When he was 9 years old, Carl Beukes played the role of "Baloo" the bear in "The Jungle Book" and fell in love with acting. He went on to the National School of Arts to complete high school where he played lead roles in plays such as "Annie", "Royal Hunt of the Sun", Blood for Blood", "Caucasian Chalk Circle", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Crimes of the Heart" among others.
After leaving school in 1995, like every actor, he did his fair share of children's theatre in productions such as "Tom Sawyer", "Sleeping Beauty", etc. He won 1st prize in the DALRO National Acting competition in 1995.
Carl has participated in short-film productions with the South African School of Film, Television & Dramatic Art. These films include "Haim", "Honeygun" & "Amazolo".
In 1997 he played the role of Detective Mike Strydom in Malcolm Terry's "Shear Madness". That same year he played the role of Anton in Cedric Sundstrom's "If this be Treason." In 1998 he played Malcolm in Megan Wilson's "Macbeth".
Carl is an exciting new talent and Pure Blood is his feature film debut.
MARIUS
WEYERSMarius Weyers, arguably the most acclaimed actor to emanate from South Africa, has performed in 115 Theatre productions gathering eleven "Best Actor'' Awards, including those for his one man show REPORT TO an ACADEMY (Kafka) which won international critical acclaim and enjoyed successful runs in Edinburgh, Israel and Los Angeles. He is also the recipient of "The Medal of Honour from the South African Academy of Arts and Sciences" for contribution to Theatre.
In an acting career that spans 25 years, Marius has performed in numerous Television productions, and over 35 motion pictures most notably the huge box-office hit THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY, for which he garnered the "Best Comedy Actor" Award at the Charles Chaplin Festival in Switzerland. He earned his recognition as an international actor this performance, and became a member of SAG.
His most notable international feature credits include Richard Attenborough's GHANDI, FAREWELL TO THE KING (directed by John Milius and starring Nick Nolte), BHOPA (directed by Morgan Freeman and starring Danny Glover) and John Avildson's THE POWER OF ONE as well as his international feature debut in TIGERS DON'T CRY with Anthony Quinn.
Marius was born in Johannesburg. His film career began when he discovering an 8mm camera and relinquished his intended Law career. His interest, however, was not in performing but rather directing and it was horror genre movies that initially inspired the young artist. In 1961 Marius joined PACT [Performing Arts Council] as an Assistant Stage Manager and he soon landed a small part in an educational programme. This led to other small parts and his early Theatre career with PACT went on to become an eleven year association during which time Marius performed in an average of six Theatre productions a year.
In 1975 Marius left PACT and in the following eight years performed in independent Theatre with Barney Simon,
In 1983 he received a surprise telephone call from Roman Polanski who had seen, and loved, THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY. The Polish director flew him to Paris two days later for rehearsals and then fought a long and hard battle to cast Marius as "Captain Red" a role that later went to Walter Matthau in PIRATES. The part was originally written for Jack Nicholson.
"Pure Blood" is proud to have cast Marius in the pivotal role of the General.
DANNY
KEOGHBorn in Uganda of Irish descent, Danny Keogh was a founder member of the legendary Market Theatre Company. "We did everything ... sent out circulars, scraped the walls, scrubbed the floors, built the dressing rooms". That was in 1973. He now has over 50 mainstream theatre productions to his credit, a career that includes writing awards for both theatre and feature film, aside from numerous television and feature film acting credits.
For somebody who never wanted to be an actor, he has a remarkable career.
Recent feature film credits include "Hearts & Minds" and "Jump the Gun". He has made guest appearances in the international television series "Tarzan", "Sinbad", "Konig" and "The Professionals". His theatre career continues with leading roles in productions such as "Pale Natives", "Cuba and His Teddy Bears" and his most recent "This Is For Keeps". In "This Is For Keeps" he stars with Vanessa Cooke in a searing play directed by Janice Honeyman about the lives of people caught up in a cycle of domestic violence.
With 22 Best Actor nominations and 4 Best Actor awards to his credit, Danny Keogh has become an acting legend.
ALETTA
BEZUIDENHOUT
(GERTRUDE)
Director, Actress, Playwright, Aletta Beuidenhout was born in Kenya. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA Degree in Drama. Aletta is one of South Africa's most versatile actresses and projects a powerful stage and screen presence. Her numerous stage credits include Klaaglied vir Koos (DALRO Award - Best actress), Anthony and Cleopatra, Scenes From An Execution (DALRO AWARD - Best Actress) and Maids, for which she received both a Dalro Award for Best Actress and a Vita Award for Best Actress (English).
