Lights, camera, action! These are words by which Aimeé–Anne Bothma (34) lives. Her love for musical theatre has given her opportunities to sing, dance and act on several stages in some of SA’s most renowned productions to date.

Bothma grew up in Standerton and matriculated at Standerton High School in 2010. She studied musical theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology for a year before transferring to the Oakfields College for the remainder of her degree.

Despite her love for singing and acting, Bothma initially planned to study physiotherapy, but changed courses during her matric final exams.

“My mother told me I should follow my heart and study something I love,” stated Bothma.

Her love for musical theatre, specifically the cabaret jazz classic Chicago, led her to choose this path instead. Bothma went for her first audition on the first day universities opened that year.

“I had packed all of my clothes, not even knowing if I would be accepted and hoped for the best,” said Bothma.

During her studies, Bothma shared the stage with industry names, such as Bobby van Jaarsveld, in several of SA’s theatre classics.

She performed in Hot Mikado, Liefling, Droomkind, David and many more.

Bothma’s career transcended the stage, and in 2014, she played the lead role of Liezl Kritzinger in the movie Suurlemoen! at the age of 21. She said this experience taught her a lot about the industry and herself.

Learning how to ride a scooter, skateboard and laughing with the cast during the montage scenes were some of her highlights during filming.

At the time of shooting Suurlemoen! Bothma was engaged to her now husband of 11 years, JP Bothma. Admittedly, the hardest scene she had to shoot was a kissing scene.

“I cried the whole day and immediately called my fiancée after finishing the scene,” said Bothma, adding that the scene was hard to shoot because it went against her morals.

Bothma believes the crew’s behind-the-scenes hard work was the real movie magic.

“There is so much going on backstage that viewers don’t see,” said Bothma.

Though shooting Suurlemoen! was an incredible experience and Bothma feels blessed to have acted on the stage and the screen, her first love will always be musical theatre. The fast-paced nature of performances and marginal space for errors make each performance more exciting than the last. She enjoys the all-encompassing nature of musical theatre.

“Each aspect of being on stage and performing is incredible,” said Bothma.

She believes the most rewarding feeling is a standing ovation after pouring your heart out on stage.

Unfortunately, Bothma had to step away from the spotlight due to knee injuries and pursue a different direction, so she studied beauty and took over a salon in the city.

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The Bothmas moved to Standerton in December, and she now runs a salon from her home.

“We got tired of the fast-paced life in the city and decided to slow down by moving back home,” explained Bothma.

She admits that she might re-enter the spotlight if an opportunity presents itself, but until then, she hopes to mentor young aspiring actors and share her experience through her drama and song academy.

Bothma grounds herself in her faith and is publishing her first book, The Man History Cannot Ignore. It is the first in a series documenting the life of Jesus Christ and was written with help from JP, and is in the proofreading phase.

Though Bothma misses the glow of the spotlight, she enjoys the quiet life in Standerton and uses her salon as a chance to minister.

“I want every person who comes to my salon to feel like they have a safe space to share and decompress,” concluded Bothma.