JO-ANNE REYNEKE

BEAUTIFUL! FEARLESS! AUTHENTIC

There are some people whose presence lift up your spirit and bring a smile to your face. Millions of people in South Africa regularly tune in to see her on TV for that same reason. Jo-Anne Reyneke is a famous and very beautiful South African Actress. She is a rare gem.... easy to love-how could you not? Give her a movie role and watch as she genuinely becomes the part, and completely draws you in. She won

SAFTA Award Best Actress (2018) with 3 more SAFTA nominations after the win. She won The Simon Sabela Award for Best Lead Actress (2024) in 'A Queen’s Lobola'.

Jo-Anne is Zulu; that means Dignity, Authentic, Fearless, Brilliant, Courageous, Bold, Strong, Self-assured and Comfortable in who she...is-no attempt to put on airs. Hidden beneath all of that is a humble, down to earth, sensitive soul with a heart of gold....oh, but she is very guarded and no push over. She has those kind of eyes that see through people and can read people in seconds. Combine that with a creative brain-always busy...sometimes steps ahead.

(Photo: Seventtwo Photography)

MY DRAMA TEACHER

BronzePage: It's so nice to be able to chat with you. What a day! Let's do it! You are a very famous actress in South Africa. You are confident, self assured, humble, very beautiful, great energy, but there is something else that comes across right away....your wisdom. You look so young and gorgeous but you have the mind of a sage. Help us unpack that.

Jo-Anne: Thank you so much for the compliments. I've never considered myself as wise. Throughout my life though, I've constantly heard it from those who are close to me. My best friend of 25 years Thando Thusi, says it to me almost daily. If I'm being honest I really don't feel like it comes from me, I feel used in those moments. It's like someone older and wiser lives within me and jumps at the opportunity to speak when I have a platform. I do appreciate that at least what is being said is helpful to those who are listening. I like to think of myself as loud and funny...I like to keep conversations light. Or maybe it's the Gemini in me...the duality I have.

BronzePage: Tell us about your upbringing. Your mom is Black and Zulu and your dad is White. Tell us about growing up in a biracial family.

Jo-Anne: Yes, I am the child of a biracial couple. My mom is Black, Zulu. My father is White, Afrikaaner. They had 3 kids of their own when they met. My mom had 3 Black kids from previous relationships; my dad had 3 white kids from his past relationships. Then there was me, the only mixed race in the family. I was half of everyone. For the first 5 years of my life, we lived with my dad, and all the kids. It was a good life from the pictures I've seen. Then they separated, and we moved back to KZN (Kwa Zulu Natal). My childhood was fun. We lived with anyone that would take us, so for me that meant endless friends. I loved it. I had no idea we were in bad shape....until I grew up, and started playing the horrible game of comparison.
My mom has always managed to get us a good education, I went to Alston Primary, then to Russell Girls High. I'll never know how my mom managed to pay my school fees, they were double what she earned. The power of a Loving mom- I guess.

BronzePage: You once said you used to be very shy. How then did you decide you wanted to be an actress? Did you always know this was your destiny and if not, how did it happen? Did someone encourage you? How did a very shy young girl decide to delve into acting?

Jo-Anne: Yes, I was quiet shy while I was growing up...not in my day to day, but anytime it was time to perform on stage, I would shrivel up and almost die. I always wanted to be on stage entertaining people. I did it at home all the time, it's only on stage that I would get so scared that I'd start crying. Also 'The Bold and The Beautiful' was a constant fixture in our home, and the lady that plays Brooke Logan, her performances inspired me. I wanted to do what she was doing. So when I met my Drama teacher in the 8th grade, it was life changing. She taught me the tools, and made me completely fall in love with the subject. I'll forever be grateful to Mrs Holness.

TIRED OF HIDING MYSELF

BronzePage: You said something that was very spot on; you said ' I welcome not being liked; I welcome being liked, I don't chase it..... it's exhausting not to be yourself. Tell us how you eventually morphed from a shy young girl into this very self-confident person.

Jo-Anne: I was a big people-pleaser while I was growing up. I was terrified to express my true real opinions, in fear of not being liked. So I suppressed them. I became everyone's favorite person, and for a while it worked for me- I was liked. Then I started observing people who boldly said what they wanted to say... I envied them; they seemed better than me, smarter than me, braver than me. Until I got tired of hiding myself, I couldn't go on another year not being me. So I started voicing my real opinion, and to my surprise, I wasn't hated for it, instead I found myself in some of the most interesting conversations, because they consist of give and take. Since then, I've embraced all of me, flaws and all.

BronePage: You have an unyielding faith in God. What a breath of fresh air in this world where people are scared to speak out about their religion for fear of offending someone else. Please feel free to share your thoughts...how did you become a Christian or was it something you grew up into?

Jo-Anne: I jokingly call my mother,' God's Girlfriend'. For as long as I can remember, we went to church every Sunday. My mom taught Sunday School so I had no chance of not knowing my Bible and God. I've always had faith. When I got to college, I became curious in other religions as I met different people, it was all so eye opening. However Christianity is what felt right to me, it feels like home. I found that the common thread in all religions, is to be a good person, who believes in a higher power. So that's what I mostly try to focus on.

BronzePage: Are you selective with your movie roles? We ask because when you act, you are so real and believable.... you become so lost in the role you are playing? Are you one of those actors who can play any part or you have to make sure the roles are tailor-made for your personality?

Jo-Anne: Unfortunately, in South Africa, we don't have the luxury to pick our own work. We take what comes, you get a brief and we do the work to fall in love with that character. In a way it keeps us sharp, you might get 3 characters over 3 years, who are similar, it becomes your job to make sure none of these characters are alike, just like no two people are the exactly the same, everyone has a different story, and that informs a lot about us. I really love what I do.

