She has been a judge on the reality competition television series Supersterre since the show premiered in 2006.

Shaleen was born in Upington on May 7 1955 and was schooled both there and in Cape Town.

Qualifying as a kindergarten teacher, she taught in both cities between 1974 and 1984.

Shaleen took many roles in several amateur stage productions between 1974 and 1981 and was also active in productions of the Department of Education’s Theatre-in-Education from 1982 to  1984.

She became a professional actress in 1984 and has become very well-known through her appearances on stage, television and films.

Her stage work over the last 30 years includes productions by some of the country’s leading directors.

She has been seen on stage in all the main centres of the country, as well as in London, and has participated in   the Grahamstown and Edinburgh Festivals.

Her many TV appearances include single dramas and series, as well as a position as a programme presenter. She has had recurring roles on two other South African soapies, Generations (2001-2004) and 7de Laan (2002).

She also works on radio as narrator or actress.

She has appeared in the South African films Nag van die 19de (1992) and Leon Schuster’s Mama Jack (2005), in which she played the mayoress.