Van Rooi and Smith win awards

WESTERN CAPE actors Lee-Ann van Rooi and Dean John Smith were among the award winners at the ninth kykNET Fiëstas Awards, held at the Artscape Theatre.

Theatre performances presented at arts festivals across the country are honoured at the awards. Van Rooi and Smith won a best supporting actor award for their roles in Kinnes and

Klippe wat val, respectively.

Van Rooi is best known for playing the character Rochelle in the TV series

Fishy Fêshuns, and Smith for playing Wade Ferreira/Daniels in the TV series Suidooster.

Van Rooi, who played the role of Aunty Mary, the mother of a gangster, in Kinnes, said the award came as a shock to her. “Just a nomination is a something of worth, because it means that you are telling the stories that people want to hear. It also means that your contribution to the story is worthwhile, which gives you inspiration to continue working in the entertainment industry,” she said.

Van Rooi grew up in the southern suburbs and is currently performing in

Richard III at the Maynardville Open Air Theatre Festival.

Smith, who won the same award in 2016 for his role in Die Dag is Bros, said: “To win an award pushes and motivates you to work harder.”

A TV version of Die Dag is Bros, in which Smith also appears, will be aired on April 14 on kykNET. “I am looking forward to this,” he said.

Smith received an honours degree in drama from the University of Stellenbosch in 2015 and started his journey as an actor in high school.

“I was at a Schoonspruit Secondary School in Malmesbury. Growing up, I did not go much to movies or theatre productions but I was part of the drama group at school.”