Lizz Meiring is one of South Africa's most versatile entertainers. She is a celebrated actress, and is also known as television presenter, theatrical director, playwright, novelist, script writer, lecturer, producer, journalist, popular compére, public speaker and voice artist.
Since she started her career as actress in the arts and entertainment business 24 years ago, she had never been out of work. Due to her versatility and diverse interests, she is often busy with a number of projects at the same time.
"I simply thrive on doing six different things at once... and if, by chance it so happens that I am only working on one thing, I get terribly bored!"
Lizz's professional career started while she was studying drama at the University of Pretoria. During those years she performed for PACT Drama and PACT Ballet. She also appeared in a number of television productions for the SABC. Since then she had appeared in television programmes for all the local channels, as well as for the BBC.
She completed her BA Drama (Hons) degree in 1983. Since then she starred as leading or supporting actress in 306 stage productions, 257 television productions and 13 feature films! This body of work included classical works, contemporary drama, farce, comedy, cabaret, musicals, sitcoms and pantomimes. She was the writer and/or director of 74 stage productions and also produced some commercial theatre projects.
To date, she had translated 5 dramas: from French to Afrikaans and from English to Afrikaans. She worked as writer and co-writer of television scripts and screenplays and she is currently writing her seventh solo piece.
Lizz has a keen interest and vast knowledge of the visual arts and she has therefore opened various art exhibitions by great names such as Chris Diederichs, Sanna Swart, Berko Wilsenach, Isolde Kramst, Eugenie Marais and Musha Neluheni. She regularly writes articles on various aspects of the Arts for a variety of publications.
On various occasions, she had the opportunity to perform abroad. She was seen on stages in the Netherlands, England (London), Denmark and at the Edinburgh Festival. Many of these performances were alongside internationally acclaimed satirist, Pieter-Dirk Uys.
Lizz had received numerous awards in recognition of her acting skills and cultural contributions. These include the National Vita Award, as well as the DALRO Critics' Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, as well as for Best Supporting Actress. She was also awarded the sought after Ster-Kinekor / Nu Metro Film Prize, The Golden Entertainer, in 2001. In 2004 she received the Mr Video / Ster-Kinekor / Nu Metro Spotlight Award for the Best Television and Film Actress of the past Decade, as well as the Randburg Culture Award, and in 2005, the Naledi Award for Best Supporting Actress.
There had also been 15 nominations. These include nominations for Vita, Dalro and Naledi Awards for Best Production, Best Original Script, Best Director, Best Performance in a Comedy, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. There were also two nominations for Artes Awards, as well as a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the Edinburgh Crystal Awards. In 2006 she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series for the SAFTA TV - Golden Horn Awards.
Lizz is completely bilingual and had played roles in French, German, Dutch and Sotho.
Her first novel, Breek, was written with Barrie Hough and was published by Tafelberg Uitgewers in 2002. The book is prescribed for high schools throughout the country and is currently in its fifteenth print. It was nominated for the M.E.R Prize for Youth Literature. Lizz is currently writing her first solo novel, as well as the screenplay for Breek.
In 2007, she published six new books. This series of individually printed, original drama scripts with production information, were all published under the main title, Lizz se speel goed. Her first DVD, a live recording of her seventh solo piece, Elke ander duim 'n dame / Every other inch a Lady, was recorded in January 2007 and is now available. |
