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1-21 of 21
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
This September, rising star actress Thuso Mbedu will be seen as the lead of Sony's The Woman King opposite Viola Davis. In the historical epic feature directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Mbedu plays Nawi, an ambitious recruit who fights within the all-female military unit lead by Nanisca (Davis). The film was shot in Mbedu's home country of South Africa and also stars John Boyega and Lashana Lynch.
Mbedu recently won an Independent Spirit Award, Gotham Award, and Hollywood Critics Association Award, and was nominated for a Critics Choice Award, for her starring role as "Cora" in Barry Jenkins' The Underground Railroad, making her the first South African leading woman of a US television series. The limited series is based on Colson Whitehead's bestselling Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which the Oscar winner Jenkins adapted and directed. For her performance, USA Today called Mbedu the "series' stunning standout, imbuing Cora with a deep humanity and empathy in her every scene, even when she has no dialogue."
An established actress in South Africa, Mbedu was nominated for her second International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in 2018 for her breakout performance on the series Is'Thunzi. She won a SAFTA (South African Film & TV Awards) for Best Actress - TV Drama for her work on the series. That year, she was also featured on the cover of the Forbes Africa "Under 30" issue highlighting African leaders.
Mbedu currently splits her time between Los Angeles and South Africa.- Debs Howard was born on February 10, 1989 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and moved to Canada in 1991. In 2009, she attended a year long Acting For The Screen Program at the Victoria Motion Picture School in Victoria, British Columbia, from which she graduated with distinction. She continues to train and act in Vancouver, BC. She is an actress known for The Evil In Us (2015), Day For Night (2013), 1000 Things (2011) and Eaux Troubles Du Crime (2007).
- Actor
- Writer
South African-born Stratford Johns was forever associated with the role of tough, abrasive Superintendant Charlie Barlow on TV's Z Cars (1962) and its sequels Softly Softly: Task Force (1969) and Barlow at Large (1971). In between, he also played Barlow in the miniseries Jack the Ripper (1973) (which, in turn, led to a 'cold case' investigation series called Second Verdict (1976)). He even spoofed his famous screen detective on The Two Ronnies (1971). His perennial sidekick was the actor Frank Windsor (in the role of Sergeant Watt), who once jokingly referred to their on-screen partnership as being "the Morecambe & Wise of serious television".
Johns was educated in Pietermaritzburg in Natal Province. He began working life as a deckhand with the South African Navy during World War II. He then had a brief spell as an accountant, before finding his vocation in the dramatic arts. After some work in local repertory companies, he went to England on a one-way ticket in 1948, acting for four and a half years on stage in Southend-on-Sea, followed by a comedy act in the variety halls. Since this amounted to little more than a meager income, Johns was forced to make ends meet by doing handyman jobs, building fences, painting and gardening. His big break came in 1962, when he was presented with the choice of whether to accept a small part in the epic blockbuster Cleopatra (1963), or, alternatively, screen test for a new BBC police series (initially called "Crime Cars"). Though tempted by the gentler Roman climate, he wisely chose the latter.
For better or worse, Johns became identified with Barlow to such an extent over the years, that he was even sought-after by police for recruitment drives on television. Conversely, though he occasionally attempted to break away from typecasting, especially on stage, he was rarely deemed to have succeeded.- Graham Payn was born on 25 April 1918 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He was an actor, known for The Italian Job (1969), Boys in Brown (1949) and Present Laughter (1965). He died on 4 November 2005 in Les Avants, Switzerland.
- Graham Hopkins was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is known for Eye in the Sky (2015), Ali (2001) and The Lab (2006).
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Ross Devenish was born on 15 November 1939 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is a director and assistant director, known for The Guest: An Episode in the Life of Eugène Marais (1977), Marigolds in August (1980) and Goal! The World Cup (1966).- Kevin Pietersen was born on 27 June 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is a producer, known for Save This Shark (2020), The Ashes (1930) and Save This Rhino - India (2020). He has been married to Jessica Taylor since 29 December 2007. They have one child.
- Art Department
- Additional Crew
John Wright was born in 1906 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is known for The Tales of Hoffmann (1951), Supersonic Saucer (1956) and The Adventures of Brumas (1951). He was married to Lyndie Wright. He died in March 1991.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Shahir Chundra is an Actor, Director, Writer and Producer based in South Africa. He was also the lead singer of the rock band, MadLove. He started acting at the age of 5 after falling in love with the arts through movies television and plays.
