Some talented African actors

ON the above feature, we shared information about local actress Hloniphile Sihlongonyane, who recently joined Isitha and Shaka Ilembe.

We also shared some of the local actors that she will be joining in South Africa (SA), these include the likes of Gedlembane, Sithembiso Kunene as well as Sebenta Mhlanga.

To complement the above feature, let us explore some of the African actors that inspire our local actors to reach greater heights.

PETER MENSAH

Peter Mensah is a GhanaianBritish actor, based in Canada. He is best known for his role as Oenomaus on the Starz television series Spartacus. He has also appeared in such films as

Tears of the Sun, Hidalgo, The Incredible Hulk, 300 and Avatar. Though he had done drama in school, Mensah originally studied engineering and arrived in Canada as an engineer for British Gas, developing gas fields at Morecambe Bay.

DJIMON GASTON HOUNSOU

Djimon Gaston Hounsou is a Benineseborn actor. He began his career appearing in music videos and made his film debut in ‘Without You I’m Nothing’. He then earned widespread recognition for his role as Cinqué in the Steven Spielberg film Amistad, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He immigrated to Lyon in France at the age of 12 with his brother, Edmond. Soon after arriving there, he dropped out of school and was homeless for a time. A chance meeting with a photographer led to an introduction to fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who encouraged Hounsou to pursue a modelling career. In 1987, he became a model and established a career in Paris. He moved to the United States in 1990. A part of his acting career, he has appeared in films such as Captain Marvel, Guardians of the galaxy, as well as Blood Diamond to name a few.

LUPITA NYONG’O

Lupita Amondi Nyong’o is a

Mexican-Kenyan actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award with nominations for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe Award. The daughter of Kenyan Politician Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, she was born in Mexico City, where her father was teaching, and was raised in Kenya from the age of three. She attended college in the United States, earning a bachelor’s degree in film and theatre studies from Hampshire College. She later began her career in Hollywood as a production assistant. In 2008, she made her acting debut with the short film East River.