| September 2009 Style Star: Angelique Gerber |
| Written by the gsport Features Desk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After completing her psychology degree at her mom, Lynette Stemmet’s insistence, this YOU Spectacular award winner took a 2-year sabbatical in London, and nearly didn’t come back. But after a searching discussion with herself about life’s difficulties and courage, she took the plunge and came back to good ‘ol SA to pursue her acting dream. But since opportunity presented itself to her during her second year at Tukkies at drama school, the petite Angelique Gerber has become known to all of us as Clara, the Romanian love-refugee on the wildly-popular Afrikaans SABC2 soapie, Sewende Laan. Pleas welcome gsport’s September 2009 Style Star: Angelique Gerber!
Well, they usually call me Angie, and my family usually calls me ‘Liqie’. Where were you born, and where do you live now? I was born in Johannesburg, and I currently live in Lonehill, where I share a flat. Special childhood memory: I would say it’s my birthday, because my mother always used to make …, you know, she still does to this day, but you know, she made such an effort with me, I always had a big birthday cake, and presents, and lots of love, those have always been my most special memories.
South Africa has got so much talent, sports stars, and our country is so beautiful, such a beautiful landscape, friendly people … I’ve been to Europe, and they’re not friendly! We’ve got a lot to offer! Congratulations on winning the YOU Spectacular Newcomer of the Year Award:- What was it like walking up to receive such a prestigious award? Jis, you know, I always say that I can’t describe the feeling, it really felt like I was floating, but it just kept going through my mind how I’m very happy, that I’m humbled that I got the award, but the whole time, in my head, I just said, “Thank you for my mother!” I just wanted to win it for her, just to see her be proud, that was what was going through my head the whole time! The YOU Spectacular awards are voted for by the fans:- What does it mean that fans chose you out of all the contestants? Well, thanks to Danie Odendaal for creating such a wonderful character that people truly enjoy, but you know, I work hard and I always try to give the time and day for my fans, so I was really shocked that people liked my character so much! I’m so thankful for that! Obviously you’re no stranger to the limelight:- What has been your most inspirational part as an actress? In Sewende Laan, my character’s name is Clara, she’s a Romanian girl who came all the way from Bucharest to South Africa to find love, and she didn’t find love (laughs), but she found awesome people in Hillside. She probably grew up very poor, struggling, and this is all so new and wonderful, to meet happy friendly people. So she fell in love with the place and Afrikaans, is desperate to learn the language.
How do you deal with living in the spotlight? Do people recognise you wherever you go? Yes, they do. It is just amazing how many people watch Sewende Laan. I always find it so cute when the little ones come up to me and recite my lines and talk like me. I find it the cutest thing ever… I wish I had a tape recorder to record them. They remember things I have already forgotten. What do you enjoy most about working in the celebrity space? Obviously it opens so many doors for you and you have got to use those doors to influence the world in a positive way or our country in a positive way. That is really my goal. I have a very big heart for abused women and children, and I do lots of charity events, so I think that just opened a big door for me to actually be a face which is recognizable and say I am against abuse and I am for love, peace and hope. It is a great platform for me to start a charity like that.
I would have loved to live somewhere close to the ocean, preferably an island or something, because I love going to the beach. Unfortunately, I have to work in Joburg … (laughs). That would be one, yeah, and have more patience. I am very hard on myself sometimes, I’m impatient with myself. I’d like to learn more patience. What has been your biggest challenge as an actress, and how have you succeeded in spite of it? I desperately wanted to study drama, since I was eight years old I was on stage acting, dancing and singing. Then my mom said to me, “No, you’re going to go study something else! Something you can fall back on if you don’t make it in this industry!” And it was the best advice, but at that time I was very upset. So, I studied psychology and finished it, but I really wasn’t a very happy girl. Then I went to London for two years, and I had such a great job there, and awesome friends, and I almost didn’t want to come back. Then I said, “Look, I’m doubting myself, I must have the courage to listen to myself and give it a go.” I didn’t want to be thirty, and still wonder, “Oh, what would it have been like?” Angelique, who would you like to acknowledge for having had faith in you, and having supported your career choices? Definitely my mother! (Laughs). She’s the one who told me, “Let’s try ballet, let’s try gymnastics, why don’t you try sport?” You know, she’s always been there for me, always supported me, always told me to just give my best! You know, if I start something, I must finish it! She always gave me the best advice, and if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been here! Most of 2009 has already flown by, what remains for you to be done, an absolute must-do before the end of the year? I definitely want to get more in shape! I want to go to Mozambique and Botswana … Yeah, those are the three things I really want to do still … If we had to take a peek inside your handbag, what would we always find inside? Definitely, my cell phone! … And cream, hand-cream. And floss! (Laughs) Your dentist will be happy to read that! (Laughs)
Well, what I see in the shops so far is lots of bright colours! You know, red jeans, purple jeans, orange – orange is big, big colour now! The orange and the purple … And those big colourful sunglasses, and I’ve always been a fan of the belt, in a way. I love that! And those shorts, those jeans shorts that are rolled up, those are quite in fashion now! And gladiator sandals, oh my word, I love those, stunning, yes! And also heels, I have just bought myself a pair of heels from Rage, for myself! (Laughs) What is your beauty routine? Oh, dear, I definitely use good skin care creams. I’m a firm believer in that, you know, you can’t go cheap when it comes to your skin. Lots and lots of water. And exercise, I think is one of the most important things. We are 70% made up of water, and if ou don’t do anything, it’s like a pool that goes stagnant, and all the bacteria, and stuff … (laughs). I always think about it that way. I should treat my body, and become like a flowing river, you know? So, exercise is very important.
