SHE has been working in both the “scripted" and “unscripted" genres for the past decade – reality television (Boer soek 'n vrou, Survivor) and TV drama (Fynskrif, Troukoors). Nina Swart is currently in post-production for an Afrikaans series for Netflix, but also sometimes helps out as part of the director's team on Kelders van Geheime.
1. Describe yourself in a hashtag.
#notthegirlnextdoor
2. What do you listen to in your car?
A combination of opera, common EDM and podcasts (mostly news podcasts).
3. What do you read first thing every morning?
I have an app with several international publications in one place. So that, and then all the local online news. And, of course, Vrye Weekblad!
4. Which international publications do you read?
Al Jazeera and The Guardian, but I also regularly go to allsides.com to familiarise myself with all perspectives.
5. What is your emotional age?
Why? I have always joked (not joking) that people are four different ages in a day: four years old (petulant, when you want something NOW, want to sleep NOW, want to eat NOW); 15 years old (brash, cocksure, fearless); the age you are now (balanced, centred, mature), and then also 79 years old (wise, with a primaeval knowledge of life). We need to listen to ourselves and know from what age we and the people around us react, and navigate our way through a day that way.
6. Is there an older woman who inspired you or still inspires you?
A combination of the character that Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown played, and the poet Anne Carson. I look up to all people who can combine creativity and “grittiness".
7. What do you find sexy?
People's voices, and alert, intelligent eyes.
8. If you had to play a love scene opposite someone, who would you choose?
Olivia Colman (and/or!) Daniel Craig.
9. Have you ever asked for someone's signature?
Yes! I was in New York at a performance of A Streetcar Named Desire starring Gillian Anderson, and got the chance to meet her afterwards. I asked for her autograph. And got it.
10. What is your superpower?
I'm the loudest observer you've ever met.
11. How many fucks do you give?
About work, all the fucks. About other things, less so.
12. The animal you are most afraid of?
A gecko (yes, I know it's ridiculous).
13. What would you ask if you knew the answer was yes?
Money for a decent documentary.
14. What is the best concert you have ever gone to?
Vusi Mahlasela and his band at the Bassline in Melville, Johannesburg, circa 2001.
15. Your favourite arts festival in SA?
KKNK (especially since I've been going there for duty or pleasure since 1995).
16. What are you afraid of?
A loss of zest for life.
17. What is your pet hate?
Bad drivers.
18. What does your ideal day look like? A fantasy day ...
I wake up and have a good, relaxing cup of coffee. Then I have breakfast with friends. Short afternoon nap. Braai with more friends. And then an hour or two of hard, wild dancing in some club (you read that right!) and then at least an hour alone in my house – preferably in front of the fireplace with a book.
19. If you could live in a movie, which one would it be?
Thelma & Louise.
20. What do you think happens to you when you die?
I think everything will be okay.
21. What did you do as a child to pass the hours?
Wow. Played and played and played. And then read and read and read. In between I was always climbing a tree somewhere. It was wonderful.
22. If you had to wear a uniform, what would it be?
Now I can try to be noble in answering, but I would prefer to wear a waiter's uniform. I used to be a fantastic waiter and would love to do it again (the spirit is willing, but the flesh is 50 now).
23. Your obsession?
The game Call of Duty: Mobile, and Puccini.
24. What is an ‘it girl' for you?
Oh my gosh, I have no idea. I guess I'm too old to understand the concept. What I can say is that anyone who feels beautiful (or like “it") is beautiful/“it".
25. Your best movie(s)? No more than five.
The Silence of the Lambs, Shoplifters, Parasite, Festen, Griekwastad.
26. What are you reading at the moment?
Siri Hustvedt's What I loved and I am rereading The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
27. If there is one book you can recommend to everyone, what is it?
Solank ek hier is (As Long As I'm Here) by Johan Cilliers, or, if that's not your cup of tea, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.
28. If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
“Death Is True” by the Baobab Orchestra.
29. Your earliest perception?
It's not my first memory, but I remember a December morning next to the inflatable pool in our garden where I grew up in Somerset West. It was very early, and I remember that for the first time, I had become aware of light, and how it reflected through the leaves on the water. Soft light, beautiful light, has been the most beautiful thing in the world for me ever since. So I had an awareness of what is deeply beautiful to me.
30. Your favourite period in history?
Look, I'm glad I'm alive now (with all that technology and medical knowledge adds to the quality of our lives), but I love the history of World War 2. However, I would not have wanted to live then. In terms of culture, I think the 1970s is where I feel at home.
31. If you could work in another country, which one would you choose?
My work has taken me to many countries, and I have to say that I have never been as happy as in South Africa. Our people work smarter and better than any of the other countries.
32. What series do you watch?
I'm not a big fan of comedy or fantasy series. Love documentaries and dramas!
33. What are you looking forward to?
I look forward to tomorrow morning almost every night. I'm a pretty early riser by nature, and I like the way everything sounds in the early morning. I like the little bit of alone time before the day starts. In a larger context, I'm quite pessimistic about the state of the world, so I'm not exactly looking forward to anything but the (possibly unattainable) end to the madness.
♦ VWB ♦
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Laureen Rossouw is a former editor of ELLE Decoration. Design remains her passion, not only to promote our South African approach internationally but to introduce more South Africans to local designers.
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