US actor falls in love with SA
NEW FANS TO KNOW BATTLE THROUGH Saf3 TV SERIES
US FILM and television actor Texas Battle is the latest international star to turn South Africa into his happy hunting ground.
Battle, who has starred in many international films and the popular soap opera can ’ t hide the fact that he has fallen in love with this country.
He first came here in 2013 to shoot a television series, and since then he has visited more than five times. Battle is taken by the culture, food and the weather in Cape Town – he is even learning to speak a bit of Xhosa.
In our telephonic chat, Battle even tried to pronounce words such as
(samp and beans), which happens to be his favourite dish whenever he is here. Born in Houston, Texas, some 34 years ago, he features in an international television drama series set to debut on e.tv tomorrow at 4pm.
The series follows an elite rescue task force saving lives at sea. It started in the US last year, and most of its episodes were shot on the beaches of Cape Town.
Battle says the South African audience is in for a true treat when
premieres. He describes the show as “action- packed ” from start to finish.
“There is always drama going on when you deal with fire, sea and a lot of accidents. There is also drama among the characters.”
Asked what sets apart from shows such as the iconic he says: “happened 20 years ago. It was the first and only series that focused on saving lives on a beach.”
is different because the story is not about saving lives of people in the water but also dealing with rescue drama issues.
“In all rescues have a happy ending, but here things are different. We try to portray real situations. All rescue operations have their own challenges.”
Battle has found an excuse to keep him in the country for much longer. He is establishing his Texas Dallas Foundation in Langa, Cape Town.
He frequents the township because that ’ s where most of the children who benefit from his foundation are based. The foundation aims to empower township youth with education, dance and soccer.
Back in the US, he runs Texas Dallas Foundation and has a dance group called PYD, and two soccer clubs for under-15 and under-17, which are both known as Don ’ t Mess with Texas.
“’I m trying to establish a branch in South Africa. We want to focus on education, I expect all the kids who are part of the foundation to go to school and stay away from drugs and drinking.”
Battle says they have organised a private tutor for English, mathematics and science to make sure the children get the best education. Since his focus is on launching and promoting his foundation, the TV star has frozen his acting career for now.
This year he only shot film about college football.
Battle, who has acted in television series, prefers film because he
,a hates being stuck on one character. But his fans in
need not panic because he will still feature as a call actor.
He says he is still looking for Mrs Right to marry and have kids with.