I love Lipsy, I actually wore a dress from them to the YOU Spectacular, and I’ve found Lipsy at Edgars and Fochini! It’s formal-wear, so for informal, I really like Mr Price. They’ve got such great things for girls, you know, the accessories are great, and I love Billabong bikinis- they cater for a wider variety of body types. Bikinis and shorts, I like their stuff. What is the best style advice you’ve ever received? Ja, hey, there’s a very fine line between being sexy and being slutty! (Laughs!) My mom always said to me, “If you wear a short skirt, wear at top that covers well. Don’t show cleavage when you show legs!” That’s good advice! (Laughs!) What advice to you have for women who are struggling to find their style groove? Ag, you know, everybody is built differently … Sometimes what’s in fashion doesn’t necessarily suit you, like the skinny jeans. It really doesn’t suit me, and I just couldn’t wear one. If you are curvy, you need a small waist to wear skinny jeans. I think, just know your body, and have a good pair of jeans that suits your body type. And a top white or T-shirt, just keep it plain- You don’t have to be in fashion, just keep it stylish … (laughs). How do you keep fit? I go to the gym every single day! Definitely a morning gymmer, I get up at 5 to go to the gym, but I keep it short, I just gym for an hour. I don’t believe in exercising for longer than an hour. I love jogging, I do light weights, and l like to combine the two, some cardio and some weights. Who are your favourite sports stars? Uhm, I really like Pierre Spies, the rugby player, such great moral values, and he’s just such a great person. Just what I’ve seen and heard, I really like his attitude. And of course, I’m a huge fan of Nadia Comaneci, she was a gymnast from Bucharest who got 10 out of 10 for a routine that she did, and it’s quite ironic how, since I was a little girl, I looked up to her, and now I play a role about a girl from Bucharest (laughs). It’s funny! What sports have you played, and are you still an active sportswoman? I did middle-distance running, I did cross-country, I played hockey, I went to the world championships for sports aerobics representing South Africa, and I think I came 13th out of 143 countries that participated! That was in 2000, when I was in standard 9. I’ve done acro-gymnastics, I got my national colours in standard 5 in 1994, but it was before integration, so I never got to compete internationally. I also did gymnastics, so I was very into sports (laughs)! And of course ballet, I count ballet as a sport, its hard work! Lots of gym. Ja, actually, I finished my advanced in ballet, so I did all of my examinations. I’m not currently active in any sport anymore, other than going to the gym, I don’t have time for sport anymore, unfortunately. It’s very sad when people think that women are less feminine when they’ve built a little bit more muscle, or when they’ve got a fit body-shape. I remember when I was at school, they always used to tease me, saying that I’m built like a man. I’ve lost a lot of muscle now, so I think I look a little more feminine … But, you know what, it’s not about what you wear, it’s not about how you look, it’s about how you carry yourself. And it requires lots and lots of self-confidence. A woman doesn’t necessarily have to look like a beauty queen, if she carries herself well. Self-confidence and how you carry yourself is the closest thing to being a woman that you can get, and have a good character. It’s more the inner-beauty that is important, that really makes you a woman. It’s not about the outer at all. What is your biggest wish for 2010? Generally, I hope the roads will be better (laughs!). Better infrastructure, please! No, jissie, I pray so hard that South Africa will live in harmony with each other, and less crime, and just peace, I want peace to reign in South Africa.
My role model would be my mother. She struggled, they were very, very poor when she grew up, and she turned out to be such a successful hard-working awesome person. Then, it may be a bit cheesy, but Charlize Theron, she’s a bit of an idol for me. She came from kind-of the same background as me, she grew up in Benoni, and I come from Springs … (laughs!). I think it’s amazing what she’s achieved, and I would love to achieve that aswell! What inspires you? In everyday life, what really inspires me are my friends and family, or if anybody achieves their dreams against all odds, you know, when everything was against them, and they achieved it. Becoming a better person, working harder, taking care of myself, physically, mentally and spiritually, that inspires me! What is your greatest ambition? Sjoe, I love films, and I would love to be in an internationally-acclaimed film, preferably shot here in South Africa, with South African actors! Something like District 9, not necessarily a Sci-Fi movie, but I would love to act Judi Densch, or Meryl Streep! They are my idols! Your message to South Africa: I believe that the biggest commandment is love, because in love there’s no judgment, its just acceptance, and you know, we as South Africans, we really need to love each other and accept each other, because we are very different, and it doesn’t help to judge. *** Got something positive to contribute? ***
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Leading Ladies September 2009 Woman of the Month: Moekie Grobelaar
September 2009 Woman in Media: Carina Grobler
September 2009 Style Star: Angelique Gerber
September 2009 gSTAR: Kgothatso Montjane
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Tags: gsport September 2009 Leading Ladies Style Star Angelique Gerber Ben-G van Niekerk Lynette Stemmet YOU Spectacular Danie Odendaal Pierre Spies Nadia Comaneci Charlize Theron Judi Densch Meryl Streep Diaan Lawrenson
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u will make it
Rhandzu
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