List of famous film actors and actresses from South Africa, listed by their popularity with photos when available. South Africa has given birth to some great movie actors and actresses over the years, many of who have gone on to star in comedies, dramas, horror movies and more. These are some of the best South African screen actors in the history of the world, so if you're a native of South Africa and an aspiring actor/actress then these are people you should look up to.
You can rank all of these film actors, from Joe Vaz to Todd Gitlin.
This list answers the questions, "Who are the best South African actors?" and "Which movies stars are from South Africa?"
You can click on the names of these legendary movie stars of South Africa in order to get more information about each one. If you're a film buff use this list of talented South African film actors to find some new movies you haven't already seen.1
Charlize Theron
Prometheus, The Italian JobBirthplace: South Africa, Benoni, Gauteng
Nationality: United States of America, South Africa
Charlize Theron ( shar-LEEZ THERR-ən; Afrikaans: [ʃarˈlis trɔn]; born 7 August 1975) is a... more2
Sid James
The Lavender Hill Mob, The 39 StepsBirthplace: South Africa
Nationality: United Kingdom, South Africa
Sidney "Sid" James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a British... more3
Basil Rathbone
The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Great Mouse DetectiveBirthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality: United Kingdom, South Africa
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was an English actor. He rose... more4
Laurence Harvey
The Manchurian Candidate, Cinema ParadisoBirthplace: Joniškis, Lithuania
Nationality: Lithuania, United Kingdom, South Africa
Laurence Harvey (born Laruschka Mischa Skikne; 1 October 1928 – 25 November 1973) was a... more5
Alice Krige
Chariots of Fire, Star Trek: First ContactBirthplace: Upington, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Alice Maud Krige (; born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress and producer. Her first... more6
Cyril Cusack
Harold and Maude, My Left FootBirthplace: Durban, South Africa
Nationality: Ireland, United Kingdom, South Africa
Cyril James Cusack (26 November 1910 – 7 October 1993) was an Irish actor, who appeared in... more7
Embeth Davidtz
Schindler's List, The Amazing Spider-ManBirthplace: Fairfield Township, Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Nationality: United States of America, South Africa
Embeth Jean Davidtz (born August 11, 1965) is a South African-American actress. Her screen... more8
Glynis Johns
Mary Poppins, While You Were SleepingBirthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
Nationality: Wales, South Africa
Glynis Johns (born 5 October 1923) is a retired Welsh stage, television and film actress,... more9
Cecil Kellaway
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Wuthering HeightsBirthplace: Cape Town, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Cecil Lauriston Kellaway (22 August 1890 – 28 February 1973) was a British/South African... more10
Dave Matthews
Just Go With It, You Don't Mess with the ZohanBirthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality: United States of America, South Africa
David John Matthews (born January 9, 1967) is a South African-born American singer,... more11
Ian Hunter
The Adventures of Robin Hood, A Midsummer Night's DreamBirthplace: Kenilworth, Cape Town
Nationality: United Kingdom, South Africa
Ian Hunter (13 June 1900 – 22 September 1975) was an English character actor.... more12
Bijou Phillips
Almost Famous, BullyBirthplace: Greenwich, Connecticut, United States of America
Nationality: United States of America
Bijou Lilly Phillips (born April 1, 1980) is an American actress, model, socialite, and... more13
Arnold Vosloo
The Mummy, G.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraBirthplace: Pretoria, South Africa
Nationality: United States of America,South Africa
Arnold Vosloo (born 16 June 1962) is a South African actor. He is known for his roles as... more
14Ross Kettle
Playing God, Diamond HuntersBirthplace: Durban, Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa, New Zealand
Ross Kettle is a South African actor, known for directing the play Soweto's Burning, and best... more15
Peter Gabriel
New York Stories, Secret World LiveBirthplace: England, Chobham
Nationality: England, South Africa
Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer... more16
Alf Kumalo
The Bang Bang Club, Nor the Moon by NightBirthplace: Alexandra, Gauteng, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Alfred Khumalo (5 September 1930 – 21 October 2012), better known as Alf Kumalo, and with the... more17
Hakeem Kae-Kazim
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, X-Men Origins: WolverineBirthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Nationality: Nigeria, England, South Africa
Hakeem Kae-Kazim (born 1 October 1962) is a British-Nigerian actor best known for his work in... more18
Justine Waddell
Dracula 2000, The FallBirthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality: Scotland, United Kingdom, South Africa
Justine Waddell (born 4 November 1976) is a South African born British film and television... more19
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer, poet,... more20
Antony Sher
Shakespeare in Love, The WolfmanBirthplace: Cape Town, South Africa
Nationality: United Kingdom, South Africa
Sir Antony Sher, KBE (born 14 June 1949) is a British actor of South African origin, a... more- 21Lee Brilleaux was a member of the musical group, Dr. Feelgood.... more
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Marius Weyers
Gandhi, Blood DiamondBirthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Marius Weyers (born 3 February 1945, in Johannesburg) is a South African actor. He lives with... more- 23
Harry DeRoy
The Haunted Pajamas, Lend Me Your NameBirthplace: South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Harry DeRoy is an actor.... - 24
Dorothy Black
The Night Has Eyes, The Admiral's SecretBirthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Dorothy Black is an actress.... more 25
Nelson Mandela
Malcolm XBirthplace: Mvezo, South Africa
Nationality: South Africa
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; Xhosa: [xolíɬaɬa mandɛ̂ːla]; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was... more
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