By the age 17 his love for the film led him to begin a filmmaking degree at AFDA in Johannesburg. After qualifying as a Director Of Photography, it took him a few years to make his inevitable step toward Directing. Early in his career, he directed groundbreaking South African SABC youth culture shows like Street Journal and Kasi 101 and Noted
Shahir then involved himself in writing and copywriting, being part of the writing teams for South African sit-coms like "My Perfect Family" and "Majakhatata Records". Shahir was also the lead singer of South African rock band MadLove with 3 online number 1 singles.
Shahir has been a content director on Survivor South Africa Champions and Philippines, Masterchef Season 3 and was the Head of Content on Power Couple South Africa. As a Series Director, Shahir has helmed etv's 'Reality Check and Bootcamp Msanzi Celebrity Edition and Zavion S1. In 2019 he is Series Director on The Bachelor South Africa Season 1.
In 2011 he attended the New York Film Academy to study acting. As an actor, he has appeared in Isidingo, 7de Laan and Entabeni on South African Television. He also appeared in the Emmy award-winning international series 'Homeland' and played the lead villain, Raj Pillay in SABC 3's Bedford Wives. In film he has acted in An Act Of Defiance, 2017, the critically acclaimed Mayfair (2018) and 3 days to go (2019).
He resides in Greenside, Johannesburg.- A South African actor, comedian and voice artist best known for his starring role as Ravi Chetty, the head bartender of the Kings Casino bar who specializes in cocktails and "flaring" for the customers, in the SABC 3 telenovela High Rollers, and for his recurring role as Mr Govender on the SABC 1 sitcom Thandeka's Diary.
He hails from the little town of Secunda where he spent most of his childhood locked away in his bedroom embracing his introvertism and perfecting his programming skills. However, working in the real world of IT didn't quite stimulate all his pleasure zones, so Jai'prakash developed a personality, promptly announced that he would be an actor and hasn't been taken seriously since.
In 2004, he spent a year studying Musical Theatre at the Tswane University of Technology, and followed that up with numerous workshops and short courses within the industry. Also credited as Jai Prakash, he subsequently performed in a variety of stage shows, public park performances, physical theatre pieces and children's theatre shows. In fact, his physical performance skills in particular were well received in the children's theatre shows Aladdin (2008) and Charlotte's Web (2008), the seductively naughty School of Whoredom (2009), and the more controversial The Tragic Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (2008).
2012 saw his first major TV gig on the popular South African soap opera, 7de Laan, and by 2015 he landed his first starring television role when his character on High Rollers was upgraded from recurring to regular for the second season, when the show format changed from a weekly drama series to a three-day-a-week telenovela. In the same year, he secured a regular role on the sitcom Thandeka's Diary, featured in a couple of commercials, and secured roles in the movies Free State, The Deadline (a short film), and My Father's War.
Apart from plying his trade as an actor and writer with the occasionally splurges of bodywork therapy and web programming, Jai'prakash can be found hiking, climbing, playing video games, traveling and generally adventuring. He enjoys socializing in the natural outdoors and being active, constantly working on maintaining that perfect tan. - Writer
- Actress
- Composer
Maria Bird was born on 24 August 1891 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. She was a writer and actress, known for Watch with Mother (1953), The Woodentops (1955) and Flower Pot Men (1952). She died on 25 August 1979 in Westerham, Kent, England, UK.- Eileen Molyneux was born on 26 August 1893 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. She was an actress, known for The Key of the World (1918), Adam As a Special Constable (1918) and Eve in the Country (1918). She died on 13 April 1962 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Writer
- Producer
Alan Paton was born on 11 January 1903 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He was a writer and producer, known for Cry, the Beloved Country (1951), Lost in the Stars (1974) and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995). He was married to Doris Olive Francis. He died on 12 April 1988 in Lintrose, Botha's Hill, Natal, South Africa.- Production Designer
Hayden Griffin was born on 23 January 1943 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. Hayden was a production designer, known for Wetherby (1985), Intimacy (2001) and Conquest (1998). Hayden was married to Carol Lawrence and Fiona Williams. Hayden died on 24 March 2013 in London, England, UK.- Additional Crew
- Visual Effects
- Director
Bruce Allen was born on 17 October 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is a director, known for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Dictator (2012) and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022).- Visual Effects
- Editor
- Writer
Neil Mayo was born on 26 February 1983 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is an editor and writer, known for District 9 (2009), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024).- Gillian Sanders was born on 15 October 1981 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
- David Jeffery was born on 16 December 1991 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is an actor, known for 12 Days of Terror (2004).
- Malcolm Forsyth was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He was a composer, known for A Pairing of Swans: The Swan Sees His Reflection (2003), Bear: Looks Within (2009) and Radio Worth Fighting For (2004). He died on 5 July 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- David Miller was born on 10 June 1989 in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
- Michael Wolfe was born on 1 September 1989 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He is an actor, known for Skipping Stones (2017).