GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Former Union High School learner Sisanda Henna is now an award-winning actor, filmmaker and producer.
Henna matriculated from Union in 1999, and also writes, directs and finances motion pictures.
He has starred, or supported, in over 40 local and international productions - from dramas to films, comedies to sitcoms, even lending his voice to animations.
It was during a school trip to Cape Town, when Henna and his classmates watched the musical Kat and the Kings in the Baxter Theatre, that he knew he wanted to be in show business too. “It inspired me to reach for the stars through making movies, acting, writing, directing and producing,” Henna said.
His career took off soon after he completed his studies. His performance in the hard-hitting, prime-time drama series Tsha Tsha (on SABC 1) garnered him the 2003 Best Actor in a Drama Duku Duku Award.
Next, he starred in This Life, on SABC 3, an adaptation of the BBC drama about a group of young attorneys trying to launch their careers.
Around the same time, Henna became the face of MTN. He appeared in commercials, billboards and stills campaigns.
Henna's star continued to rise and he went on to play a variety of roles on shows such as Hillside, Scandal, Donkerland, Soul City, City Ses'la, Zabalaza, Hustle and a popular US medical drama series, ER.
Henna also starred in Akin Omotoso's short film, Rifle Road (Cannes Official Selection 2005), Einmal so wie ich will (a German production) and Klein Karoo (a romantic comedy).
In 2005, he won the Eastern Cape Metropolitan Young Achiever Award. Henna then turned to directing and producing for a few years, and worked on award-winning shows such as Intersections II, Gauteng Maboneng, Gold Diggers and Greed Desire (Mzansi Magic).
Over the years, Henna has also hosted and presented TV shows such as Vuk’uzenzele, All You Need Is Love and Gospel Gold and currently appears on SABC 1’s Sunday night prime time drama #Emjindini, and stars in a Canal+ drama series Agent.
To add to his accomplishments, Henna has also served on the South African Guild of Actors Executive Committee and is a member of the Independent Producers’ Organisation and the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective.
He is also a qualified success coach, an MC, facilitator and keynote speaker with Marie Grey & Associates.
“I learned so much at Union. All my teachers, as well as the hostel matron and headmaster, were amazing and each, in their unique way, made an impact on my life,” Henna said.
He added that he’ll never forget his English teacher, Karen van der Merwe, also the mother of his best friend during high school, Karl van der Merwe.
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