Johannesburg – Legendary actress Connie Chiume is showing no signs of slowing down, despite turning 69 years this past weekend.
The Gomora actress, known as the township’s feisty gang leader Mam’Sonto, celebrated her birthday with close family and friends at Somizi’s Cooking Sunday at Co.fi Brooklyn.
The excited actress said though she was now facing 70, she was still willing to stay in front of the cameras for as long as old age did not force her to forget her scripts.
“At this age, I should be much grateful that my creator has kept me strong and healthy because not many people witness this moment. That is why I don’t even hide my age like many people in the industry do.
“I am excited to be celebrating my birthday and more excited that it is actually my last year in the 60s. I feel blessed, it does not even feel like I am on set right now because my colleagues always make me happy – that’s one of my secrets to staying this beautiful as a gogo,” she laughed.
In her 44 years of being in the entertainment industry, the award-winning Chiume has been celebrated as a well-talented actress who has shown her skills on the internationally recognised Black Panther and Black is King – including local shows such as Zone 14 and Rhythm City.
She said the acting space allowed her to explore different characters.
But in all, she was most grateful that it has allowed her to stay occupied and kept her looking young.
The mother of four jokingly said she was blessed to be from a family that did not get any wrinkles, citing that her mother, who passed away two days before turning 98, left this world with not a single wrinkle on her face.
“It is all in my lovely genes, sweetheart. Looking at it though, happiness also keeps you young. My family, friends and colleagues bring up that smile every day. ”
Mining Tribe Elder (Connie Chiume)
Ph: Film Frame
Five things you might not know about Connie:
• She is of Malawian descent
• Her cousin, Ephraim Mganda Chiume, is a high-profi le Malawian politician
• Her late father, Wright Tadeyo Chiume, was from Malawi and her mother, known as MaNdlovu, hailed from KwaZulu-Natal
• She has worked on the set of international movies before, namely, I Dreamed of Africa, In My Country, and Black Panther
• She is a qualified teacher (having graduated in 1976). She quickly left the profession to pursue a career in acting overseas, staying in Israel before moving to Greece.
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