Actor with a fine body of work
WHEN Maurice Paige joined SABC3’s Isidingo as Calvin Xavier just under a decade ago, he was still a laaitie. He was on the rebellious side and gave his dad, Frank Xavier (played by Kevin Smith), plenty of lip. Trouble seemed to find him with very little effort. However, he has grown up a lot since then, as an actor and a person. He has also been dabbling in a lot more theatre, which explains his conspicuous absence from Isidingo in recent times. When Tonight got hold of him, he said: “I’ve been doing Adam Small’s Krismis van Map Jacobs at Artscape Theatre. I love theatre. I always make time for one production a year.” And now he is back on screen. Of course, it isn’t without some drama. Now Calvin is renowned for courting problems, especially when a woman is involved. In fact, he has a history of finding himself in tricky predicaments with older women. Let’s not forget about his steamy affair with a very married Katlego Sibeko. Paige laughed: “Ja, he’s the kind of guy who always gets into trouble (over women). The fact that he’s back and that someone else wants Aphiwe, is a problem. He wants her back. So this causes a lot of drama between Obakeng and him.” Of course, when he says drama, it’s more like the two guys coming to blows over the issue. And things snowball out of control at Lerato and Sechaba’s wedding this week.The actor hinted: “There’s going to be a shocker at the wedding, but it will be entertaining.” On Calvin’s commitment issues in relationships, the actor defended: “I think it comes from his father. His father was never a person who could settle. Not that he wants to stick with it, but it kind of runs in his blood. That’s why he often neglects the lady in his life. And he always chooses work over a woman.”
In his nine years on the soap, how has he found the experience of playing this character?
He reflected: “As an actor, you have to make your character work. That’s your duty.”
As for his more memorable story arcs, he said: “If I could go all the way back, it would be those that were shot with Kim Engelbrecht and Chris Beasley. I enjoyed all our stories together. I had this loose-cannon kind of vibe. Also, all my stuff with Kevin. He has been my mentor for so many years. When his character passed away, that was quite hard to deal with.”
Moving on, Paige has been announced as one of the celebrity contestants in SABC3’s upcoming Tropika Island of Treasure.
This is the first time he’s doing a reality TV series. He said: “I’m waiting for the date to be confirmed for when we have to go and do what I have to do. I’m going to take it as it comes and do my best. I’m open to any kind of surprises. I know we have Siv Ngesi and he’s very competitive. I would say I’m more of an underdog. I have a survivor’s instinct that lasts for days. I don’t give up easily.”
Speaking about being competitive, he recently won the South African leg of the Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix bodybuilding competition and is set to compete in the Arnold Classic, Ace 2016 bodybuilding competition in Barcelona, Spain.
“Last November, I gave up alcohol. I got a big part in an action movie and I’m doing my own stunts. It’s where I’m moving towards in my career. So I just put my mind to it to get my body on a level where it’s never been before.”
However, the participation in bodybuilding competitions will not feature in his long-term plans. While he is forced to keep mum about his role in the movie, he did confirm that it is a Hollywood production.
In the meantime, viewers can enjoy all the action he is bringing to the soap.