Jill Middlekop is the latest addition to the Egoli family. Her character, Jansie, who is part of the ground staff at Vuyatela, made her entry last Tuesday.
Middlekop, a student of the Waterfront Theatre School,
where she received her Performer's and Teacher's
Diploma, started out as a dancer.
Of course, music lovers remember her more as a member of the all-girl Afrikaans band, Shine 4. Three CDs and a live DVD later, the band, which started seven-and-a-half years ago, disbanded last year.
It was difficult being in a band because, say I got this role in Egoli, then it would mean that for that amount of time the others couldn't work. We all had our individual dreams we wanted to pursue, she says.
While she has a slew of theatre credits to her name, Egoli, aside from her appearance on Soul Buddyz, Skouspel, Liriekeraai and Casper Rasper Show, is her first
big television role.
When we went our separate ways, I remember saying to the girls, I would love to take up acting'. As fate would have it, I auditioned for Egoli at the end of November and started shooting in January.
In the interim, she went on a holiday touring the south of
India. It was my present to myself, she smiled. The leap into a soap, however, wasn't without learning curves.
Middlekop nodded: Absolutely. Getting used to the different camera shots was challenging. Because they have a recipe going at Egoli - they work really fast - you have to be prepared when you arrive on set.
Describing Jansie as a bit of a tomboy, with a funky casual style, she added: She is lovable and easy to talk to. But there is a bit of a dark side to her, which will come out later on.
Middlekop will be on air until the soap ends next March.
She is hoping to explore other mediums and varied characters afterwards.