SA’s Hollywood star Arnold Vosloo headlines local film, ‘Griekwastad’
Local Pretoria-born actor describes his recent role in a local film as the highlight of his career and talks about dealing with lockdown and life abroad.
Pretoria-born actor Arnold Vosloo, known for roles in various big productions and films such as The Mummy, can be seen in a movie about the Griekwastad murders to be premiered on M-Net’s Box Office on 5 May.
Vosloo is known internationally for his roles in television series’ such as Grimm, Bones, NCIS, Chuck, 24 and Alias. Locally he starred in movies such as Harmonie, Meisie van die Suid-Wes and Boetie gaan border toe.
In Vosloo’s most recent role, he plays the role of Dick de Waal, the investigating officer in the gruesome murder case where Don Steenkamp killed his father, Deon, his mother Christel and sister Marthella on their Naauwhoek farm.
Titled Griekwastad, the film is based on a true crime novel by veteran journalist Jacques Steenkamp.
“Filming it was the highlight of my career. I have been wanting to come to South Africa and work on a local story for years, but it never happened. So when this script came along, it bowled me over and I signed up straight away.”
The film is based on a horrific family murder spree in the small town of Griekwastad in the Northern Cape in 2012.
Vosloo was born in Pretoria on 16 June 1962. He grew up in Despatch in the Eastern Cape and later in Alberton in the East Rand of Johannesburg where he matriculated. After school, Vosloo studied drama at the Pretoria Technikon before he further pursued his now very successful career in acting internationally.
Vosloo said he wanted to work on a South African project for years.
Pretoria-born actor Arnold Vosloo
“The stars were aligned on this one. The film turned out great and I urge you to see it.
“My character is based on the investigating officer in charge of this murder. He is a meticulous man and has to balance his blood-spattered job with his family life.”
Vosloo stayed in Hopefield in the Western Cape where the movie was filmed over a five-week period.
“I travel to SA every year and I miss the people, the sights and sound of the country I love.”
Vosloo, who currently resides in Santa Monica in California, is currently not doing much because of the lockdown.
“I would have loved to be back in SA for the premiere of my new movie, but it was not to be. The coronavirus put a stop to that,” he told Rekord.
“Like you, I am under lockdown and all that entails. I am in good spirits because this too shall pass. I am a bookworm and have a lot of books to read, and I take my dog for walks in the very quiet Santa Monica streets.”
Vosloo said there isn’t anything he is currently working on.
“Covid-19 is upon planet Earth and workwise, who knows? But I do know that I would like to work in South Africa again.”
Watch the Griekwastad trailer here:
Read original story on rekordcenturion.co.za
