Albino actress finds renewal in ‘Sista God II’

Felix has albinism, a condition where people have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin, or hair. They have inherited altered genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin.

But having albinism landed Felix the role as the lead in Yao Ramesar’s film, Sista God II, which premiered at the Trinidad and Tobago’s film festival on September 16 and continues until September 29.

Felix, who has never acted before, was first introduced to the director Yao Ramesar through a friend of hers.

“My friend knew Yao was looking for an albino female for a film he was doing and asked me if I would be interested. After I met him he was satisfied when he met me and I got the part and the rest was history,” she said. Felix notes that being involved with the film has been a blessing in disguise for her as she has struggled throughout her life because of her albinism.

“Growing up and going to school was hard, I had to face a lot of challenges because I was so different from everyone else but this film has definitely strengthened me, especially the role that I played, the first female messiah and that is a really powerful role,” she said.

Felix admitted that it was a bit challenging doing the film, not because of her acting skills but because of her sensitivity to light.

“Yao uses natural light to do his film and my eyes are very sensitive to light but we worked around that by using a lot of sunblock and when the camera was not on I stood under the shade,” she said.

During filming, she was encouraged and pushed along by fellow actor Michael Cherrie.

“He plays Father Devine in the film and I learned a lot, he gave me tips and just looking at him in action, he is really great,” she said.

Her family has been a main support through this project and she got strength to continue from her mother and her four-year-old son.

“Having them in my life has taught me to forget what people have to say about me,” she said.

The 26-year-old revealed that she has a passion for music that she never really pursued because she did not have the courage to pursue it.

“This film has helped me in so many ways it has definitely pushed me to bring everything out,” Felix said.

She enjoys singing conscious music that will elevate and empower the youths.

“The music they are listening to now is not helping them better themselves and I believe I can definitely do that with my songs,” she said.

She recently released a song entitled “In This Life” with reggae artiste Guinea Pepper.

“The song is about telling people that in this life do no try to reap what you did not sow,” she explained. Felix said that after this experience she would not mind acting in another film.

“It may not be as easy as this one but I am definitely willing to do it,” she said.

Felix wanted to share some advice to parents of children with albinism.

“Teach them to stay focussed and not to listen to what other people think because people would try to discourage them,” she said.

She also said that teachers should come together and draft out ways to help albino students.

“Our eyes are very sensitive so sight is a serious problems and teachers have to remember that they have a very important role to play in a child’s development. They need to just come together in finding ways to help out the child as much as possible,” she said.

In the future, Felix hopes to become a professional singer so that she could pursue music internationally and to also form a Caribbean Organisation for People with Albinism that would educate albinos and others about the condition.