Lesedi Matsunyane-Ferguson opens up about body politics in the entertainment industry. The actress was invited to The Five Minute Call podcast hosted by Candice Modiselle, where she talked about how looks are essential in the industry. Lesedi disclosed her struggles trying to pave the way for herself as an actress due to her looks. she had to fight twice as hard in showbiz based on how she looks and expresses herself.
In her own words, Lesedi Matsunyane-Ferguson said:
“It’s been really a couple of times. There’s been a couple of auditions I went to where what hurt the most was being told by the casting director that ‘out of everyone, you had the best performance, but they went a certain way because you didn’t have a look’. So it didn’t matter whether you could encompass that character fully. Then it became about the look, and if not the look, it became about the prominence.”
“It became prevalent around those times for me that you have to fight twice as hard, and already I’m fighting twice as hard just based on my identity. Now I have to fight even harder just because of how I look, how I express myself and how my body is shaped.”
Watch the full video of Lesedi Matsunyane-Ferguson’s interview with Candice Modiselle
Lesedi hopes to change body politics in the entertainment industry
Although Lesedi could not secure an acting gig due to her looks, she later got a job as a casting director at Ferguson Films. She is the brains behind the success of Ferguson Films and has created employment for several upcoming stars in the acting industry.
She has been working with Ferguson Films for years and hopes to fight body politics in the entertainment industry. Lesedi believes acting should be about talent, not looks and bootylicious body.