The Tribune

HOLLYWOOD actress Sharon Leal has added her name to the list of filmmakers and industry insiders who count the Bahamas as one of their favourite places to work. Ms Leal (Dreamgirls, Soul Men) filmed the Tyler Perry movie, Why Did I Get Married Too, on location in Eleuthera. "It was wonderful," she said. "It is great when you get to do a movie and it is technically work but you actually get to go to these wonderfully exotic places and you get to enjoy a bit of vacation. "So we all got to come out here and experience the elements and get away from our big city living and enjoy the weather and enjoy the people and the culture. It was a wonderful experience." Filming in the Bahamas was filled with rewarding experiences, Ms Leal said. "It was just great to wake up and take a swim in the ocean," she said. "The ocean is absolutely stunning. "Really, it was just a change of climate and the environment - the food and mango daiquiris and the fish. It was just wonderful to be someplace else and to work in an environment that is different than what we are accustomed to. We weren't in a big studio lot or someplace in the city but we were really in paradise." Ms Leal recently completed filming of a Bishop TD Jakes project, On the Seventh Day. The movie, in which she co-stars with veteran actor Blair Underwood (Posse, Madea's Family Reunion), will be released this spring. Meanwhile, Ms Leal hopes to work in the Bahamas again in the near future.