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#Women’sMonth: We shine a spotlight on thespians making waves

These talented actresses are making waves on screen, and the shows they’ve starred in have left a lasting impression. We shine a spotlight on these phenomenal women.

Minnie Dlamini, Tumi Morake & Kajal Bagwandeen - THE HONEYMOON

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Kajal Bagwandeen, is a South African actress, model, dancer and television presenter. She is best known for the roles in the films Impunity, 3 Days to Go and soap operas, 7de Laan and Isidingo: The Need. Tumi Morake is a South African comedian, actress, TV personality, and writer. In 2018, she became the first African woman to have her own set on Netflix. She is also the first woman to host Comedy Central Presents in Africa. Minnie Dlamini is a South African on-air personality, actress and model. Her character (Lu) on The Honeymoon has been widely celebrated along with the synergy she shares with Noks (Tumi), and Kat (Kajal). Not only are they relatable, but their stories are transcendental, giving a whole new meaning to sisterhood.

About The Honeymoon

The Honeymoon tells the story of three best friends who jet off to an unexpected island holiday after one of them is left jilted by her fiancé the night before her wedding. Directed by Bianca Isaac and produced by Gregory Mthanji, it stars Kajal Bagwandeen, Tumi Morake and Minnie Dlamini. The universal themes weave through the fiber of diverse communities and appeal to the core of humanity, prompting us to ask ourselves some difficult questions. Are you living your truth? And most importantly, are you happy? The film premiered earlier this year in cinemas across the country.

Gail Mabalane - UNSEEN

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Mabalane first captured the attention of viewers as Lelo Sedibe in The Wild, and her career’s been on an upward trajectory since; receiving critical acclaim for her role as Thandeka Khumalo on the Netflix original series, Blood & Water. Her most recent role on Unseen, a Netflix thriller, has further cemented her as an accomplished actress. Her portrayal of Zenzi Mwale was so believable that there were no traces of Gail Mabalane. Fans praised her conviction as part of a stellar cast that includes Vuyo Dabula, Rapulana Seiphumo and Dineo Langa.

About Unseen

This Netflix thriller details the life of Zenzi Mwale, played by Gail Mabalane, whose mission to uncover the truth about her missing husband sees her desperately spiral from cleaner to killer. Starring Ilse Klink, Brendon Daniels, Abduragman Adams, Shimmy Isaacs and Mothusi Magano.

Priyanka Chopra - CITADEL

Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Nadia Sinh

The award-winning actress stars as Nadia Sinh in this American spy action thriller. Priyanka has enjoyed a lot of firsts in her 22-year acting career, including becoming the first Bollywood actress to be signed to Creative Artists Agency. She continued to break barriers as the first South Asian to lead an American network drama series with her role as Alex Parrish in Quantico. Her most recent role in Citadel is not only groundbreaking onscreen, but she has reached a personal milestone. Considering the pay gap between male and female leads, for the first time in her Hollywood acting career, she achieved pay parity with her male co-star, Richard Madden.

About Citadel

Produced by the Russo Brothers, the show launched on Amazon Prime earlier this year. The story centres around an independent global spy agency tasked to uphold the safety and security of the people, which was destroyed eight years prior. Priyanka Chopra portrays the character of Nadia, one of the elite agents whose memory is wiped out after surviving a near-death experience. Oblivious to this, she and her colleague, Mason Kane, played by Richard Madden, rebuild their lives under new identities, with each day bringing them closer to their true selves.

Halle Bailey - THE LITTLE MERMAID

Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID, directed by Rob Marshall. Photo by Giles Keyte. © 2021 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The talented star is one half of the GRAMMY®-nominated R&B duo Chloe x Halle. Being cast as Ariel on Disney’s The Little Mermaid, alongside a diverse cast, sparked conversations around representation. Halle, who can only be described as otherworldly, captures the essence of the bold Disney princess aptly. When asked what the three most important things were when making a film, director/producer Rob Marshall replied, “Cast, cast, cast.” The result is a beautiful, stellar, diverse international cast.”

About The Little Mermaid

This reimagined age-old classic is set against the backdrop of a breathtaking, photorealistic world under the sea. The story plays out in the 1830s, in and around a fictitious island in the Caribbean which lends itself to exploration, mirroring Ariel’s journey as a spirited 18-year-old mermaid. Frustrated with the limitations of her life, she is determined to explore life above the surface. Fascinated by human life, she follows her heart, against the wishes of her father, King Triton, who is the ruler of Seven Seas.

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