Top 10 South African Actors Of All Time
Film, drama and media is a large and growing business in this day and age. We count on actors and script writers to take a story off the street and to portray it on a stage as best as they can for us. Without actors the story is just words on a few pages waiting to be told by a talented group of people. We’ve had quite a few great achievers in the media and acting space over the years. Here’s a list of Top 10 South African Actors Of All Time that have done a great job in their spaces!
10. Leleti Khumalo
She was born in KwaMashu township, north of Durban, South Africa. Showing an interest in performing from an early age, Khumalo joined a youth backyard dance group called Amajika, mentored by Tu Nokwe.
In 1985, she auditioned for Mbongeni Ngema’s musical, which later became the international blockbuster Sarafina!, Ngema wrote the lead character of Sarafina especially for Khumalo. She was formerly married to Mbongeni Ngema. But there have been recent speculations that he has had several affairs with different women, including the late Brenda Fassie.
Khumalo performed the role of Sarafina! on stages in South Africa and on Broadway, where she received a 1988 Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Sarafina! had a Broadway run lasting two years, after which the production embarked on a worldwide tour. In 1987 Khumalo received a NAACP Image Award for Best Stage Actress.
In 1992, she starred alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Miriam Makeba and John Kani in Darrell James Roodt’s film version of Sarafina!, which had a worldwide distribution, and became the biggest film production to be released on the African continent. Again Khumalo was nominated for an Image Award, together with Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg and Janet Jackson.
9. Sello Maake
Sello Maake Ka-Ncube is one of South Africa’s most esteemed actors and voice actors, having performed in theatre, film and television both in his native land, as well as in the USA, Britain, Canada, and Europe.He narrated a 2008 natural history documentary Africa’s Outsiders about unusually pigmented (albino) wild animals, which was aired by Animal Planet.
8. Lilian Dube
Lillian Dube is a South African actress best known for her role as Sister Bettina in the SABC1 drama series Soul City, from 1994-2009.
She had a starring role as Koko K in the SABC1 sitcom My Perfect Family, in 2011. She also acted in the second season of the SABC3 drama series The Lab, in 2008, and created, produced and starred in the SABC2 sitcom Skwizas.
She played the role of Mme Motsatse in the short film The Ring. She also played the role of Masibobe on the SABC1 soapie Generations.
7. Fana Mokoena
He is best known for his portrayal of Rwandan general Augustin Bizimungu in the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. He has also played in a number of theatre pieces, his most recent being Nongogo directed by James Ngcobo. In 2013, portrayed UN Deputy Secretary-General Thierry Umutoni in World War Z and Govan Mbeki in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
6. Sthandiwe Kgoroge
She did a great job on generations playing a set of twins. These two were totally different characters but this actress pulled through most definitely one of the greatest actors to come out of South Africa.
5. Maxwell Mlilo
Maxwell Mlilo was a South African actor best known for his starring role as Ngconde in the SABC1 sitcom Emzini Wezinsizwa. He was also known for his role as Capt Shai on the SABC1 drama series Yizo Yizo, from 1999-2004.
Maxwell also acted in several drama series including Generations, Tsha Tsha and Home Affairs, all of which aired on SABC1.
Mlilo died from complications arising from diabetes on 22 June, 2006. He was 48.
4. Leon Schuster
Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age. As child he and his brother Ottoh L would play practical jokes on his family and film these.
Schuster went to Hoërskool Jim Fouché in Bloemfontein, then studied for a BA degree at the University of the Orange Free State, where he played rugby for the first team.He returned to Jim Fouché as a teacher for two years.
Schuster began working for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. During his time at the SABC, he created the Afrikaans radio series Vrypostige Mikrofoon with Fanus Rautenbach – which involved disguising his voice and playing phone pranks on unsuspecting victims. Even with most of his movies being portrayed as racism Leon has stayed entertaining South Africa.
3. Florence Masebe
Florence Masebe is a South African actress and television presenter best known for her role as Humbulani in the SABC2 soapie Muvhango, from 2004-2009.
In September 2012 she joined the e.tv soapie Scandal! in the role of Precious Thito.
Florence was born in Limpopo. From humble beginnings she chose her path through the UCT Drama School and started acting professionally in 1993.
On 21 August, 2009 she joined the cast of the SABC2 soapie 7de Laan in the role of Refiloe Morapedi, the mother of Alice.
In 2011 she played the lead role of Sis Noni in the eleventh season of the SABC1 AIDS drama series Soul City.There’s no way this lady is leaving our tv screens any time soon.
2. Ronnie Nyakale
Ronnie Nyakale is a South African actor best known for his award-winning role as gangster Papa Action in the first season of the SABC1 drama series Yizo Yizo, in 1999.
He played the role of another gangster, Ding-Dong, on the e.tv soapie Rhythm City; and played the role of Inno in the e.tv drama series eKasi: Our Stories, in the episode entitled “Double Cross”, in 2010.
In 2013 he had a starring role in the Mzansi Magic miniseries Naledi as Pheto, a man cheated of his life and wellbeing because of negligence at the mine he works for who puts on his gloves to take on the gigantic mine and earn back his life and dignity.
1. Alfred Ntombela
Alfred Ntombela is known for his role in South African candid genre films alongside Leon Schuster, his fast-paced Joker-like laugh and for his small stature as an adult.
He became renowned for his roles in Sweet ‘n Short and Mama Jack. His native language is Zulu but he also speaks English and Afrikaans.
