Tanit Phoenix

Izimvo is honoured to introduce the talented Tanit Phoenix.

As one of South Africa’s most gorgeous super models and rising international actors, Durban born Tanit began her modeling career at the young age of 15. Tanit broke on to the international scene after staring in a German commercial and soon after was crowned 1994 Woman-of-the-year by European Maxim.

Tanit’s film career includes Lord of War with Nicolas Cage, Lost Boys: the Thirst with Corey Feldman and Gallowwalker with Wesley Snipes. Tanit has recently completed the soon to be released movie adaptation of Spud in which she plays Ms Eve Wilson.

Website: http://www.tanitphoenix.co.za
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1801063
Blog: http://www.tanitphoenix.co.za/blog

Tanit was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced if you were presenting an award at the Oscars?

A: What an honour! By then I will be a multiple award-winning actress myself and my name would speak for itself. :)

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite scene in a movie.

A: I have been studying Metaphysics, Quantum Physics, World Religion and Anthropology over the past few years, and was raised in a family of deep thinkers… philosophers. I believe Spirituality is not just an awareness that there is more in the universe than what we see every day, but that we are the very reason why everything is the way it is. We are faced with the very fact that our own conscious thoughts (wave vibrations with magnetic attractions) are creating what we see and feel in our own lives, in the world.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I travel, to 3rd world countries. I want to see the world as the people who live in the places I travel to do. Inspired by culture and music and a sense of freedom, I want to explore who I am and my limitations, so far I have learnt I have very few. The most interesting thing though is that I do not need much more than the backpack I carry. I love travelling. I have lived in the jungle with the local tribe people and worked very closely with wild animals.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: A self sustainable Eco friendly home, non evasive to the environment and definitely on a property that has fresh mountain water… It would be in a very tropical place away from electricity, perhaps I would buy land in South Africa to create this project but it more than likely will be in Asia or South America close the warm ocean but high up on a hill or on a mountain side surrounded by coconut palms and enough land to farm organic herbs, fruits and veggies.

I also study self sustainable living, medicinal plants and organic farming, so my dream home would comprise of efficient ways to make energy and store it, I would only use water that flowed from the mountain on my farm and only eat foods grown on my land.

To live like this really does not mean you are going backwards, but rather that you are allowing yourself to have a healthier and more energetic life. With what we know today, I have no doubt it is actually a massive advancement in evolution of our consciousness. I believe we can only evolve when we enable ourselves to think out of the normal conditions we are faced with in today’s world. And that starts from the foods we eat, to the water we drink. (What many people do not realise is that foods carry a vibration of energy and the fresher the food the higher the energy contained. Basically your brain synapses fire faster with foods that contain a higher vibrational frequency, allowing you to assimilate information at a faster rate. In essence, We heighten our IQ and can process thoughts quicker.) I find this fascinating and want to give my (future) children a chance to live the way we should be living today.

Acting in South Africa

Q: South African film has gone through a renaissance with the recent success of movies such as Totsi, District 9 and now “Life, Above All”. To what would you attribute the recent success and do you feel that enough is being done to promote South African film to local audiences?

A: I have just had this discussion with “Hollywood Reporter“, and today South Africa is very hot property. There is a lot of waves being made, we have multi talented film makers and script writers and actors waiting for their chance to show the world what they are capable of. Although, I feel our industry members are being exploited when international films do decide to shoot in SA, we earn far less than our American friends and we have no union to back us up. I do however believe this will change in time as the industry grows, and South Africa makes it mark internationally.

Q: You’ve recently wrapped production on the movie adaptation of Spud. Tell us a little about your role as the drama teacher, Mrs Eve Wilson and what it was like working with John Cleese?

A: Eve Wilson is the free-spirited drama teacher that has an affair with a 15 year old boy. I had fun with her character. She has a way about her that intrigues the boys, and she crosses the line without really thinking about the circumstances, being so open to expression and her feelings about freedom. She is recently estranged from her husband, I guess Eve starts to enjoy the flirtatious behaviour from the boys, particularly from one boy named Robert/Rambo.

John Cleese was great to work with, he hugged me a lot, haha. He truly is wonderful man, we first met when I bumped into him off set on the farm I was staying at close to the Michael house school. He asked me my name once and then started to call me Phoenix. I remember one scene where I walked onto stage on the scene rehearsal for the school play ‘Oliver Twist’. Cameras were rolling and I had Spud’s Blond wig in my hand, before I knew it I had tripped over a wooden step and went flying onto the stage, it was very comical. John then said laughing, ‘You don’t have to overact it darling.’ Everyone just burst out laughing. I almost broke my toe in the process.

