Fun facts about popular actress

● Amamkele Qamata is a University of Cape Town theatre performance student but decided to put her studies on hold to shoot Blood and Water and Gomora.

● At the age of 10, Qamata received her first acting award for playing Snow White in a primary school play.

Her then drama teacher, Andrew Simpson, gave her the accolade, saying he wanted to be the first person to give her an Oscar before she grew up to win a real one some day.

● Qamata and Blood and Water co-star Khosi Ngema, who plays Fikile — the schoolmate Puleng suspects to be her long-lost sister — are now best friends in real life.

She also found an older sister in director Nosipho Ngema.

● Qamata was invited to audition for Blood and Water by casting director and Gomora executive producer Kutlwano

Ditsele three years after she served as his intern on Mzansi Magic drama Isithembiso

● The actress auditioned for Puleng from Cape Town via self-tape, travelled to Johannesburg for call-backs and back to Cape in one day.

She was getting her nails done in a beauty salon when she received news that she had secured the role.

● She celebrated her 21st birthday on the set of Blood

and Water and the cast and crew surprised her with a cake to celebrate.

● Her biggest inspiration and support system is her family.

● Despite being in an unpredictable industry, Qamata feels safe because growing up in a prayerful family instilled faith in prayer.

● Her surname, Qamata, means “God” in Xhosa.

● Qamata took a gap year after matric to test the industry and see if she really wanted to be an actress.