Jamaican actress comes of age on London stage

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The picture of innocence, actress Alanna Leslie has the looks and the credentials to play the part of the preacher's daughter Elsa, who is the love interest of the hero Ivanhoe in the iconic The Harder They Come.

The 26-year-old Jamaican actress has found herself on centrestage in London for the theatre adaptation of the 1972 cult classic film, which starred Jimmy Cliff, and was written by local stalwarts Perry Henzell and Trevor Rhone. A past student of St Andrew High School for Girls and the University of the West Indies, Mona, Leslie has had a love for the stage since childhood. A professed film addict, the actress is currently living in London and is signed to APM Associates talent agency.

When The Sunday Gleaner spoke to Leslie recently, she discussed how her interest in film and the stage began.

"Singing and acting have been passions of mine from as early as I can remember," she said. "I joined the Cathy Levy Players and began training in acting and singing at age nine. I became an active member of the drama club in high school and took it very seriously. At age 13, my neighbour, David Tulloch, who is now a well-known playwright, encouraged me to become a junior member of the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company. Being a member of the company stimulated my passion for music theatre."

However, it was after watching local actress Leonie Forbes perform in Marsha Norman's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Night, Mother that she was fully inspired to pursue acting professionally. Since then, she has received a master's degree in singing, acting, voice and movement at the Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London. Central is known for producing famous actors, such as Vanessa Redgrave, Laurence Olivier and Judi Dench.

First theatre tour

While she has worked in film, television and commercial projects, The Harder They Come will be Leslie's first UK National Theatre Tour.

"I watched the 2007 production of the The Harder They Come at The Barbican Theatre in London and was blown away by what I saw and felt and also by how the audience responded," she said. "I definitely wanted to be a part of creating that magic so, of course, when the opportunity arose to audition and be a part of the cast, I gave it my best shot and was awarded the part of Elsa."

She added: "I'm thrilled to be a part of the production. It's an authentic Jamaican piece and being a member of the cast allows me to raise the Jamaican flag high."

The theatre version of the film features a sparse staging allowing for free-flowing movement by the players and a sextet of musicians unleashing traditional reggae rhythms. The score includes 15 songs composed by Cliff and other Jamaican songwriters. The staging of The Harder They Come opens at The Nottingham Playhouse on Friday, May 14, and plays throughout the UK until July 10 and features fellow Jamaican actors Marlon King, Joy Mack, Kirk Patterson and Chris Tummings.

For the future, Leslie has her hopes set high, with a possible film scheduled for the summer. "I'm someone who aims high and works hard for what I want to achieve," she said. "As to where I'll be in five years, I tend to take life as it comes and I don't plan too far in advance as I don't like to be boxed into cemented plans. What I do know is that with God, all things are possible, and I'm happy and grateful to be living my dream."