/UCWE/ For Paul de Sousa, an African of European decent, who moved to Brooklyn, New York four years ago, Sydney Pollack’s The Interpreter (Universal Pictures/Working Title Films' suspense thriller) is a big break.

A celebrity in his native Zambia, Paul was called in to audition for the role in English with a Portuguese accent. Speaking in Portuguese for the film, his global background paid off and Paul was cast by Ellen Lewis & Juliet Taylor in the role of the United Nations Portuguese Janitor.

Paul studied the workings of a UN Maintenance Man for his scene with Nicole Kidman, and his observations led to an exchange that resulted in the UN employee handing Paul his personal set of yellow rubber gloves… “without them,” he noted, “you are not really one of us.”

Paul’s performance experience includes voice work, stage, television, radio and film in Zambia, Portugal, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Canada, and Botswana. His most recent film work includes Red Cockroaches by award-winning Cuban director, Miguel Coyula and The Goad by Joseph Christiana currently in post-production. Another film project of note is the first film made in Zambia in 19 years, Red Flower (a Zambian-Canadian co-production).

This white African completed studies in Portugal and South Africa that originally resulted in a BA in Industrial Engineering. Returning to Zambia (a developing country in the heart of Central Southern Africa, plagued by HIV and AIDS), quality entertainment beckoned and Paul established Pageants Zambia Limited, borrowing the motto “beauty with a purpose”, which enabled Paul to contribute to charitable and humanitarian causes, including fundraising, publicity and education on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and HIV/AIDS. Paul currently works in the Human Services field between acting projects.

Known in Zambia as “Chibale” and “Mr. Zambia,” Paul is larger than life. He is represented by agent, Archer King (212) 765-3103, the career launcher of James Dean and Ron Howard.

Keep track of the Zambian’s global triumphs at www.pdesousa.com. The Interpreter (http://www.theinterpretermovie.com) premieres and opens the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival on April 19, 2005. (Where you can spot Paul in his three piece regal embroidered Bubu.)