Famous South African Film & Theater Personalities

Charlize Theron is a former model and was an aspiring ballerina whose career came to a halt after a knee injury. However, an unexpected encounter brought her in the world of acting and she went on achieve tremendous success including winning an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She is currently one of the world's highest-paid actresses.

Trevor Noah is a writer, political commentator, comedian and television host and hosts the American satirical news programme, The Daily Show. He has also hosted several other shows, including the late-night talk show, Tonight with Trevor Noah. He is an actor too. He has written an autobiographical book, Born A Crime, and has received numerous accolades and awards, including the Emmy Award.

Sasha Pieterse is an actress, songwriter, and singer. She is best known for playing Alison DiLaurentis in the popular mystery thriller TV series, Pretty Little Liars. Also known for her dancing skills, Pieterse took part in the season 25 of Dancing with the Stars where she finished tenth.  In 2019, Pieterse helped build houses by working with Habitat for Humanity.

South African filmmaker, Tosca Musk, has produced and directed several TV programs, films, and web series. Beginning her career in the early 2000s, she teamed up with Jeff Macpherson to produce the web series, Tiki Bar TV. Her movie, Simple Things, received the California Independent Film Festival Slate Award. She is also the founder of the streaming service Passionflix.

Embeth Davidtz is a South-African American actress known for playing important roles in popular movies, such as Schindler's List and Fracture. She also serves as an inspiration to those fighting against cancer as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, for which she had to undergo a mastectomy.

Sharlto Copley is a South African actor best known for playing important roles in science fiction films, such as District 9, Elysium, Europa Report, Chappie, and Hardcore Henry. His portrayal of Wikus van der Merwe in District 9 earned him several accolades including a couple of IGN Movie Awards.

Born to stage-actor parents in South Africa, Arnold Vosloo is best known as Imhotep from The Mummy franchise. He is also often mistaken for Billy Zane from Titanic for his uncanny resemblance to the actor. The Dalro Award-winning actor has also appeared in series such as 24 and Bosch.

South African actor Alice Krige is best known for her roles in Chariots of Fire and Star Trek: First Contact. She played a dual role in Ghost Story and has been seen in a major role in the Netflix series The OA. She has also produced the film Jail Caesar.

John Kani is a South African actor, playwright, director, and author. He is best known for playing T'Chaka in American superhero films, such as Black Panther and Captain America: Civil War. One of the few South African actors to achieve international recognition, John Kani was included in the Top 100 Great South Africans list, which was published in 2004. 

Sid James was an actor best remembered for playing multiple characters in the popular Carry On series. James has been the subject of many tribute shows including BBC's 2013 show The Many Faces of Sid James. In 1998, actor Geoffrey Hutchings played Sid James in a play titled Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick which was premiered at the National Theatre.

South African supermodel, actor, and make-up artist Tanit Phoenix had begun her career at 14. A sensation in the fashion world, she has graced magazines such as GQ and Maxim, and has also been featured on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions. She loves ballet, yoga, and martial arts.

Juliet Prowse was an actress and dancer whose stage, film, and TV career spanned 40 years. She gained prominence during the 1960s by appearing in films like Can-Can and G.I. Blues, which accentuated her dancing skills and her attractive legs. Towards the end of her career, Juliet Prowse hosted PBS' Championship Ballroom Dance Competition. 

Best known for her roles in Dempsey and Makepeace, Blake's 7, and EastEnders, South African actor Glynis Barber has also showcased her skills in theater, appearing in plays such as High Flyers with Hugh Grant and Killing Time with Dennis Waterman. She is married to co-star Michael Brandon.

Jodi Balfour is a South African actress whose portrayal of Gladys Witham in the TV movie Bomb Girls: Facing the Enemy earned her the Canadian Screen Award under the Best Lead Actress in a Television Film or Miniseries category in 2015. On 30 June 2021, Jodi identified herself as queer, gaining popularity among the LGBTQ community.

Adhir Kalyan is a South African actor best known for playing Timmy in the American sitcom television series Rules of Engagement. He is also known for portraying the role of Awalmir "Al" Karimi in a television sitcom series titled United States of Al. Born into an Indian South African family, Kalyan is often cast to play characters of Asian origin.

Dean Geyer is a South African Australian actor, singer-songwriter, and martial artist. Geyer came into prominence after finishing third in the popular Australian singing competition Australian Idol in 2006. He then released his debut album Rush which peaked at number seven on the ARIA Chart. In 2009, he won the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Award under the Fave Hottie category.

Trevor Rabin is a South African singer-songwriter, musician, and film composer. Over the years Rabin has been a prolific film composer, winning several Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) film score awards. He was also an important member of the band Yes; he was made an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 as a member of Yes.           

Leleti Khumalo is a South African actress best known for her portrayal of the title role in the 1992 musical drama film Sarafina! She has also played the role on stages and on Broadway, receiving an NAACP Image Award in 1987 and a nomination for the prestigious Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1988.

Nigel Green was an English actor best remembered for playing supporting roles in movies like Jason and the Argonauts and The Ipcress File. Thanks to his commanding height of 6 ft 4 in, strapping build, and regimental demeanor, Green was often cast to play men of action and characters with imposing physique.

Leon Schuster is a South African filmmaker, actor, comedian, singer, and presenter. Over the years, Schuster's films have been targeted for issues related to racism. In 2020, more than six of his movies were removed from the South African streaming service Showmax for being racially insensitive as he had used blackface in his movies for comedic effect.

