Connecting Africa’s Skilled Professionals
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Pamela Nomvete
I was educated at....
....the Good Shepherd school in Addis Ababa, The International School in Lusaka, Zambia, and Cheltenham Ladies College UK, and graduated from the Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1985.
My first job was....
....with the Bristol Express Theatre Company as an actress.
What I do now is....
....I am an actress, director and producer, having worked in the entertainment industry for 28 years.
Pamela Nomvete was born in Ethiopia to South African parents. She has worked in the entertainment industry for twenty- eight years as an actress, writer, director and producer.
She graduated from the Welsh College of Music and Drama in 1985 and embarked on a successful ten year stage career in the UK after which she went to South Africa in 1994. While in South Africa she continued to develop a successful career and became a household name because of her role in the popular South African Soap Opera, Generations
Her UK theatre credits include: for the Royal National Theatre: The David Hare Trilogy, Racing Demon, Welcome to Thebes directed by Sir Richard Eyre, Fuente Ovejuna, directed by Declan Donnelan, Comedy of Errors, directed by Dominic Cooke. For the Royal Court Theatre: A Hero’s Welcome, directed by Hettie McDonald, Marching for Fausa, directed by Annie Castledine, Whooshway, directed by Lindsey Posner, Now or Later, directed by Dominic Cooke, Truth and Reconciliation, directed by Debbie Tucker Greene. Belong, directed by Indhu Rabisingham.
Her UK television credits include: East Enders, Coronation Street, Break for the Border, London’s Burning, Rose’s Trees. She directed and co-produced a pilot series, Blackheart with AR Films.
Her South African theatre credits include: For the Market Theatre, The Good Woman of Sharkeville, directed by Janet Suzman, Nothing but the Truth, directed by Janice Honeyman. Durban Playhouse, Raisin in the Sun. She directed Guns and Roses for the Windybrow Theatre. Her television credits in South Africa include: Generations, Behind the Badge, SABC, Castlelite, Sometimes in April, HBO films. She co-produced, and co-wrote Flat 27 for SABC 1 and was the Patron of the Barsarwa Cultural Pageant in Botswana 1999 to 2003.
Her awards include the Hope Worldwide award for partnership in serving the youth and people of South Africa with the Channeling program; Best Actress at the Fespaco Film Festival 2005 for Zulu Love Letter; Best Actress for Raisin in the Sun- Durban Duku Duku Awards for Best Actress for Generations; Market Theatre, Best supporting actress Nothing but the Truth.
In 2012, she wrote her first book, an autobiography, ‘Dancing to the Beat of the Drum’.
What I learned along the way is....
....that sincerity and conviction in your own beliefs go a long way to you achieving your goals.
My greatest influence has been....
....my parents, Bax and Corah Nomvete and my mentor Daisaku Ikeda.
The best advice I ever received is....
....from one of my teachers at Drama school. He said, do not give in to people telling you that you have to be like every body else. Tap into your own uniqueness as a person and celebrate it in your work.
My top tips for succeeding in my career area are....
....always perfect your craft by drawing on your environment. Always push past your own boundaries and always be open. Never take criticism personally. Respect your life and your work so that you can respect others and see them as equals, no matter what title or position they inhabit. Be clear about your purpose, no matter what, and always use it to create value.
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