Taste of stardom for ex-Mr SA at Cannes fest

FORMER Mr South Africa Andrew Govender’s chiselled good looks and designer suits fitted in perfectly at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Govender was given his first taste of walking the red carpet and hobnobbing with the stars for a South African-made documentary.

The award-winning SA director working on the documentary invited the 27-year-old actuarial analyst to the event in the French resort town so he could film Govender’s experiences at one of the world’s most prestigious movie festivals.

“It’s been very exciting,” said Govender, who won the Mr South Africa title in 2012.

“I was followed around by a film crew on the red carpet as well as [at] film premiers, yacht, villa and beach parties and other private events.”

He also served as the National Film and Video Foundation’s ambassador at the glittering gathering, which ran from May 14 to 25, and did promotional work with the SA Embassy.

“The town of Cannes is abuzz with foreigners — it’s summer and people are having drinks on the beach while striking movie deals,” said Govender, adding he had the “time of my life” rubbing shoulders with the likes of actors Tommy Lee Jones, Rita Ora and Anna Paquin.

The festival made a lasting impression on him — but being star-struck does not mean he will be giving up his day job, because it pays the bills. For now, his passion for modelling and acting remain hobbies, but he said he hoped to pursue them further some day.

The director, who asked not to be named, confirmed that Govender would feature in the documentary.