Arnold Vosloo
This Pretoria-born actor's success could only be rivalled by one other star - Charlize Theron.
His career started at the State Theatre in Pretoria in the 1980s, where he won a Dalro award for his work in More is 'n Lang Dag. In the late '80s Vosloo moved to the US - receiving citizenship in 1988 - and appeared in the play Salome alongside Al Pacino in 1992.
But it was the 1999 blockbuster The Mummy that earned him recognition. It upped Vosloo's earning status - he could demand no less than $1,7-million (about R12-million) a film. He was paid $3,5-million to reprise his role in The Mummy Returns.
His next movie would be a villainous character - a role which he has become accustomed to playing - in the teenage flick Agent Cody Banks.
Vosloo's latest has brought him back to his homeland: he is to star in Forgiveness, now in pre-production, as an apartheid-era policeman tormented by the atrocities he committed in the past. - Sylvester Haskins
Jonathan Liebesman
From being a Jozi boy, he became an American film industry name when he directed the horror flick Darkness Falls last year. Revolution entrusted him with this responsibility after viewing his award-winning short film Genesis and Catastrophe.
Despite receiving unfavourable responses from critics, Darkness Falls raked in no less than $12-million (about R86-million) in its opening weekend, beating George Clooney's directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.
There was a tentative arrangement for Liebesman to direct The Watch, a World War 2 horror-action pic. But then Victor Salva (director of Jeepers Creepers) became attached to the script and Liebesman's chance to direct fell through. He was then enlisted to direct The Immortals for Universal Pictures.
This film tells the story of four 20-something friends who are offered immortality, as long as they choose someone else to die in their place instead. It will be released in American cinemas later this year. - Tanya Farber
Este Terblanche
From humble beginnings in Rustenburg, where she was born on January 7, 1973, Esta went on to earn a measure of international fame with a role in the popular soap, All My Children (currently on SABC3 at 4.30pm daily).
After winning the Miss Teen South Africa pageant in 1991, Esta hosted various TV shows including 50/50, K-TV, and Wish You Were Here, before she landed a key role in M-Net's Egoli: Place of Gold. Her international break came in 1997 in the form of All My Children. She also made a guest appearance in Spin City.
While Esta left the cast of All My Children in 2001, SA fans can still see her in the show as the season we're seeing now is way behind the rest of the world. Sadly, little on Esta's current whereabouts or projects could be found despite many inquiries. - Kim Clayton-Millar
Wayne Kramer
This filmmaker is on his way up the ladder of international success. His film The Cooler, which he wrote and directed, has been nominated for four prestigious awards: two Golden Globes and two Screen Actors Guild awards.
In the case of both, it is Maria Bello up for best female in a supporting role, and Alec Baldwin for best male in a supporting role. And, even if they fail to scoop the big ones, the feather in Kramer's cap will be none the smaller...South Africans have had great difficulty breaking through the walls of Hollywood, and these nominations are a healthy sign.
But his first step to success was when he was invited to showcase The Cooler (which also stars acclaimed actor William H Macy) at last year's Sundance Film Festival.
It was here that he got to meet "Robert Redford and a whole bunch of other filmmakers and celebrities" who had seen the film. It was also here that the film's five screenings received standing ovations before being snapped up by Lion's Gate for distribution in the US.
The Cooler received favourable reviews in Hollywood's leading trade newspapers, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
Since then, Kramer has co-written Mindhunters with Kevin Brodbin, but this time did not elect to sit in the director's chair. Mindhunters tells the story of a serial killer hiding within a group of eight FBI profilers.
The Golden Globe winners will be announced on Sunday, while the Screen Actors Guild awards will be announced on February 22. The Cooler (which focuses on a down-on-his-luck gambler who can "magically" spread his misfortune to fellow punters) will be released here later this year. - Tanya Farber
Alice Krige
Alice Krige was born in Upington and studied at Rhodes University, intending to become a clinical psychologist. But after taking a drama class, she was bitten by the acting bug and later moved to London to study speech and drama.
Krige's sultry looks and natural talent soon got her noticed and led to a promising career. While she's best remembered for her role as the Borg Queen in the eighth Star Trek movie, First Contact, she has also guest-starred in some of the biggest TV shows, including Murder She Wrote, Beverly Hills 90210, Becker and Star Trek: Voyager. Recently, she starred in the hit drama Six Feet Under.
Krige also appeared in the film Reign of Fire and the epic series Children of Dune. In her latest film, Shadow of Fear, she'll star opposite Aidan Quinn, Peter Coyote and James Spader. - Jeremy Lawrence
Embeth Davidtz
The former Rhodes graduate (BA Literature and Masters in Drama) had a fairly quiet 2003. That is, quiet in Hollywood terms, but soon to be not very quiet on the home front.
According to top SA agent Moonyeen Lee, Embeth is taking some "time out" as she is having a baby.
Recent notable Hollywood appearances were in The Emperor's Club and Shackleton (2002). In 2001, she starred in Thir13en Ghosts, The Hole and Bridget Jones's Diary.
After graduating in 1986 she won a contract with the National Theatre Company. Here she starred in the productions Stille Nag and A Chain of Voice. For these, Embeth was nominated for the Dalro award.
In 1991, she left Joburg for Los Angeles and almost immediately got her first role, soon followed by Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.
But her most acclaimed role (certainly one which made SA audiences take notice) came in 1994 with her role as a Jewish servant, Helen Hirsch, in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List. - Charles de Olim