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NewsDay

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American actress appreciates Zimbabwe talent

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CELEBRATED American actress Alfre Woodard (61) has appreciated the Zimbabwean talent on the acting scene.

CELEBRATED American actress Alfre Woodard (61) known for her role as Betty Applewhite in the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, has appreciated the Zimbabwean talent on the acting scene. Woodard was in the country recently.

Report by Winstone Antonio

In an interview with NewsDay Woodard said Zimbabwe had talented actors, but the industry was hamstrung by lack of resources.

“Zimbabwe has the talent and I know some of the Zimbabwean actors like Leroy Gopal and Arnold Chirisa who are doing wonders in the world of acting, raising the nation’s flag high,” Woodard said.

Chirisa is an experienced actor in theatre, film, and television who first made his mark in the local television production Studio 263, before hitting it back on the international scene with an appearance in the South African comedy, Mr Bones 2.

Gopal started off with one of the country’s first biggest production Yellow Card, in which he featured as an upcoming footballer Tiyane Tsumba in 2000 before penetrating the South African film industry where he starred in Backstage, Jacob’s Cross and Generations.

Woodard has featured in productions including St Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues and a wide range of films that have won her numerous awards and critical praise.

She received an Emmy award for her roles in Hill Street Blues, LA Law, the television movie Miss Evers’ Boys and The Practice.

Off the stage, Woodard champions various humanitarian causes, including raising awareness for global poverty and HIV and Aids, and cofounding Artistes for a New South Africa, a non-profit organisation devoted to advancing democracy and equality in that country.

Some of the films in which Woodard featured include; Christian Slater espionage outing My Own Worst Enemy (2008) playing a spy-organisation supervisor and in the equally short-lived medical drama Three Rivers (2009).