As a playwright her credits include: Time of Footsteps (Windybrow Theatre), Silent Envelope (Market Theatre - Director), Angel in a Dark Room (Adcock. Ingram Theatre) and Little Big World (Market Theatre). Aletta's television credits include The Lady of the Camellias, Thicker than Water and Die Sonkring, and counts Djadje (Female Lead), Committed (Supporting Female Lead), On the Wire (Female Lead) and My Country, My Hat (Female Lead) amongst her feature film credits.
One of South Africa's most controversial and cutting edge actors, Amanda Lane won fame in her role in POPCORN and received the FNB Vita award for Best Actress. She has created various works including, LANE AND ABLE, SPOOKASEM and recently co- produced ONE NIGHT STAND, a series of one man plays at the Wits Theatre. Other theatre credits include, THE CRUCIBLE, MOLLY SWEENY, TALK RADIO. Her film credits include HEARTSPACE and MANDELA AND DEKLERK in which she played alongside Michael Cain and Sydney Poitier.
EMILY
McARTHURWith a strong talent and natural beauty, Emily McArthur is one of the brightest new stars to emerge from South Africa in recent years. After leaving drama school just three years ago, Emily's growing reputation in South Africa is likely to escalate internationally after working alongside Hollywood stars such as George Hamilton, Patrick Bergin and Tia Carrera.
Emily's passion for theatre has earned her a nomination for best supporting actress in an award winning production, "Death Defying Acts", one of a trilogy in Woody Allen's Central Park West. She has also enjoyed leading roles in local and international feature films such as "The Black Velvet Band" (Yorkshire TV, UK), "The Little Unicorn" (Peakviewing, UK) and the local feature film from Neal Sundstrom "Inside Out".
"Pure Blood" will be Emily's sixth feature.
NOMSA
NENESinger, Dancer, Actor, Puppeteer, Presenter and Producer, Nomsa Nene's twenty year career is nothing short of phenonemal. With a string of feature film, television and theatre credits to her name, she has won significant awards including an OB [Off Broadway] award for her role as Poppie in "Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena".
CHRIS
VORSTER Chris is a freelance
actor who's been actively working in the entertainment industry since
1991. He is a lecturer in drama at the University of Stellenbosch and
recently finished his Masters degree in directing whilst performing in
numerous plays for CAPAB, Quantum and Blond Productions.
He's been honoured with various Theatre and television nominations and awards for acting, directing and writing.
Vorster has been hailed, by INSIG magazine, as one of South Africa's entertainers for the new millennium and according to DE KAT he's one of the country's top four comedy dramatists. He is currently working on a one man show which will tour the country during 1999.
His film debut will be as Craig in "Pure Blood."
JENNIFER
STEYNIn 1998 Jennifer spent two months touring with Athol Fugard in his latest play "The Captain's Tiger. She received critical acclaim for her performance as Betty both internationally and in South Africa. Her most recent theatre work includes Anthony Akerman's "Old Boys" and the take away Shakespeare's production of "King Lear" where she received outstanding notices for her portrayal of Cordelia.
Her feature films include "Cry the Beloved Country" directed by Darrel Roodt, "Sexy Girls" by Russell Thompson and "No Hero" by Tim Spring. Her most recent television includes "The Principal", "Natural Rhythm" and "Onder draai die Duivel Rond".
Jennifer has been involved in the making of several short experimental films and is committed to involving herself with the development of an independent South African film & television industry.
JOSS
LEVINEJoss was nominated for best supporting actor in EAST and WOMBTIDE and won Best National Vita Comedy of the year award in 1995 for TAKE THE FLOOR before it was invited to the Edinburgh Arts Festival. He studied drama at Mountview Theatre School in London and mime at the E'Cole Jacques Le Coq in Paris. He also attended a theatre workshop at the Teatro Del Mimmodrama school in Milano. On returning to South Africa he worked at the experimental Loft Theatre performing in productions like KWAMANZI and IN THE WAR.
OWEN SEJAKE Owen has performed in numerous Film, Television and Theater productions. His film credits include, HIJACK STORIES , MANDELA AND DE KLERK and SHOT DOWN. He is well known for Television appearance on the drama series, YIZO YIZO 2, KE NAKO, SOUL CITY. His theatrical repertoire includes the most respected playwrights and directors in Africa, amongst these are, Athol Fugard' s CAPTAINS TIGER, Wole Soyinka's DEATH AND THE KINGS HORSEMAN, PROPHETS IN THE SKY, DAUGHTER OF NEBO and MARABI.
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