Model and actress Lesley-Ann Brandt is one fifth of our December COCOBelle feature with the cast of VH1s Single Ladies. Having starred in shows including the Starz breakout hit Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Chuck, CSI New York, and TNT’s Memphis Beat, Lesley-Ann is joining the Single Ladies cast as newcomer, Naomi! You can tune in to the Season 3 premier on January 6th to see her debut.
We had an opportunity to chat with Lesley-Ann about her role on Single Ladies, her off-duty style and beauty preferences, and how she stays both beautiful and healthy.
Can you tell us a bit about your character on Single Ladies this season?
My character on Single Ladies, Naomi, comes in with a bang! She causes a few issues between Malcolm and Keisha. She is driven and has ties to Malcolm, his brother Terrence and his father. At her heart is a hurt woman: she came from nothing and her motto is ‘by all means necessary’. She is a bit of a thorn in Keisha’s side.
What was it like working on Spartacus?
It was phenomenal I’m so grateful to have been a part of the show. I learned so much as an artist. The show is very technical, and there are invaluable tools that I learned there. It was one of the highlights of my career and opened up doors in Hollywood.
How would you describe your "off duty" style--your signature look when you're off the Single Ladies set?
I live in my Isabel Marant sneakers--they are so comfortable. I have a lot of vintage, which I love. I’m a huge Rag & Bone fan--Letoya Luckett and I both. I took her to the Rag & Bone store and she lost her mind! It’s not that expensive. In general, my style is sexy chic: not too much skin.
How do you protect your tresses when you’re not on set?
I'm a huge fan of Kevin Murphy and Oribe hair care. I try and use as little heat on my hair as possible, so I'm a wash and go kind of girl. Work does require a lot of styling so I do a mask on my hair at least once a week, and every month I grab some Organic Jojoba oil and Coconut oil (you can buy these from Whole Foods), mix them up and apply for about an hour to inject some moisture.
Were you active in sports in high school or in college? What is your current favorite way to stay fit?
I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, I came from a family of swimmers and I played field hockey—so being active and healthy and taking care of myself was instilled in me at a very young age. I like the feeling of being healthy. I like to get away from the business and workout: I love hot yoga and my boyfriend and I hike a lot.
As a model and actress, your face is a part of your brand: what are your favorite ways to keep your skin looking flawless?
The first thing I do is drink water in the morning and before I go to bed. The climate in Cape Town is very similar to LA so I wear a lot of sunscreen. I try not to go to bed with make-up on. I love hot yoga and being in the room for an hour sweating and detoxifying the skin. I take care of my face with a strict regimen: I know if I have a blemish I don’t feel as confident.
What’s in your Ultimate Beauty Arsenal—your top three beauty products you cannot live without?
My top three beauty products would be sunscreen, Bobbi Brown under-eye corrector in dark peach and my Environ skin care.
My mother was a huge advocate for protecting my skin from an early age. The Bobbi Brown corrector is like magic for any woman with dark circles. I have to have it on every set I work on.
What is the most indulgent beauty experience you have ever had?
My most indulgent experience was a three hour facial and body massage service. I literally could not stand up after because I was so relaxed. These days I don't have three hours to spare.
Read the rest of the COCOBelle of the Month interviews featuring the cast of VH1's Single Ladies:
LisaRaye McCoy
Denise Vasi
LeToya Luckett
Charity Shea
We had an opportunity to chat with Lesley-Ann about her role on Single Ladies, her off-duty style and beauty preferences, and how she stays both beautiful and healthy.
Can you tell us a bit about your character on Single Ladies this season?
My character on Single Ladies, Naomi, comes in with a bang! She causes a few issues between Malcolm and Keisha. She is driven and has ties to Malcolm, his brother Terrence and his father. At her heart is a hurt woman: she came from nothing and her motto is ‘by all means necessary’. She is a bit of a thorn in Keisha’s side.
What was it like working on Spartacus?
It was phenomenal I’m so grateful to have been a part of the show. I learned so much as an artist. The show is very technical, and there are invaluable tools that I learned there. It was one of the highlights of my career and opened up doors in Hollywood.
How would you describe your "off duty" style--your signature look when you're off the Single Ladies set?
I live in my Isabel Marant sneakers--they are so comfortable. I have a lot of vintage, which I love. I’m a huge Rag & Bone fan--Letoya Luckett and I both. I took her to the Rag & Bone store and she lost her mind! It’s not that expensive. In general, my style is sexy chic: not too much skin.
How do you protect your tresses when you’re not on set?
I'm a huge fan of Kevin Murphy and Oribe hair care. I try and use as little heat on my hair as possible, so I'm a wash and go kind of girl. Work does require a lot of styling so I do a mask on my hair at least once a week, and every month I grab some Organic Jojoba oil and Coconut oil (you can buy these from Whole Foods), mix them up and apply for about an hour to inject some moisture.
Were you active in sports in high school or in college? What is your current favorite way to stay fit?
I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, I came from a family of swimmers and I played field hockey—so being active and healthy and taking care of myself was instilled in me at a very young age. I like the feeling of being healthy. I like to get away from the business and workout: I love hot yoga and my boyfriend and I hike a lot.
As a model and actress, your face is a part of your brand: what are your favorite ways to keep your skin looking flawless?
The first thing I do is drink water in the morning and before I go to bed. The climate in Cape Town is very similar to LA so I wear a lot of sunscreen. I try not to go to bed with make-up on. I love hot yoga and being in the room for an hour sweating and detoxifying the skin. I take care of my face with a strict regimen: I know if I have a blemish I don’t feel as confident.
What’s in your Ultimate Beauty Arsenal—your top three beauty products you cannot live without?
My top three beauty products would be sunscreen, Bobbi Brown under-eye corrector in dark peach and my Environ skin care.
My mother was a huge advocate for protecting my skin from an early age. The Bobbi Brown corrector is like magic for any woman with dark circles. I have to have it on every set I work on.
What is the most indulgent beauty experience you have ever had?
My most indulgent experience was a three hour facial and body massage service. I literally could not stand up after because I was so relaxed. These days I don't have three hours to spare.
Read the rest of the COCOBelle of the Month interviews featuring the cast of VH1's Single Ladies:
LisaRaye McCoy
Denise Vasi
LeToya Luckett
Charity Shea