Exclusive: Maria Doyle Kennedy on ‘Recipes for Love and Murder’

Maria Doyle Kennedy revealed her favourite recipe from Recipes for Love and Murder and more in an exclusive interview with The South African.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ‘RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER’ SEASON TWO

Marie Doyle Kennedy reprises her role as Tannie Maria on season two of Recipes for Love and Murder, which premiered on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 20:00 on Tuesday 23 January.

“When a massive fire engulfs the small town of Eden, a fateful chain of events is triggered and Tannie Maria, Jessie and Khaya get dragged into a multiple murder investigation that unearths the town’s darkest secrets,” according to M-Net.

Maria Doyle Kennedy (Tannie Maria), Tony Kgoroge (Detective Khaya Meyer), and Kylie Fisher (Jessie September) will be reprising their roles. While there are some new faces joining as well:

• Wynand Ferreira who portrays Jaco, Regardt’s intense younger brother
• Gerard Rudolph as Ricus, a trained psychologist turned mechanic
• Hlubi Mboya as Jackie Baloyi, the new undertaker following the passing of Hattie’s husband.

Take a look at our exclusive interview with Anton Jeftha, who stars on Skemergrond here.

Q&A WITH MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY

Maria Doyle Kennedy revealed more about her character and more in an exclusive Q&A with The South African.

What drew you to the character of Tannie Maria?

I had just finished working on “Outlander” and was reading a lot of material and considering what to do next, script after script was dark ,violent and mostly concerned with serial killers. Then I read the “Recipes for Love and Murder” scripts and they shone like a jewel in trash! Yes there’s a murder but also there I saw joy and tenderness and community and was instantly drawn to the warm but emotionally damaged character of Tannie Maria and the town full of Oddballs she inhabits.

How did this role challenge you, compared to other roles that you have played?

The big challenge in playing Tannie Maria was in how to be truthful to her eccentric and slightly distant character , without pushing viewers away. Yes she can be warm and helpful when she engages with her fellow townsfolk, but helpfulness is the sunny side of control! She engages on her own terms and is helpful sometimes I order to divert attention from herself. She is afraid to reveal much and sees vulnerability as a weakness. By the end of Season 1 she has come a long way in re-learning how to trust……and that’s what we build on in season two.

What can viewers expect from season two?

One of the loveliest things in Season two is the development of the relationships we have seen the beginnings of Tannie Maria , Khaya( Tony Kgoroge) , Hattie ( Jennifer Steyn) and Jessie ( Kylie Fisher) , how they engage with each other and deepen their bonds……..and because we established the town of Eden so carefully in Season 1, this time around all of its Eccentric towns-folk get a chance to really shine…….Megan Alexander as Klaasen, Loren Loubser as Lucille, Martelize Kolver as Tannie Elna, Elton Landrew as Piet, Arno Grieff as Rejardt, and of course you’ll meet some new folks in the new mysteries……I won’t spoil it for you but it’s truly worth your time.

Did you manage to explore South Africa whilst filming?

We filmed in Capetown and Prince Albert and I had enough time to do a lot of exploring there, and I managed a few short trips in the surrounding areas but didn’t have enough time to travel further. When filming this time around, we were out of the pandemic and your art and cultural institutions were open again ,so we could properly experience the city . Next time I’m there,  I’m going to build in time to visit a (long ) list of other destinations… beginning with Durban. 

Do you have a favourite recipe from season two?

It’s a toss up between the Kudu Wellington and the Hertzoggies! Both totally new to me and both mouthwateringly delicious

Did you pick up any South African slang during your stay?

• Now now
• As well
• Howzit
• Is it?
• Hectic
• Lekker
• 100%
• Tense
• Yoh 
• Shame 
• And my personal favourite pleasure !
  

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