Over the years, Hollywood has gained a massive roster of actors coming from all corners of the world. With so many A-listers from the UK or America, here are 8 actors (some of them dominating the industry) who you probably didn’t know are South African.
- Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is widely recognised as the most famous South African actor. She is also one of the highest-paid female actors in Hollywood. She has also been the recipient of many awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her leading role in Monster (2003). She has also ventured into the art of film production with her company, Denver and Delilah Productions.
Some of her most popular movies include Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), The Devil’s Advocate (1997), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), The Addams Family (2019), and Prometheus (2012). She is also set to star in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey.
- Sean Cameron Michael
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Sean Cameron Michael has delved into acting, writing, and singing, and he has performed in a vast variety of TV series and feature films. He received a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) in 2022 for his role in Ryan Kruger’s hit cult film Fried Barry.
Some of his other famous films and TV shows include Invictus (2009), The Mummy (2017), Mermaids: The Body Found (2011), Ludik (2022), and The Last Victims (2019).
- Troye Sivan
While Troye Sivan is mostly known as an Australian, he is a South African born who moved to Australia. With several hit songs and albums under his belt, such as Bloom, Blue Neighbourhood, TRXYE, and Rush, Troye is also famous for his career in acting and has appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) as Wolverine, Spud (2014), Boy Erased (2018), and Three Months (2022).
- Nat Boltt
A South African actress, director, and writer, Nat (or Nathalie) Boltt, made her acting debut in her homeland with a role in S3’s drama Isidingo. Boltt is best known for her role as Penelope Blossom in the popular TV series Riverdale, and she has also appeared in several other productions.
Some of her most popular films include Demonic (2021), The Cure (2014), and The Poseidon Adventure.
- Lesley-Ann Brandt
This South African actress, who immigrated to New Zealand, is known for her iconic role as Mazikeen (Maze) in the hit series Lucifer, which ran from 2016 to 2021 and was named the top binged show of 2021 by Forbes.
Some of the actresses’ other work includes Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Heartlock (2018), Drift (2013), Diplomatic Immunity (2009), and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024).
- Ciara Charteris
A producer, writer and activist, Charteris is a South African-born former actress who grew up in Southwest London. Charteris launched her acting career in 2010 with her appearance in Niall Johnson’s film Mum’s List and continued to pursue it until retiring as an actor in 2019. She then attended King’s College London, where she pursued a Master of Science in the Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health.
Some of her most recognised films and TV shows include Mary Shelley (2017), Endeavour (2012–2023), Poldark (2015–2019), Close to the Enemy (2016), and Poison Tree (2017).
- Tammin Sursok
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sursok engaged with performance arts from an early age. The young actress who moved to Australia at the age of six landed her first role in the Australian drama series Home and Away.
Some of the many movies she has acted in over the years include Pretty Little Liars (2010), Hannah Montana (2006–2011), Aquamarine (2006), Husk (2010), You May Now Kill The Bride (2016), and Kane (2022).
- Elize Du Toit
Best known for her role in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, Elize is a South African born who moved to the UK. She also performed with the Edinburgh University Theatre Company during her time studying history there.
Some of her popular films include Skyfall (2012), Homeland (2009), Spectre (2015), Ghost Town (2009), and The Line of Beauty (2006).
