EXCLUSIVE: Is this South African actress the next big thing?

Known as a Pasella host and for her striking performance in the controversial local film, Krotoa, as well as her role in the beautifully dark Oliver Hermanus film, The Endless River; Crystal Donna Roberts is in Cannes for the film festival that beats all other film festivals. 

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Sent to the annual Cannes Film Festival by McCafe and the National Film & Video Foundation to strut her stuff on the red carpet, we caught up with the bubbly Crystal Donna via skype: 

“I’m not going to down-play it, it’s a massive deal for me, and this is a big deal.”

“I don’t want the giddiness to go away,” she says as I ask her what she’s feeling. This past weekend she attended the Cannes Film Festival, walking the carpet as the star of Krotoa. 

What goes through your mind when you walk a big red carpet like this?

“Walk, try not to fall flat on my face,” she laughs. 

She stresses that you really have to relax and take it all in. Otherwise, it’s over in just a wink. 

“It’s such an amazing experience to be surrounded by people you look up to. International filmmakers with incredible vision, making films with such diverse and important subject matters. I just want to breathe it all in. What I love about film festivals is that I always walk away super inspired to just grow and to work harder.”

Did you always aspire to Cannes or the Oscars maybe one day? 

“I’m someone who’s very specific about my dreams, and since I was 5 years old I wanted to be an actress, and I would have chats with my friends in primary school about one day walking the red carpet for this and that… and be in movies and travel the world, ” she says.

“And here I am at Cannes. This is why we have aspirations. Why we work hard.”

The dress? 

She says she has always opted for something completely different at every premiere or awards show she attends. 

But Cannes, needed something extra. “What I hadn’t dabbled with was old-school Hollywood glam, which shows off my curves and everything.” 

This dress by local designer Lena Lisa was that and more: 

I asked her who she most wants to spot  ormeet at this year’s festival and she said Cate Blanchett without a doubt. Another was director, Ava Duvernay. Who she says she would love to work with in the future. Another director she gushed over was Black Swan’s Darren Aronofsky. 

You are very versatile in the roles you choose, what would you still love to do? 

“Would have loved to have been on Game of Thrones (but that ship has sailed now that the last season was shot), Modern Family, The Walking Dead and maybe like Grey’s Anatomy’s 95th season or something,” she jokes. 

“Within everything there lies a challenge. Always grow. Step out of your comfort zone, shock your system.”

Is there a recipe for success?

“Nothing can ever replace hard work,” she stresses. She’s always well-prepared and organised she says. “I even plan my spontaneity sometimes. I don’t like to be in the dark.”

Travel essentials?

“Floss! I am obsessed with flossing my teeth. If I don’t have floss I will find something resembling floss.

“A good book.

“Tea tree oil. It helps for everything.

“And Vaseline!”

What is the one makeup product you never go without?

“My eyebrow kit. I will not leave the house without my eyebrows coloured in. I live like behind Pick n Pay, but I will put those brows on before I go there.”

If your husband was with you in Cannes, you would…

“Sit by one of those lovely cafes and drink wine and have some lovely food.”

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