IT’S ALL GO, GO, GO!
Jonathan Boynton-Lee invites us into his home and spills the beans about his upcoming projects
LAZY isn’t in his vocabulary. With a new movie in the pipeline, a new production company launched, three feature films in development and a TV show planned – not to mention his job as Top Billing presenter – Jonathan Boynton-Lee is one busy guy. Which is why his home is his sanctuary, a place where he can kick back and relax in the occasional spare moment.
We’re visiting the hunky star at his elegant flat in Northcliff, Johannesburg, and his home is just like him – understated and warm. The inviting space is filled with pictures of film stars and movie posters.
Also dotted around are pictures of the people he loves most: his best friend Simba Mhere, who died in a car crash in 2015; his adoptive parents, Bronwen and Tubby; his sister, Jennifer, and her children whom he hasn’t gone longer than a week without seeing since they were born.
Family means a lot to Jonathan (36). He was reunited with his birth mother, Jeannie Holden, in 2007 after searching for her for a year and a half.
“I’ve come to love Jeannie,” he told us in an earlier interview (YOU, 9 May 2013), “but there’s a clear distinction between her being my biological mom and my parents who brought me up. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for them.”
And he’s come a long way. He brings us up to speed with what he’s working on and it’s hard to keep up.
For starters he’s filming the movie 3 Days to Go, which should be in SA theatres next year. This follows on the heels of the horror movie Hell Trip in which he appeared opposite ex-girlfriend Jay Anstey. It was screened at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Jonathan is also continuing Simba’s legacy, having recently started his own production company named after Simba’s nickname, Half Man Half Amazing. Actor and comedian Siv Ngesi has joined him in the enterprise.
“Simba and I were best friends and brothers in real life,” he says.
“That translated on-screen and people loved it. It was only natural for us to want to do more stuff together and we were in the process of starting our own production company when he passed away. I always promised I’d continue that legacy.
“Siv was also close to Simba so it was just a natural progression. It was only right that Siv was the one I started it with. We’ve developed a tight brotherhood since Simba died.”
The company is already in talks with a big online firm. “We’re developing a comedy series and a movie, which is going to be groundbreaking for South Africa,” he says. “It’s like The Hangover meets Entourage; no-holds-barred and R-rated. Pretty much all the biggest faces in SA are going to be part of it.”
Jonathan has written three feature films which are in development, as well as another TV show he’s planning to shoot with Siv about making people’s dreams come true. “I love how TV can make a difference and this is the show Siv and I are working on – bucket-list stuff, fulfilling people’s dying wishes, that sort of thing. I love giving back.”
HE’S spent his life around cameras – either in front of them or in the director’s chair – so it comes as a surprise to hear that Jonathan hates being the centre of attention. “It makes me feel very uncomfortable,” he says. “I’m always the guy wearing the cap and the hoodie, under the radar.”
For as long as he can remember he was drawn to the camera. “I used to steal my dad’s little camcorder to make movies in the backyard with my toy soldiers and mess up my mom’s garden. I’d use red paint to put blood on them.”
After school he headed off to Rhodes University in Grahamstown where he majored in acting, directing and theatre. He graduated in 2001 and returned to Johannesburg.
“One day I was walking through Melville with no shoes on and a modelling agent called me over and asked if I’d ever try modelling. I said okay, I’d give it a try. “And that took over nicely. I started doing commercials and catalogue work.”
His love for directing came in his early twenties when he entered the Quickies Film Competition. Out of 5 000 scripts, 40 were chosen to be shown on a big screen – and Jonathan’s entry made the top three.
It wasn’t long before he was working on music videos for local stars such as Danny K, TKZee and Johnny Clegg. His big break behind the camera came in 2011 when he won a Loerie award for directing a commercial campaign for cat food brand Friskies. “That really got me on the map,” Jonathan says.
He went on to co-direct the movie Jozi Kings with the late Justice Umeh. It won best film at the Nollywood & African Film Critics’ Awards in Los Angeles in the USA.
Jonathan’s more reckless side comes to life through film. “Jozi Kings was shot in Hillbrow in abandoned hijacked houses,” he says. “We shot at night and in the morning. It’s a different story at night but I never felt unsafe.
“If there’s a chance I might die, I’ll run towards what’s happening. It’s an adrenaline thing. That’s why I do a lot of free- diving with sharks,” adds Jonathan, who’s the ambassador for international shark conservation company Shark Warrior.
WITH so much happening in his life he doesn’t have time for love right now.
“I don’t think I’ve had a relationship that’s lasted longer than a year. Jay [Anstey, his previous girlfriend] came close. I think we got to a year. I’m struggling with monogamy – I don’t think it’s a natural human thing.”
Jonathan often gets into trouble at dinner parties because of his views but he’s unapologetic. “I don’t think there’s one person for somebody. I know my views are controversial but South Africans are very closed-minded when it comes to sex.”
He explains why he and Jay broke up. “Jay was ready to settle down. I wasn’t. I’m still a child in many ways. I think it’s Jay who said I’m easy to love but I’m difficult to be with.
“I’m also very impulsive. If I feel like taking a road trip tomorrow, I’m going to go. I don’t like asking for permission to do things. I don’t like people checking up on me wherever I am.
“Maybe somebody will come and sweep me off my feet. They tell me that’s what’s going to happen but I’m still waiting!” As for the future, he’s dreaming big. He points to an imitation Oscar trophy standing beneath pictures of his loved ones. “The biggest dream would be to win an Oscar for best foreign film,” he says.
“For South Africa. That would be pretty amazing.”
‘If there’s a chance I might die, I’ll run towards what’s happening. It’s an adrenaline thing’