Ten years - that's how long it took for Angela de Villiers to make her break into television. In fact, it was comedian Desmond Dube who took a "leap of faith" and offered the actress a contract for 26 episodes on the Dube on 2 comedy skit on SABC2.
"I did not have an audition as such. There was just a casual meeting held with Desmond and other actresses and he offered me a contract based on the strength of my character. It was overwhelming because he had never seen me perform," De Villiers said.
In Dube on 2, De Villiers played everything from a black man and black woman to a ditsy English and Afrikaans blonde chick.
"My style of acting is extreme in-your-face and animated. I must have played well over 50 different personalities," she adds.
When did the acting bug bite?
"At the age of 5, after listening to Karen Carpenter, I approached my parents and told them I was going to be a star."
Having taken drama classes in primary school, her guidance teacher and headmaster then applied on behalf of De Villiers for enrolment at The Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music (ADBM).
The 30-year-old actress says she owes a lot to the school, which taught her about things like the history of theatre, history of costumes, play text, voice and movement, etc., as it prepared her well for her career as an actress.
"It was awesome because by the time I went to Wits (University), I was learning nothing that I hadn't already learnt - in terms of theory, that is. It allowed me time to shine in my first year there," she recalls.
While at university, De Villiers got to work with Claire Briton, who has been snatched up overseas.
"I started doing great comedy with her (Briton). It was at this time that I started experimenting with different accents and characters. In fact, Claire called me a female Jim Carrey. She also gave me an opportunity to act in The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband. It was a fantastic British black comedy and I played a 60-year-old woman."
It was this performance that got De Villiers noticed by her agent, Moonyeen Lee. Shortly after, she was offered various jobs in corporate and industrial theatre. Aside from starring in Snow White And The Seven Doffs and cabarets such as Sister Century and Millennium Madhouse, De Villiers' voice is used in many radio and television ads.
Thanks to the platform given to her in Dube On 2, the versatile actress was offered the role of Roux-Che in Mzee Wa Two Six (SABC1 at 8.30pm every Tuesday). "Roux-Che is a complete caricature.
Both Hamilton Dhalamini and I have always wanted to work together and in this comedy satire our excitement about finally getting to do so comes to light. Both characters married to each other for various social and political reasons, but behind the front there is still a genuine love."
De Villiers can't stop raving about the incredible cast she gets to work with, from the colourful Ruth Cele to the hilarious Kenneth Nkosi.
"I wanted this opportunity for so long that to say I feel blessed is not enough," she adds.