Q: Can you give us an insight into the daily life of an actor? Is it really as glamorous as it seems?

A: Oh I find it tremendously glamorous, but in a different way than what you are expecting me to say. Learning pages and pages of script, getting into the mind of a character, letting it take over your own identity, and I have become so good at accents, I love playing around with tone and dialect, and then figuring out how I would emote with the words in the script. Oh I love my job! It is a lot of homework, I take my work very seriously!

For me it’s not about celebrity parties, red carpets and cameras flashing, it is about doing something that scares me, to lose myself in the mind of character I am playing, which I find myself doing more and more with every film I choose to do. My love life suffered from this, as recently my boyfriend had a hard time distinguishing me from the person I was playing. It was a big learning curve for both of us, but amazing too. To be that person in the situation that’s been scripted, that is the real thrill, to make the audience so enraptured in your performance that they carry that feeling with them for a lifetime.

Q: Which young South African actors have recently impressed you the most and who would you consider as South Africa’s greatest actor?

A: I liked working with Troye Sivan, who played the character of Spud from the film adaptation of John Van Ruit’s books. Troye grew up in Joburg and then moved to Australia, he is very polite and professional. I guess having his mom around him 24/7 helps. Young actors, models, musicians etc. who have no grounding or guiding parent, stand the chance of falling prey to bad habits and bad behaviour. I take my hat off to Troye’s mom for being so on hand with his career.

South Africa’s greatest Actor for me is still Charlize Theron. She is brilliant with her portrayal of all the characters she has played so far. I would love to shoot a film with her.

Q: If you had to select only one of your performances to represent your body of work, which would you pick and why?

A: My recent film: Death Race. It was a very intense role as it was really my first opportunity to play lead in such a huge Hollywood production by Universal Studios. I played opposite Sean Bean, Ving Rhames, Luke Goss and Danny Trejo as a military sniper who is sent to jail for killing her superior officer.

Through the journey of the film you learn why I am so hard ass, and why I slowly begin to fall in love with the lead actor played by Luke Goss. Luke is burnt alive in a car accident in one of the last scenes, and I have never put so much of myself out there before, with so much emotion in front of so many people. In the scene Luke’s car explodes, and is lying upside down in full flame. I run into the warehouse, and its revealed how I truly feel for Luke. Danny Trejo runs in and tries to hold me back while I fight him off me, in tears I scream for people to help Luke. The director was on the steady cam, shooting high-speed film, 360 degree walking around me. We shot the scene a few times, and it was exhausting, intense and scary; and so very fulfilling, I am very proud of myself. From that day I know what I am capable of and how much more I want to give. The head of Universal Studios came to me after seeing the daily’s and told me the studio is thrilled to have found me here in SA.

Q: What can we look forward to from Tanit Phoenix for the remainder of the year and beyond?

A: I have 4 movies coming out this year. I shot a short film that will be airing at Sun-dance film festival, and I have a few more films up my sleeve that I am unable to speak about right now due to their nature of being confidential. I have 2 covers coming out, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. I am facing my acting career head on. I feel alive and excited and so focused and I want directors and producers to take me seriously. For this reason I have taken it easy on my modelling career. Although, I do have a wonderful Woolworths lingerie campaign coming out, very HOT! I am still doing a few TV commercials here and there, but my focus now, is on being known as the top actress in SA, and taking on leading American actress’s in the states.

Life in South Africa

Q: What do you miss most about life in South Africa when away for extended periods of time?

A: The care free way of living. I love that about coming home, I feel like I can just be real and wear my flip-flops and shorts and cycle to the beach. I miss marmite and my dog Indie and my mom and her amazing hugs. I love being able to wake up in my own bed and call my sister any time of the day.

Q: When asked internationally about crime in South Africa, how do you respond?

A: It is a sad issue, but really, it’s about taking care of yourself and your belongings and being street smart! I travel to 1st, 2nd and 3rd world countries all over the world, it’s the same everywhere. So I tell internationals, if you are going to carry your camera around your neck, wear a ring on each finger, leave your house unlocked or your bags on your front seat of your car while you are away from your car, expect to get robbed.

