Terry Pheto takes it up a notch

Its been an incredible passage for Terry Pheto. And it started with her being spotted by South Africa's legendary casting agent, Moonyeen Lee, in a theatre group in Soweto. The overnight stardom that came from being cast as Miriam in Gavin Hood's Tsotsi was just the impetus she needed to make her footprint in the industry. by Debashine Thangevelo

Tonight caught up with Pheto and what strikes me most about this actress-turned-producer is her unpretentious disposition.

While in Durban to promote Ayanda, a movie she co-produced and which was the opening film at the 36th Durban International Film Festival, she also reflected on her journey.

She shares: I initially came across the script when Sara (Blecher), the director, wanted to audition me for one of the characters. I fell in love with the script. The character I was supposed to play wasn't quite there so we were trying to figure out how we were going to work together. We decided on me co-producing it. For the past two years, we have been working on this until it was shot last year.

She says the intention was to keep it a low-budget film, which was made possible thanks to the funding by the National Film and Video Foundation and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Pheto notes: We wanted a story with heart. There are no fireworks, no bells and whistles. The key to the success of Ayanda is, firstly, the script. Trish Malone did an amazing job. The actors were phenomenal. And you know how talented Sara is. The film, as a final product, exceeded all my expectations, she added.

With Tsotsi's script, I knew it was a story that would change my life. If these are the kind of stories I'm going to tell, I feel like I want to stick around for a while.

The 30-something -year-old says she has approached her career in a very calculated way - wanting substance over frivolity. Looking at her projects, she has lived up to that self-imposed directive.

She shares: I've had an amazing career in the past 10 years. There has been a sort of balance as well. That's also why I'm not as busy as I sometimes wish I was because every project has to affect the next. So if I want to make stories that travel, I have to pick my projects carefully. I knew after Tsotsi that in order for me to introduce myself to a larger South African audience, TV was what I was supposed to do. And I did Zone 14. I stayed away from soapies a little longer until The Bold and the Beautiful came along. I was then ready to cross borders...

And she can be proud of her work in other undertakings like Catch a Fire (2006), Goodbye Bafana (2007) and How to Steal 2 Million (2012). Her TV credits include Justice for All, Jacob's Cross and Hopeville.

Pheto maintains: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom was one of the biggest projects of my career so far - it put me on a different platform. I knew it was going to be a major production. And I knew it would reintroduce me to Hollywood and the UK market, after Tsotsi.

On joining Mzansi Magic's Rockville for season three last year, she offers: That was the intense boot camp I needed as an actress. Then I did a film, which will be coming out later this year. It's with Charlie Vundla (How to Steal 2 Million) and the team. But this one is art house. When I read the script, I felt it was the bravest thing I ever read. I wanted to see if I could be the brave and crazy person in it.

Is directing on her agenda?

I thought I'd direct before I produce. But the entrepreneur in me was screaming. I wanted to be involved on the business side of things. If and when it happens, it will be organic. Right now, it has been a good start as a producer... For me, this industry has always been a fact-finding mission.

Pheto isn't chasing the Hollywood dream, per se though: It's great to get that Hollywood experience for any actor and to learn how that engine works. But, for me, it doesn't matter where you are. If your story is good, it will go to the places it needs to.

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