Denise Newman made her big screen debut in 1982 in City Lovers directed by Barney Simon. She has since gone on to carve a successful career for herself in the film industry acting opposite such acclaimed performers as Arnold Vosloo (Forgiveness) and John Malkovich (Disgrace). In Shirley Adams Denise plays a mother caring for a tetraplegic son. Denise won the Best Actress Award at the Durban International Film Festival, where the film also won Best South African Feature and Best First Feature.
Denise says, “As an actor you play a part because you are drawn to the character, and for others to acknowledge your work is the cherry on the top – you are not expecting it but it is always great to get it.” Denise prepared for the role by spending time at the Western Cape Rehab Centre to experience what it would be like to care for someone who is totally dependent on their caregiver. Denise says all the actors had to develop a relationship with the DOP (Jamie Ramsay) as his role in telling the intimate story is crucial. “Then I spent some quiet time just with Shirley, trying to make this fictional character real, finding her inside me. What do we have in common? Where do we differ? How can I allow her to have a voice through me? Hopefully that is what I achieved.”
Denise says that 20-something director Oliver Hermanus is ‘gifted’ and has all the qualities of a great filmmaker. She says, “He did not choose an easy film as his first, yet he was so clear in what he wanted. It was ultimately a very rewarding experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.” 2009 has been a busy year for Denise. She is currently working on a sitcom, Deeltitel Dames, for Penguin Films; a new South African play, Sister Breyani for Baxter Theatre/KKNK; and a drama series, Erfsondes 3, for Imani Media.
Shirley Adams screened in the International Competition at the recent Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and Denise says the invitations for festivals are rolling in. “Audiences have responded well to the intimacy of the style and so totally get the underlying themes of single parenting, violence and poverty.”
Sally Fink
This article first appeared in the Callsheet.
© The Callsheet
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