SA pair in hunt for ‘Top Actor’ honours

WE’RE at that stage of the

Top Actor Africa competition when only three actors are left: two South Africans and a Kenyan. Of the trio – Shamilla Miller, Jesse Suntele (both SA) and Alex Khayo (Kenya) – only one can make the cut.

Miller is a Cape Town actress with a BA in film and live performance. You might have seen her in several commercials, but she’s also done some films and TV productions.

“I have only been working (full-time) for a few years now so just being able to say that is a career highlight for me,” she said.

For her, acting is her calling: “I love the way acting makes me feel. I love the process of discovering a character and bringing them to life as well as the process that leads you to that journey. “Being on

Top Actor is a great opportunity and I’m hoping it will open doors for me.”

Suntele is a sound engineering graduate, but acting is his passion. He has appeared on the e.tv soap, Ashes.

Ashes to Speaking about his love for acting, Suntele said: “I don’t think you ever get used to playing someone who isn’t you, because you are always doing something different. If you do get used to it, you’re doing something wrong.”

Asked what he thought about being on

Africa, he Top Actor shared: “You learn so much in such a short space of time, through the best form of learning and experience. Not to mention the connections and networking opportunities and amazing talents you’re exposed to,” he said.

Khayo started acting in churches when he was only 12. He then joined a top Kenyan production company, Jicho Four Productions, and has had several roles in various TV series.