State honours for Sandra Prinsloo

Sandra Prinsloo didn’t think she “really would be an actress” when she began her studies; receiving State honours never crossed her mind.

The beloved star of South African stage and screen was granted the Order of Ikhamanga by President Jacob Zuma for her “excellent contribution in the field of the performing arts, and applying her talents in the creative arts to take a stand against racism”.

“When the Office of the President phoned and said I had been nominated, I didn’t think I stood a chance,” said Prinsloo.

“Then, to my great surprise a week later, I was called and told I was one of the recipients. I replied, ‘I think I might faint now.'”

Speaking about the reasons for the honours, Prinsloo said she hoped she had indeed made a contribution against racism.

“I think this is really about when John [Kani] and I did Miss Julie [at the Market and Baxter theatres in 1985], I received threats of bombs… Threats against my life,” she said.

“I knew Kani well, and we often talked about racism. I was always against it, and found it very hurtful that people experienced such discrimination; especially working at the Market Theatre, which was so multiracial. I felt ashamed.”

Prinsloo began her drama studies after a conversation made her veer off her path toward studying languages.

“I wanted to do languages, then someone said that

Anna Neethling-Pohl was going to head up the drama department at the University of Pretoria. I thought that would be more interesting,” she said.

The stage would not be entirely new to Prinsloo, who had been a ballet dancer until her matric year.

“I wasn’t incredibly ambitious. I thought I’d give it a bash, so it was a surprise when I started winning awards,” she said.

“After two professional plays, I had fallen in love with theatre. It has been my passion ever since.”

A friend and business partner of Prinsloo’s, Foxwood House owner Jan Groenewald, said he was “infinitely proud” of the actress.

“This time around, her triumph was extra ordinary and… wholly delightful,” he said.

Prinsloo is preparing for the premier run of Oscar and the Lady in Pink, the English translation of her award-winning Oskar en die Pienk Tannie, at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre from 22 July.

She said she may bring the production to Joburg following the Cape Town run.