Retired actor ‘Speedo’ Wilson rewriting industry narratives
“We can’t always be the drug addicts, dealers, and the criminals. It is infuriating; coloured people can be doctors and lawyers too. I hate the roles we’re constantly scripted in."
Anthony ‘Speedo’ Wilson (68) is a retired actor from Eersterust who spent close to four decades in the film and television industry. He now spends his time making a difference in his community by rewriting the roles of coloured people.
“I’m an artist and I’ll have the fact that I’m an artist right in your face. I’m here as an artist and I will use my art to address certain things,” said Wilson.
He was nicknamed ‘Speedo’ because of his speed in the short time he was an athlete in school.
Wilson has contributed to the film and television industry as an actor, writer, director, and producer.
In 1989, Wilson was the first coloured producer appointed at the SABC and said his time in the industry as doing what he was born to do.
As one of the first coloured people to be part of the industry, Wilson said a lot still had to be done about the roles available to the coloured community.
He described his disdain towards the narrative constantly portrayed of coloured people in television.
“We can’t always be the drug addicts, dealers, and the criminals. It is infuriating; coloured people can be doctors and lawyers too. I hate the roles we’re constantly scripted in.
“We need to be part of the narrative in South Africa. If there are 20 000 people in Eersterust, then there are 20 000 stories,” he said.
Wilson started writing, producing and directing theatre plays after retiring as an actor.
He wanted to be in charge of his narrative and tell his own stories. He started writing plays for theatre, industrial theatre, and theatre in education. He said he wanted to educate his community and address social ills.
He is currently busy writing a play about bullying in schools.
He said he was dedicating his latest play to Lufuno Mavhunga who tragically lost her life in April. He will also cast some of the police officers at the Eersterust police station to educate learners about the dangers of bullying.
“At my age being an activist means something totally different from what the youth of today understand about activism – nothing! We should talk about the renaissance and building this beautiful country.
“I hate people who just talk about what’s wrong instead of doing something about it,” said Wilson.
Wilson has appeared on various theatre, film and television productions like the soap opera Generations.
He was nominated for an Artes Award for a 13-part television drama series called Onder Engele. He won the ATKV’s Best Television Drama Director award. He also won the KKNK Festival Onbeperk prize for innovative thinking and his contribution to the coloured community.
Before Wilson discovered acting; he spent some time as a tennis and soccer player.
He describes discovering his love for art as his life’s epiphany.
He hopes to continue creating and contributing to the arts until the day he dies.
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