Q: What advice would you offer to first-time visitors looking for the ultimate South African experience?

A: I always suggest to do a road trip! Make a list of great wine farms, the best sites to see i.e. the Kruger, and the best places for actions sports like Wind Surfing and Scuba diving, don’t leave out the Bungi jump at Bloukrans. Then start in Cape town, hire a car, take a good map and do the wilderness coastal road trip all the way up to Durban. Then head through the Karoo on the way back. It is undoubtedly the best way to see SA. Don’t forget to eat at as many seafood restaurants as you can! And try our Biltong…

General

Q: What was it about being an actress that first attracted you and if you had not become an actress, which career path do you think you would’ve selected?

A: I wanted to be an astronaut from a very young age. I have a very inquisitive mind and a wild imagination. So, naturally I wanted to travel space in search of other worlds (the possibility of other life in the universe fascinated me). I was a very shy girl growing up, with a hidden desire for self-expression. It did not take me long to get into modelling and My passion for travel took over. Travelling the world was such an eye opener. Then suddenly, While in Paris, I was stopped by a passerby. The man suggested I audition for a film called Alexander the Great. At that stage I had never taken an acting class, and it suddenly struck me, this is what I want to do. So I took his advice, rocked up at the audition, with absolutely no experience and later found out I had cast for the role that Angelina Jolie played. It was exhilarating. I then made it my mission to expand my knowledge of acting.

Q: If you could invite three actors from any era to dinner, who would you invite and what South African dish would you serve?

A: Oh only 3? Why?? I am in love with so many different actors for so many reasons.. For their different ways in portraying characters.. oh my.. Ok, then it will have to be Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins and Audrey Hepburn. I would serve our finest seafood: Cob, yellowtail, Tuna, salmon, oysters, calamari, crayfish, crab and prawns on the braai with an array of mouth-watering salads, butternut feta and spinach, and mielies, not to forget the traditional pap and sous! haha

Q: What advice would you offer parents whose children display a natural talent for the performing arts from a young age?

A: Support them, encourage them and be at their side when they need you. Children need to know they can be anything they set their minds on and hearts too. Anyone can be the best at something they want, as long as they have a guiding hand making sure they stay on the right path without getting lured into bad habits and bad company.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Nikola Tesla, but he is not with us anymore.. ‘Tesla built the Wardenclyffe laboratory and its famous transmitting tower in Shoreham, Long Island between 1901 and 1905. This huge landmark was 187 feet high, capped by a 68-foot copper dome which housed the magnifying transmitter. It was planned to be the first broadcast system, transmitting both signals and power without wires to any point on the globe. The huge magnifying transmitter, discharging high frequency electricity, would turn the earth into a gigantic dynamo which would project its electricity in unlimited amounts anywhere in the world.’

I would ask him what inspired him and then what he thinks of time travel.

We’d like to thank Tanit for taking the time to answer our questions and wish her every success for the future.

Reminder to follow @izimvo on twitter for regular updates and our Facebook page to submit question and interviewee suggestions. You can also follow all our previous interviewees on Twitter at http//twitter.com/izimvo/interviewees

Kerry McGregor

Izimvo is delighted to introduce South African Supermodel: Kerry McGregor.

One of South Africa’s most successful and popular supermodels, Kerry McGregor is a name synonymous with the South African fashion industry. Discovered at only 16, Kerry has appeared on many local and international magazine covers including Cosmopolitan, GQ, Sports Illustrated and FHM. Voted FHM’s sexiest, Kerry was also the face of Wonderbra for over 5 years.

Today, Kerry is married to South African cricketer, Neil McKenzie, and spends her time balancing being a successful model and a mom.

Website: http://www.kerrymcgregor.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kerrymcgregor
Location: England

Kerry was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced to a group of people who may not be familiar with your work?

A: Oh God, are you kidding? That can happen everyday!! To be honest, it makes the meeting less intimidating (for me) and honest!

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I don’t like birds! Really! They freak me out!

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: A good movie!! Preferably at the cinema but I don’t get too much time to do that so a dvd at home always removes me from reality! Otherwise, my iPod and a bath!

Q: How would you describe your dream holiday home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: Oh my word, this could be a long answer!! Short version: Cape Town (it’s where I grew up and my family’s all there) and it would look very similar to the house on the movie “The Holiday”!!

Modelling in South Africa

Q: Which of your many career milestones are you most proud of?