BronzePage: Most women are very careful about their hair and very few women would boldly change their hairstyle by cutting it very short. It takes some boldness and supreme confidence. You did it and you pulled it off. Please take us through that decision-making.

Jo-Anne: Hair is a big part of a woman's identity. I've always loved how different I feel with different hairstyles. Growing up my hair was always relaxed. It was long and beautiful, and the envy of a lot of people. I would even get comments like "why didn't my mom sleep with a white man? I'd have hair like that too!" For a long time, I loved my long relaxed hair, but at the end of 2 months when the relaxer was coming out, my hair was horrible! It was flat and brittle and had no life. So I got the idea to cut it all off, and start anew, with no chemicals this time. I've been Growing my hair for the past 5 years now, and it's beautiful, it's curly, (I never knew that) and it's full and healthy, it can do anything!

HOLLYWOOD & NOLLYWOOD

BronzePage: You won the Best Actress Award for the movie 'A Queen’s Lobola'. How was your reaction when you heard your name being called out as the winner?

Jo-Anne: I was absolutely shocked when my name was called. I was nominated amongst some of our best actresses in SA. Unfortunately, I wasn't there in person to accept my award, so my director on the film Ash accepted it on my behalf. It felt fitting, because this project was his baby, and he worked so hard to make it happen, I was glad he got the honor of going on that stage.

BronzePage: You have done many movies. There is always that movie that strikes a chord with the actor, maybe for personal reasons. Which is your favorite?

Jo-Anne: I have done a lot of shows. I've luckily loved a lot of my characters, but the one that excited me the most was Sli on "Side Dish" playing on Netflix. She was my first morally unstable character, and I had the most fun playing her. Until I played my last character. She's called BK, on an upcoming show, she's gritty, a mother and a hustler. It's not out yet, but it's coming soon to Netflix. I cannot wait for the world to meet her.

BronzePage: You have admirers world wide...no surprise. Would you ever do a Hollywood movie? Should we reach out to a few directors? And would you do movies in other African countries besides South Africa?

Jo-Anne: Yes I would love to act in Hollywood or Nollywood or any wood.. really.

BronzePage: Imagine Mission Impossible 9 featuring Tom Cruise and Jo-Anne Reyneke. A scene with Tom trying to convince you to jump out in a parachute before the plane blows up...you both have 60 seconds left.

Another good one will be Rush Hour 5 with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. They both fight to free you from a very dangerous situation.. Chris is your fiancé so it's very personal to him. Wait! We have one more; Bad Boys 5 with you, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith chasing after a very bad guy. You are a female Detective brought in to crack the case of a South African criminal now in Miami....someone you are very familiar with. You are the only one who can lead them to this guy. Oh wait! We have one more....What if Juliet Ibrahim ( who has been featured here) reads this and both of you-two very gorgeous women -go after bad guys in a Nollywood Movie.

Do you see great imaginationwe have.... What do you think of all these plots? Which one sounds better?

Jo-Anne: No, this is not a fair question!!! These are some of the biggest franchises, that I happen to be a huge fan of!!!! Why must I choose? Kevin Hart never has to choose!! I would jump to do any of the above.

WORKING ON MY FIRST SCRIPT

BronzePage: Where can people see your movies and which ones are on Netflix?

Jo-Anne: You can watch me on Champions on Showmax, 165 episodes. You can watch Side Dish on Netflix a 4-part series. You can watch Red Ink on Showmax, to see my character. (We wont spoil it for those who have not seen it)-a very thrilling story. Or wait for my upcoming show on Netflix.

BronzePage: You are confident, drop dead gorgeous, successful. You are a woman of faith....you are divorced right? What kind of guys are you interested in?

Jo-Anne: A huge misconception about me is that I've been married. I've never been married, I'm not sure I even believe in marriage. I was with the father of my kids for 10 years and people just assumed we where married.
I've been single for 2 years now. It's not easy finding a man when you have 2 kids. That's why I prefer men who have children, because they understand. I've never had a physical type, I've always been into the intelligent guy with a great sense of humor. That's my type, whatever form it comes in, I'm open.

BronzePage: Do you have any other brand, fashion -line, or books you have written? Any special cause that you want us to plug.

Jo-Anne: No, I'm working on my first script. I initially wrote it in book form, now I'm converting it to script form. I'm scared and excited for people to ready my work. I've always loved writing, but I've never seriously written anything till now, this is me jumping off the cliff.

BronzePage: Jo-Anne, we can talk to you for days but we know how busy you are. One final question...what is ahead for Jo-Anne Reyneke? It's obvious your sharp mind is always working round the clock....what is the next project?

Jo-Anne: My best friend and I are looking into starting our own clothing brand..aimed at the LGBTQ crowd even though we are definitely straight ..... we want to close an important gap that exists in the market place...…with classically beautiful timeless fashion.

Thank you so much for these questions. I had fun answering them. I look forward to seeing the article. I hope you have a great day.

BronzePage: We cannot wait for this one. If you only knew!!

(Last line from BronzePage) : What a woman! Beyond remarkable....just spectacular and exemplary.

Jo-Anne Reyneke does voice over, and you should plan to invite her to a big arena and hear her speak, she is full of uncommon wisdom. She has a list of movies and television accomplishments: A Queen's Lobola, Champions, Side Dish, Broken Vows, Black Tax. The Estate, Isono, Isidingo, Kowethu......and she has no desire to slow down. It is easy to root or her and you have not heard the last from South African Treasure. Follow her on Instagram @joannereyneke.

We are her biggest fans. There is so much to come. You heard it here first.