If you have been glued to Pearl Magic and Pearl Magic Prime, chances are that you’ve caught an episode of Cross Roads, the spicy, small-town-meets-city drama that has everyone picking sides.
In the second episode of Home of Our Stars, host, Namazzi Judithianna Ndugwa, sits down with the trio behind the tangled love triangle lighting up our screens, Rebecca Iradukunda who plays Kwezi, the village-belle, Emmanuel Atuhaire, cast as Mackenzie, the Casanova, and lastly Nicole Estella Matovu, the other side of the triangle, who plays Abby, the up-town girl.
What makes this cast particularly noteworthy is that two of the three stars, Rebecca and Estella, are making their acting debuts in the show, bringing a rare authenticity and excitement to their roles.
Rebecca, a runway model turned actress, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity. She said, “Well, the journey was all God’s plan because this was my very first acting role, and I am so humbled and honored to have gotten an opportunity that is big.”.
Her enthusiasm, bright smile and humility was evident throughout this Home of Our Stars episode which is an indication of the opportunities the local industry is creating for fresh talent.
For Estella, who was also making her debut on film expressed her excitement and reservations that she had with acting, seeing that her real-life persona is grounded in strong religious values, she noted that accepting the role came with its own considerations.
“Personally, I felt like it was a huge challenge, so when I read the script and saw a bit of intimacy, I had to double-check with the production team, who assured me that Crossroads is a family show and DStv’s broadcasting guidelines are clear for family shows, hence the scenes are family friendly,” she revealed.
Emmanuel, who plays Mackenzie, is the only one of the trio with prior experience in film and television, having featured in several films across Pearl Magic and Maisha Magic, such as the popular Sanyu Series and Blood Ransom, a short film on Maisha Magic.
The conversation also delved into their perceptions of the film industry prior to joining it. Estella noted that she was very nervous and still feels the same, however, with support from her directors, she managed to overcome her fears, narrating that, “I had support from my directors and producers and encouraged by people were shocked that it was my first time on set as an actress which gave me a boost,” adding that“I initially thought acting was the same with live TV broadcast but it was totally different.”
Looking forward, the cast expressed their interest in exploring different roles compared to what they have currently acted in. Emmanuel particularly expressed his interest in more intense roles.
He said, “I have done a lot of lovey-dovey characters and I would like to do more psychotic roles where you get to change your personality. I did a movie called Enkuba on Maisha Magic and I would want something more of that.”
Estella and Rebecca also expressed that they would like to see themselves in roles that are challenging and opposite to what they are usually cast in.
Between the giggles and peer teasing that exuded their playful chemistry, the trio was asked how they keep the on-screen chemistry burning to which they attributed to being off-screen friends and strategizing ahead of scenes.
Beyond their roles, the actors opened up about how their lives have changed since the show’s premiere. All three admitted to being more recognized in public and feeling a subtle impact of fame, and even question if they can go downtown to shop.
For Rebecca, it had been her dream to be famous. She said, “For me, this is a dream come true. If someone asked me where I would want to be five years ago, I’d say, here and indeed here I am, I’ve always wanted to be famous.”
The trio in unison agreed that the Ugandan film industry has progressed with a lot more professionalism and more advanced equipment and only hope to have projects more promoted and marketed to a larger market.
While Cross Roads continues to explore themes of love, loyalty, and identity, Home of Our Stars provides a deeper look at the real people behind the performances.
It is also an indication to how MultiChoice Uganda is nurturing the next generation of storytellers giving platforms to undiscovered talent and building a robust, vibrant local film industry.
As Uganda’s creative economy continues to grow, it’s clear that stories like these on-screen and off are shaping a new era in entertainment. And with the likes of Rebecca, Estelle, and Emmanuel leading the charge, the future certainly looks bright.
Tune in to Home of Our Stars on Pearl Magic Prime DStv channel 148 and GOtv channel 303 every Sunday at 9 pm for exclusive insights into Uganda’s brightest emerging talent and the stories that bring local drama to life.
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