Mzansi's favourite lawyer Sandra Stein joins 'Law, Love and Betrayal' season 2
"Law, Love and Betrayal" is coming back for a second season and it's bringing Mzansi's favourite lawyer, Sandra Stein.
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There are fictional characters on TV shows that are just hard not to fall in love with, and fierce lawyer Sandra Stein is exactly that.
Mzansi TV viewers were first introduced to the character portrayed by South African Film and TV Award winner Shannon Esra on Mzansi Magic’s former telenovela “The Queen”.
Now the beloved character is returning to screens on the second season of Showmax’s legal drama series “Law, Love & Betrayal” (LLB).
A Golden Horn Award winner for Best Actress in a Lead Role in a TV Drama, Esra shared insights about portraying the take-no-prisoners lawyer.
When LLB series producer and director Christo Davids called Esra to gauge her interest on being on the law drama’s second series, she was quick to say yes.
“During Season 1, I had people on Twitter asking where Sandra was, so when Christo approached me, I gladly obliged. It felt almost inevitable. Here you have this wonderful legal show, and we’re somehow ignoring this incredibly popular fan favourite.”
The powerful character has appeared on “The River”, “Gomora” and “The Throne”, as well as M-Net’s “The Legacy”.
“The fact that Sandra has lived in so many fictional worlds for as long as she has really shows there’s something utilitarian about her. She’s perfunctory, she’s brilliant, and there’s so much mystery and enigma behind her. I think that’s what people love.
“When the director called, I was relieved, then in disbelief. I’m incredibly grateful.”
Esra explained that one of the great things about portraying Sandra is that she is as easy as slipping into a suit. “There’s nothing odious or emotionally painstaking about playing her. There’s a flow that I find incredibly relieving and refreshing.
“I’ve played characters like Candice in ‘Still Breathing’ and Samantha in ‘Lioness’, where the emotional toll lingered deeply and caused personal upheaval. Sandra, on the other hand, teaches me that it’s okay to have fun. I can wear the character; she doesn’t wear me down. She’s easy, like Sunday morning.”
Sandra, on “Law, Love and Betrayal", is surrounded by other strong personalities, and Esra teased that viewers will see Sandra enjoying getting under the skin of certain characters.
“This season, I wanted to explore a certain darkness in Sandra, but with humour. She’s strategic, measured, and everything she does is deliberate. I wanted to experience moments of humanity with her.”
Showmax has just released the first trailer for "Law, Love and Betrayal," which returns from Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 20:00pm on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and Monday, March 9 2026 on Showmax.
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