Actress from the South going places

LETTICIA Bissondut from Bassonia is an actress in Los Angeles and is currently busy with Never Odd or Even, which she says is her favourite movie up to now.

Her parents, Deena and Rachael Bissondut, are, and rightly so, very proud of her, as is her elder sister.

Letticia attended Palm Ridge Secondary School and went on to study film and acting at ADFA where she achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting. After she graduated, she packed up her bags and moved to London, studying further at The Actors Centre, where she did theatre and modelling work. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she lives and works.

She played the lead in The Truth About Quiet Canyon Lane, which premiered at the LA 24 Hour Film Festival and was warmly received and has also done International print campaigns for Facebook by Thomas Prior and Toastmasters and has dabbled in the commercial world and most notably booked a national commercial, directed by the Emmy Award-winning Wayne McClammy.

As well as acting, she curates a blog called The Dreamers, which follows her humanitarian work, as well as her photography, adventures as the life of a dreamer and features interviews with some of today’s biggest names and hearts in the world of philanthropy.

The Comaro CHRONICLE spoke to Letticia, getting to know her a little better.

What are your hobbies?

“I love creating things. My biggest passions outside of acting are my photography and partnering with non-profit organisations to do humanitarian work.”

Who is your favourite actor/actress?

“Oh, that’s a tough one. I love Margot Robbie, she’s just so charming and killing the game when it comes to producing and her film choices. Oh and Cate Blanchette is a genius, such a fan. I love anyone who I can learn from and get lost to the point where I don’t see them but just a character. Timothée Chalamet blew me away in Call Me by your Name. There are just so many talented humans in the industry, I’m really inspired by every single one pursuing acting, no matter where they are in the world because it is no easy task and takes much perseverance.”

And your favourite movie/TV programme?

“Game of Thrones, The Handmaid’s Tale and Atypical, are my favourites and I just watched I Think We’re Alone Now, directed and shot by Reed Morano and I’m obsessed. It’s such an incredibly empathetic look at loneliness and love. I’m a sucker for anything that gives me the feels, makes me think and pushes me to create positive change. I’m especially in awe of my fellow South African filmmakers right now too. So many great cinematic films being made, I just saw the trailer for Sew the Winter to My Skin and am blown away. I can’t wait to see it. I try to watch as many locally made films as I can. I think it’s so important to support our filmmakers here at home too.”

What does your future hold for you? What’s next on your list?

“I have a short film about to hit the festival circuit, so travelling with the film and doing press for it. There are also a few more film projects in the works right now too, so keeping busy with that too. I also have my first solo photography exhibition coming up. Super excited to be able to showcase some work from a recent trip to Malawi and have an audience see the strength in Africa.”

On your recent trip to Africa what was the project about you were involved in?

“I went with a team of fantastic humans from Mosaic who do a lot of humanitarian work. For me, humanitarian work has been the most rewarding component of my life. I grew up in Africa and grew up volunteering my whole life so when the opportunity came up to go to Malawi this past June, I jumped at it. My acting came in handy with the children in the villages, I got to spend a bunch of time with them learning about their way of life. That’s something acting has taught me from the very beginning, how to be empathetic instead of feeling sympathy. I learned so much from them, their joy and generosity are what struck me most.”

With such a hectic schedule, Letticia always makes time to come home to South Africa a couple times a year and should be back under our sunny skies in just a few short months for a potential film project.

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