my peers, but as an audience member they are stars. When I saw Pearl for the first time, I said, 'uzowuzwa umoya'. With actors, there’s a big politic in our separation, so whenever we come together there are nerves. I was very nervous during the test shoot with Pearl, and she had to place a hand on my chest. I remember her asking me, 'Why is your heart beating fast? Are you nervous?'. I said, 'Yes', and she responded, 'Thank God, me too'. From that we were able to soften each other.”

He has not only made money from the role, but also secured another bag with his company involved in the project.

“We take people from good to great, and having that supportive learning environment allows us to do that, which is reflected in the work. It speaks to the whole industry, emphasising actors need support too. We are a consultancy because actors need a place to ask questions about character, articulation, or how to run a scene or do a self-tape. It’s a fraternity for actors before the show, a place where they can refine themselves. So, we’re not a school, we are a consultancy. But we also have talent.”