Meeting Miss Valentine at the Con

For local pop-culture fans, Comic Con South Africa is about dressing up, mingling with like-minded people, and discovering the latest in gaming.

It is also about seeing some of the screen’s biggest stars on the main stage, talking to the crowd before signing autographs and taking pictures.

This year, one of those stars was South Africa’s own Jazzara Jaslyn.

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Jaslyn is best known for portraying Miss Valentine in the live-action adaptation of One Piece, and, while she is no stranger to a convention, the South African event holds a special place in her heart. “I think what’s cool is that when you’re talking to fans here, it’s like the same accent,” she said.

“They’re your people, and you feel the energy of so many people. We had a few questions about what advice you would give to actors in South Africa, and I think just being able to be in such a huge show and to say to those people that it is possible is really cool.”

This is Jaslyn’s fifth convention in connection with her role in One Piece, her first being in Paris. “I was just so excited,” she said. “The gift of travelling for work is incredible, and going to Paris was really special. I also got to meet Elijah Wood and John Cleese, which was incredible, especially for little me.”

She thrives on meeting the fans. “What I also really enjoyed about Comic Con and meeting the fans is how diverse it is,” she said. “There are children, but also older people – just all ages.”

Of course, it was daunting when she first took on such a well-known anime role. “I was a bit nervous, to be honest, to see how the fans would react,” she said. “You just don’t know. I was hoping that it would be good, but I think it’s been even better than I thought.”

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There was a specific aspect of the ‘evil Mary Poppins’ character that she loved. “I love the 1960s fashion element,” she said. “Growing up, I loved 1960s music and fashion, and it was just such a delicious experience to play someone who’s a villain, who has this crazy laugh, but is also so stylish.”

When asked about any strange incidents that happened at the various conventions she has attended, Jaslyn could only laugh over a particular occurrence in Brussels. “I must say it was the weirdest, quirkiest experience I’ve ever had,” she said.

“There was just something about Brussels. I think it’s my British humour. I had a sweet fan who was chatting, but I was trying to concentrate on signing and told him I didn’t want to mess up the signature. As I was trying to concentrate, he whipped out a windpipe and started playing. It was whimsical, and I was just thinking, ‘What is happening?’ Then he put it back, took his autograph and left. It was so sweet, but quite situational.”

If anyone pulls out a vuvuzela at Comic Con South Africa, Jaslyn will know how to react with the same grace and poise she shows all her fans.

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