A: Wow, umm, I would say doing Sports Illustrated and being the face of Wonderbra for 5 years…

Q: Your modeling career started at the young age of 15 and you left South Africa for Paris at only 16. What advice would you offer girls who are starting out in the industry?

A: Oh man, just remember to stand up for yourself and you don’t have to do anything you aren’t 100% comfortable with – believe me! And don’t take rejection personally!! It’s just a look they want, it’s no reflection on your personality (which is really the important part, isn’t it!)

Q: Can you give us an insight into the daily life of an international model? Is it really as glamorous as it seems?

A: No, it aint! Usual day in season can see a wake up call as early as 3:30/4am and finish after sunset for days on end! Lots of airports, planes and hotels – after a while can get exhausting!

Q: Which young South African models have recently impressed you the most and who would you consider as South Africa’s greatest fashion export?

A: SA has tremendous talent (as I’m sure you all know) but I would say Candice Swanepoel (done Victoria’s secret) and Candice Boucher (who recently shot Playboy)…

Q: If you had to select only one of your many covers to represent your body of work, which would you pick and why?

A: Crikey! I would say one of my earlier FHM covers with the African story (I wore skins) and it was chosen by FHM internationally as their favourite SA cover a few years back!

Q: Do you have any health and fitness secrets?

A: At the moment?! NO! Haha! I would say everyone’s different. At the gym its important for me to do cardio and light weight training but to mix it up a little. Don’t let your body get used to any 1 exercise! Drink loads of water and always take your make up off before you go to bed (no matter how late it is ;))

Life in South Africa

Q: While living in England and traveling internationally, what do you miss most about life in South Africa?

A: My family, friends, freezo’s and the sun!!

Q: When asked internationally about crime in South Africa, how do you respond?

A: I try answer as honestly as possible really! I speak purely from how I feel living there and not a general consensus – and no, it’s not always positive unfortunately!

Q: With less than 50 days to the first African Soccer World Cup, what advice would you offer to first-time visitors looking for the ultimate South African experience?

A: If they have the time they should do a game drive in the Kruger Park, spend a day or 2 in the winelands and take a drive up the garden route and west coast! I could go on and on!

Q: If you were tasked with selecting the face of South Africa, who would you pick and why?

A: I would say without a doubt – Madiba!!! Surely that answer speaks for itself!

General

Q: What was it about modeling that first attracted you and if you had not become a model, which career path do you think you would’ve selected?

A: The travelling and the money! If I hadn’t taken the step into modelling I really don’t know what path my life may have taken! I was young when I started so by he time I finished school and would’ve made a career choice I was already fully set up in the industry. When I was a lot younger I wanted to be a zoologist though!

Q: If you could invite any three personalities from the fashion industry to dinner, who would you invite and what would your topic of discussion be?

A: Heidi Klum, Roberto Cavalli and my sister Tracy! Heidi for the reason she’s built and empire, had 4 kids and still looks fabulous! Roberto Cavalli for his designs and my sister for the laughs and tequila! We’d get greased and talk about cricket! Hahaha!

Q: Your husband, Neil, has recently confirmed that he will be playing cricket for the Lions in the near future. What about living in Johannesburg are you most looking forward to and do you think the move will be a permanent one?

A: I’ve been living in JHB for the last 7+ years and plan on staying there for another couple of years and then maybe making our way to Cape Town for a while! Be great for the kiddies!!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Ryk Neethling and I’d ask him where he does his gym! ;)

We’d like to thank Kerry for taking the time to answer our questions and wish her and Neil every success for the future.

Reminder to follow @izimvo on twitter for regular updates and our Facebook page to submit question and interviewee suggestions. You can also read all of our interviews on your iPhone using the Izimvo iPhone application.

Ryan Botha

Izimvo has the pleasure of introducing professional footballer and model: Ryan Botha.

Ryan began his professional football career with Finland’s MYPA-47 in 2003 and later went on to sign with Turkish club, Denizlispor, in 2004.

Since returning to South Africa in 2007, Ryan has played for Thanda Royal Zulu FC and today plays for Sowetan giants, Moroka Swallows.

Ryan has represented South Africa at under-23 level and has appeared at the UEFA Cup. He has also won Goal of the Season in the 2008/09 ABSA Premiership.

