The Tribune

LESLIE Ellis-Tynes is an actress, voice-over artist, radio and television personality.

With a flair for artistic expression in her blood, she first gained experience in acting with stage plays during her school years.

In 2010, she had the lead role in the Bahamian produced feature length film ‘Crazy Love’ which was screened internationally, locally and on pay-per-view. She has also portrayed various roles with James Catalyn & Friends, Track Road Theatre and Shakespeare in Paradise.

Leslie is co-host of The WakeUPandGO Morning Show on 100 JAMZ. Outside the studio, she continues to express her creative side by appearing in television and radio commercials, lending her writing and character voice skills as the exclusive talent for the local branch of an international fast food franchise and as an alternate host of the television programme Native Show.

RM: You’re an actress, radio dj, volunteer at the Bahamas Crisis Centre, how else do you spend your time?

Leslie: I enjoy reading novels, playing instruments, being active, watching films, movies and TV shows.

RM: I believe you celebrated your 30th birthday by jumping out of a plane? Why ?

Leslie: My best friend and I have birthdays within two weeks of each other and came up with the idea years before. We then decided to go for the challenge to commemorate our birthday milestone.

RM: What social issues are most important to you?

Leslie: Broken homes and the resulting destruction of family values; the ailing educational system; teenage pregnancy; rampant crime and disrespect towards people and personal property.

RM: What is it about acting that excites you?

Leslie: There are so many varied aspects of why I love to act. I enjoy the preparation of the project itself; the discovery of my character and the transformation into that character. I love the camaraderie among my fellow actors and the thrill of audience response.

RM: What was the most interesting topic you’ve covered on your radio show?

Leslie: Because we cover such a wide scope of local and international issues from very serious to simple and funny, on any given day, we don’t know what our audience will throw at us. This makes any one show challenging to pinpoint as being the best or most interesting.

RM: Do people recognise you by your voice or do you remain largely anonymous when you move around the island?

Leslie: There have been occasions when someone may recognise me by my voice, while the person that they are with remembers me from a television commercial or hosting Native Show.

RM: Name a person outside of your family who has been an inspiration to you.

Leslie: My best friend from high school had always been such an insightful individual. She always had such an uncanny ability to see talents and strengths in others that they had not been aware of in themselves. In fact, it was that ability, her encouragement and constant support that helped me become the media personality that I am today.

RM: What book, play or movie changed your life?

Leslie: Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson MD was such an enlightening and dynamic story about change, written as a parable. I found the story very compelling. It taught me a lot about myself and helped me build my character.

RM: What is your greatest hope for The Bahamas?

Leslie: My greatest hope for The Bahamas is that the nation can change the mode of political governance from party politics to best individuals for the job.

RM: Can you name one Bahamian under 40 and tell me why they should have made this list.

Leslie: Sharon Turner, a lawyer and contributor to The Tribune, provides such insight into the political and national landscape of our islands. I feel that what she writes speaks volumes to our country’s outlook - thoughts parallel to my own.