Abena finds her Rhythm

Abena Ayivor

Abena Ayivor

Published Jan 26, 2015

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By Debashine Thangevelo

SOMETIMES characters prove so forceful that their legacies live on long after the actors have left the show.

Such is the case with Abena Ayivor, who inhabited the role of Lerato Modise (Generations 2000 to 2003). Despite bagging parts on This is Life as well as Charlie Jade, her soapie role has been indestructible.

While she has not been as constant a face on our screens, she hasn’t forsaken acting by any means.

Ayivor admits: “Yeah, I stayed away from soaps for a long time. I was just saying to someone the other day, Generations is such a big machine. When you do other work that isn’t as busy and out there, people wonder where you have gone. But I have been constantly working. Generally, lots of international work and voice-overs.”

And her résumé includes Wild at Heart (TV series), Machine Gun Preacher (with Gerard Butler), The Dinosaur Project and The Good Lie.

It’s not a lot, but such is the life of an actress in this cut-throat industry sometimes.

She shares: “We don’t really have a choice to pick and choose roles. It is never easy. Sometimes you just want to get the part. Very few times, I would get a call where they ask you to come through. I remember when Fana Mokwena (we did Machine Gun Preacher) went to read for World War Z. He was, literally, called for a table read as the director was familiar with his work. And when he came back home, he was still asked to audition. Look, I have no problem auditioning. But in some instances, you hope that your reputation speaks for itself.

“There are no guarantees in the industry. I knew I was never going to be a millionaire. I tried to craft my career in a certain way, but it never goes according to plan. You look at Naomi Harris, she was making baby steps but knew where she wanted to go. Because of her being international, she was able to do that. Now she is the Bond girl. Here I am doing itty-bitty parts. It can be frustrating and demoralising, at times. But acting is an innate part of me.”

That said, she proved pretty impressive when she auditioned for Rhythm City.

While there for Mile Vilakazi’s story arc, she has enjoyed slipping into the skin of Anna.

Of her character, she reveals: “What I love about her is that she is a hardball, but fair. There is funny business. She is the best at what she does and is always prepared.”

As for whether Anna believes Miles isn’t responsible for the murder of Lesedi Magole (Lucilla’s nephew), Ayivor points out: “She believes what he tells her and does the best she can for him.”

Tonight asked her if she felt strange returning to soaps.

She laughs: “It’s almost like coming home. There is definitely a soap rhythm that you fall back into. But it is a completely different production, so the energy is different. But there is a definite family kind of feel on set. I found it to be a very friendly and nurturing environment, right from the top to the bottom.”

Unlike other social butterfly celebs, Ayivor prefers a quieter lifestyle.

“I love to read and watch movies. And I spend a lot of time with my family. My siblings and I have the best fun when we are together. Right now, I’m trying to work through all the Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe biggies for the year. I’m watching Big Eyes, Cake and I have to see Selma, especially with all the controversy.”

On the book front, anything that isn’t sci-fi or non-fiction works for her.

Meanwhile, viewers can tune in to watch her go all Annalise Keating (Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder); more so, after learning that Lesedi abused Miles’s son, Buhle.

Rhythm City, e.tv, 6.30pm, weekdays.

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