Website: http://www.ryanbotha.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ryanbotha
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=568080857
MNet All Access Interview: Link
Location: Johannesburg

Ryan was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Ryan Botha, 29 yrs old, I play football for Moroka Swallows, an interesting fact would be that I played in Europe for 7 years.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: haha! Well I’m actually terrified of spiders, no matter how big or small, I kill them on site.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I enjoy relaxing with my fiancé and baby at home watching DVDs.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: I would love to live in Cape Town, I think its one of the most beautiful cities in the world. My dream home there would be a 4 or 5 bedroom place right on the beach, so when you walk off your balcony, you on beach sand.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property. Looking for the ultimate in apartment Cape living right on the coast? How about this R9.9m 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in Bantry Bay.

Soccer in South Africa

voted as one of South Africa’s sexiest men

Q: Congratulations on your recent inclusion into the South African squad. Tell us what it would mean to you personally if you were selected for the World Cup squad?

A: Thanks a lot! It’s always been my dream to play in the world cup, would be amazing to do it here on home soil in front of my family and friends. It would really be one of the biggest achievements of my career. I would look back one day and be able to tell my kids that their dad was apart of 2010.

Q: Having been apart of the national squad for a few weeks now, what is the atmosphere like within the squad? Are the players and staff ready for the challenge ahead?

A: Well I’m not with the world cup squad but rather the CHAN tournament team which is being played next year in Sudan. All the boys here know though that if they put in the effort here our chance could come. The world cup buzz is so present in the camp and the think every South African is ready….

Q: You’ve been playing professional soccer from a very young age. Which career milestones are you most proud of?

A: Playing in Europe for seven years was something I will never forget. I got to play in the UEFA cup which was amazing. Playing in the Olympic qualifiers was incredible and scoring 2 goals in the first 4 minutes against Algeria is something I will never forget.

Q: What would you say are the fundamental differences in the game is played here in South Africa compared to the rest of the world? Do you think our style of play is a positive or a negative when looking at the modern game?

A: The biggest differences are that the European game is played very technically and with a lot of discipline meaning not a lot of mistakes are made. Mistakes in Europe and generally punished with a goal. Here in South Africa we play more diski style which is more skill orientated and our mistakes aren’t always punished. I wouldn’t say it’s positive or negative but rather if we could implement the European discipline with the local diski football we would be an international force!

Q: What advice would you offer the young school boy wanting to emulate your career?

A: First thing is to finish school, then decide what you want to study part-time through out your career because you don’t want to be left stranded after your playing years are done with no job. Then work your heart out at training and put the extra work in on your weaknesses.

Q: Which young players have recently caught your eye?

A: I prefer not to mention names as sometimes this goes to the youngsters head and sets him back a couple of years….

Life in South Africa

Ryan bungee jumping from the Orlando Towers

Q: What about life in South Africa did you miss the most while living and playing internationally?

A: I missed the people. South Africans have a unique way of conversing and expressing themselves…

Q: If, with the flick of your fingers, you could improve one thing about South Africa, what would it be?

A: The crime, it is a major issue.

Q: When asked about South Africa and the current crime levels by those internationally, how do you respond?

A: That we a young country in terms of democracy and equality and that due to our past we have many people uneducated and who struggle to find employment. This doesn’t justify the crime rate but unfortunately gives some sort of understanding of the desperation some people experience.

Life in Johannesburg

Q: What do you most enjoy about living in Johannesburg?

A: That there is a large variety of things to do.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Johannesburg for dinner with friends?

A: Rocket in Sandton or Capello’s in Bedford Center is enjoyable.

Q: Favorite activities for those rare occasions when you are not training?

A: DVDs at home.

General

Q: Which non-soccer sporting captain do you most admire and why?

A: John Smit…. he is the definition of professionalism and shows what a captain of any sporting team in this country should be like.

Q: Which local and international clubs did you support as a teenager?

A: Liverpool is my favorite team and I have always enjoyed the Chiefs….

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all school-boy soccer players?

A: Giggs – The  Autobiography

Q: Which South African personality would you most want directing you on your car’s GPS device?

A: Leon Schuster. Ha ha!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Nelson Mandela… what he thinks of some of the ANC leaders today destroying all the hard work he put in.

We’d like to thank Ryan for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him every success for the future. We look forward to seeing him representing South Africa at Africa’s first World Cup.

Be sure to follow @izimvo on twitter for regular updates and our Facebook page to submit question and interviewee suggestions. You can alos follow all our previous interviewees on Twitter at http://twitter.com/izimvo/interviewees