Who do you see when you hear words like panache and je ne sais quoi? Surely it’s the blonde poppie that adds some sparkle to the world of 7de Laan. Paula van der Lecq – the confident, fun-loving girl who loves to shop and be pampered at Laura Lee’s beauty salon.

But the lady behind this ditzy character has much more going on in her life than shopping and socialising. We chatted to Diaan Lawrenson about work, love and motherhood.

You’re one of the most beloved characters on 7de Laan – and you’ve been playing the role of Paula for about 7 years already! What’s the whole experience been like?

That’s a big question requiring a lengthy answer! I’ve just learnt so much working at 7de Laan regarding discipline, stamina, dedication and commitment to my craft. I work with exceptionally creative and dynamic artists – who I’ve developed wonderful relationships with. I love playing Paula, my alter ego and it’s been quite a journey of self-discovery.

You’re also so much more than just ditzy Paula! Tell us a bit about all your other projects, like theatre.  What are you busy with, what have you done and what is coming up?

We have two shows in production at the moment, and two shows in pre-production. We’ve just finished a run at the Baxter Theatre with “Bullets over Bishop Lavis” which went very well! And we’re organising a mini theatre festival in Mitchell’s Plain for October this year.

Every year I demand some time off from producing, and then another exciting project comes our way – how can I say no? I think this is where my real passion lies – getting a group of creatives together and making magic! We’re very busy with productions and loving every second of it.

You also work with your husband, Jody Abrahams a lot (in fact, he even proposed to you on stage!)  – what’s it like working together?

Because the entertainment industry is a passion that we share with each other, working together actually fuels our relationship in a very positive way. We inspire each other with new ideas and that feeds into our relationship and our family life. Of course we do sometimes disagree about things, but we always remember that we come first – no matter what. We really love working together.

How has becoming a mom changed you?

Being a mom has changed me in every way possible! For the first time in my life I feel grounded with both of my feet firmly planted. What I do makes sense and every day is filled with joy. I love being a mom more than I love my career and that puts things in perspective for me. I am blessed.

Would you want your daughter to follow in her famous parents’ footsteps one day and work in the entertainment industry?

It’s not something we encourage, but it’s also not something we’ll stand in the way of. If it’s what she wants to do then we’ll fully support her.