South African filmmaker Richard Stanley is best known for his horror films, such as Dust Devil. His signature style includes the use of red and sepia filters, the portrayal of South African deserts, and the inclusion of violence and occultism. His Color Out of Space was praised by critics.

Leon Botha was a South African disk jockey and painter whose association with Die Antwoord made him popular throughout the country. He was also famous for being one of the longest-lived persons with progeria. Leon Botha's life and career inspired the one-act opera Solarize.

Musetta Vander is a South African model, actress, and dancer. Over the course of her modeling career, Vander has appeared in commercials for popular brands like McDonald's, Sanyo, Mercedes, Diet Coke, and Heineken. Musetta Vander has also appeared in American films like Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Wild Wild West, and Under the Bed.

Henry Cele was a South African actor and soccer player. Renowned for his goalkeeping skills, Cele was nicknamed Black Cat due to his cat-like agility. As an actor, he is remembered for playing Shaka kaSenzangakhona in the miniseries Shaka Zulu and in the TV film Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior. Henry Cele was honored with the Golden Plumes Award.

Gavin Hood is a South African actor, filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter. Hood garnered international recognition when the crime drama film Tsotsi, which was written and directed by him, won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Gavin Hood has also directed American and British films like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Official Secrets, Eye in the Sky, and Ender's Game.

Born in South Africa, Lauren Brant later moved to Australia. The former member of the children’s music group Hi-5 has also gained fame with her appearance in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! She was also part of the traveling Humphrey Bear show. She is married to footballer Barry Hall.

Shannon Kook-Chun is a South African actor best known for playing important roles in popular television series, such as Degrassi: The Next Generation, Shadowhunters, Carmilla, and The 100. He is also popular for playing Drew Thomas in The Conjuring Universe. Shannon Kook is one of the few South African actors to have gained international recognition.

Athol Fugard is a South African playwright, director, novelist, and actor. Widely regarded as the greatest South African playwright of all time, Fugard has received several prestigious awards and honors including a Tony Award for lifetime achievement. His novel Tsotsi, which was adapted into a film by filmmaker Gavin Hood, earned Hood an Academy Award.

Brian Murray was a South African theatre director and actor. Over the course of his career, which spanned more than five decades, Murray received several awards nominations including three nominations for the prestigious Tony Award. In 1998, he was honored with the Lucille Lortel Award for his contribution to the arts. He also won a couple of Drama Desk Awards.

Lawrence Anthony was an international conservationist, explorer, environmentalist, and bestselling author. He is credited with founding the independent conservation and environmental group, The Earth Organization. Anthony played an important role in rescuing and protecting endangered species, such as the Northern White Rhinoceros. A prolific writer, many of Anthony’s books have been translated into numerous languages.

Austin Stevens is a South African-born Australian herpetologist, television personality, naturalist, wildlife photographer, author, and documentarian. Stevens is renowned for hosting the popular TV series Austin Stevens: Snakemaster on Animal Planet from 2004 to 2009. Apart from showcasing snakes, the show also focused on other wild animals like rhinos and hyenas.

South African actor Marius Weyers is best known for his portrayal of scientist Andrew Steyn in The Gods Must Be Crazy, a role that turned him into an international sensation. He also had roles in Blood Diamond and Gandhi. His wife, Yvette, too, is an artist.

Zakes Mokae was a South African-American film and theatre actor. He is best remembered for his collaboration with playwright Athol Fugard whose "Master Harold"...and the Boys earned Mokae the prestigious Tony Award under the Featured Actor in a Play category in 1982. Zakes Mokae also tried his hand at theatre direction, working for American companies like the Nevada Shakespeare Company. 

Anneline Kriel is a South African model, actress, and beauty queen. She came into prominence after winning the Miss World and Miss South Africa in 1974. She then went on to become an established model and served as an ambassador for many beauty brands. Anneline Kriel then started appearing in movies, including the 1981 action film Kill and Kill Again.

Apart from appearing in films such as World War Z and Hotel Rwanda, South African actor Fana Mokoena has also been a member of the National Assembly of South Africa. He had a significant role in the series The LAB and is all set to appear in the drama Scandal!

Caron Bernstein is a painter, model, singer-songwriter and actress, all rolled into one. Born in South Africa, she started modeling for Ford Models at the age of fourteen, debuting in films at the age of 22 with Waxwork II: Lost in Time and shifting her focus to singing at the age of 23. Now a successful portrait-painter, she likes to capture the darker side of her subjects.

Lebo Mathosa was a South African singer best remembered for her association with the popular band Boom Shaka. Mathosa is credited with popularizing kwaito music among South African women. Her style, sexuality, and outrageous stage outfits inspired many youngsters and nonconformists. Her life and career inspired the 2019 biopic, Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story. 

South African actor-singer Steve Hofmeyr is best known for his role in Egoli: Place of Gold. He is also the former husband of actor Natasha Sutherland. He seems to have turned into controversy’s favorite child, with exaggerated claims of whites being killed in South Africa and his denial of apartheid.

The son of a silversmith father and an artist mother, British-South African filmmaker and actor Jason Cope initially performed magic on stage and had also joined a circus as a teenager. He later appeared in the Academy Award-nominated film District 9. An amateur engineer, he has also built a wind farm.