In honour of International Women’s Day in March, we are featuring 4 standout women who are some of the great African talents who have been dazzling viewers across the globe.
Sindi Dlathu
The award-winning lead actress of The River needs little introduction. Dlathu has been praised by viewers and critics alike during her 5-season leading role as Lindiwe Dlamini in the multiple award-winning telenovela, winning the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) for Best Actress in a Telenovela in 2020 and 2021. She broke onto South African screens starring in the soap opera Muvhango, where she played a leading role from the show’s inception in 1997 until 2018. Many might not know that Dlathu was cast as the lead role's understudy in the stage version of Sarafina!, working alongside Whoopi Goldberg. She is also a successful television producer and a musician.
Mbalenhle Mavimbela
Mbalenhle Mavimbela has starred in multiple popular productions such as Isibaya, Isipho and Skeem Saam before becoming an overnight sensation with her lead role in the successful new Showmax telenovela, The Wife. Speaking to Sowetan Live, she made her aspirations very clear after her recent breakout role: “I know I can act and I know I can make it in Hollywood. I derive inspiration from a lot of actors and I believe I will get to act with the Tyler Perrys of the world. I know I am bound to go overseas anytime soon, just watch this space!”
Michelle Botes
This legendary actress has been a mainstay on South African television for decades and continues to blow audiences away with her often fiery performances! Botes’ career spans from 1976 to the present and has included roles in Isidingo, Binnelanders, Arende and mostly recently the multi-SAFTA-winning telenovela Legacy. She was nominated for Best Actress in a TV Soap category at the SAFTAs three times before winning for Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela in 2021 for her role as Angelique Price in Legacy.
Crystal-Donna Roberts
For the last decade Crystal-Donna Roberts has made a name for herself starring in multiple hit shows, films and short films locally and internationally. She is best known for her role as Janice Cupido in the ever-popular telenovela Arendsvlei and also stars in the hit drama Fynskrif. Roberts has also been cast in multiple major films including the SAFTA-winning Griekwastad, Krotoa (for which she won a SAFTA for Best Actress – Feature Film) and Chronicle. She is also a breast cancer survivor who is heavily involved in cancer-related charities in South Africa.
Although we have only featured 4 women here, there are many more incredibly talented African women in our vast catalogue of titles who continue to blow away audiences worldwide. If you visit our catalogue and scroll through our offering you will quickly find the many talented women who feature in or drive our stories and content.
You can find them here on our official webpage.
