ZAlebs chats with Ghanaian actress Lydia Forson about her role on local soapie Scandal! Find out what’s in store…

So first things first, congratulations on landing the role of Aku! You must be so excited…

Thank you, and yes I am excited, it's a milestone in my career and I'm overwhelmed by the response I'm getting from fans both here in Ghana and South Africa.

Were you a Scandal! fan before you landed the role?

I've been watching Scandal for a while now, but I never thought I'd be staring in it until I got the call. As an actress there are several movies, shows, soaps etc. you have on your bucket list but the possibility of crossing out a lot of the items on that list is very rare. Scandal! was even rarer for me since I was all the way in Ghana and not here! But I guess if you work hard enough, your talent just may be recognised in the place you least expect.

Can you tell us a bit more about your character?  

Aku lives in her own world in her head but isn't completely oblivious to her environment. She's funny, over the top and leaves a lasting impression on everyone who comes into contact with her.

What do you like most about playing her?

I love that she was so full of life, and in every scene she leaves people with their mouths open. It was a lot of fun getting to completely let go and have fun, and this included getting to wear some really great outfits as well. Having such great chemistry with my co-actors helped a lot in bringing my character to life.

How do you think the public will respond to Aku?

There are sure to be a lot of laughs when she appears and I hope viewers will enjoy watching her as much as I enjoyed playing her.

You work quite closely alongside co-star Siyabonga Shibe (who plays the role of Kila). Can you tell us what he’s like in real life?

Prior to our first scene together I had never met him and I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure if we would have chemistry or how he would respond to me. When I eventually met him, he was extremely nice, very professional and had a lot of patience running my lines with me. Eventually I got comfortable around him and everyone else and I must say this went a long way to help me perform.

Lastly, what can we expect in the coming episodes…

Expect a lot of drama, laughter and more drama!

Watch Scandal! on e.tv Monday – Friday at 7:30pm