South African actress Minke Marais is best known for her roles in the television series’, Mooiweer en Warm (2023) , Fraksie (2022) and Dinge van ’n Kind (2022). Minke studied BA drama and theatre studies at Stellenbosch University and has gone on to win numerous awards for her acting.
Minke Marais [pictured above] is an up and coming South African actress best known for her roles in the television series’ Mooiweer en Warm (2023) , Fraksie (2022) and Dinge van ’n Kind (2022). PHOTO: Hannah Theron
For a brief moment, bathed in the warm glow of the spotlight, time stood still as Minke Marais prepared to deliver her first line of dialogue.
At 14 years old, this was her first time ever speaking on stage and it was the moment that would forever change the trajectory of her life, she says.
“I was looking up and the lights were in my eyes and it was bright. And there was the audience and all this adrenaline and energy and I thought, ‘This is amazing’,” says Minke.
It was Minke’s first speaking role in 2016, her grade nine year, that started her love of the theatre. But, it was only the following year when, at 15 years old, Minke got her first lead in a play that she realised she wanted to be an actress. “It really started making sense. And I was like, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
The opening act
Minke was born in the Free State on 2 December 2001. Her family moved to Johannesburg when she was three years old and Minke lived there until she completed high school, she says.
Minke describes herself as a shy child. “I literally hid behind my mum’s dress. I didn’t want to speak to people. I was comfortable with my people; my mum, my dad, and my sister.”
Her timid nature didn’t deter her from stepping onto the stage for the first time in grade eight. She played a ghost with no speaking lines and just “ran around the stage”, says Minke. Following her initial role, she remained actively engaged in her school’s productions each year.
Minke Marais [pictured above] has always been very driven in everything and she acts and performs with so much passion, says Sarika Marais, Minke’s mother. “Just to see that fire inside of her and that sparkle, to see her like that makes us so proud,” says Sarika. PHOTO: Hannah Theron
Minke describes Mariki de Villiers Knop, her high school drama teacher and mentor, as the person who made studying drama a tangible goal for her. Mariki “took a chance” on Minke when she made her the lead of the play in Grade 10, says Minke. Mariki worked hard to help Minke improve, by helping her deepen her voice and harness her emotions, states Minke.
“I think her confidence really grew in leaps and bounds. People watching her acting as a schoolgirl marvelled at her talent and storytelling ability,” says Mariki. “It has been one of the great privileges of my career to work with Minke. […] She does what she loves so well. She makes it look easy, but in reality she gives her everything to every project she commits to.”
To this day, Minke sends her scripts and her work to Mariki.
From SU to TV screens
As a teenager, Minke’s biggest dream was to study drama at Stellenbosch University (SU), she says. However, when Minke told her parents that she wanted to study drama, they were very hesitant due to the stigma that a drama degree offers no financial security, she adds. They wanted her to pick a degree that offers more job security such as accounting, explains Minke.
“I told them [that] I’ll study accounting and when I’m done, I’ll give them the certificate and say ‘Thank you for wasting your money. Can I please study what I want to study now?’” says Minke.
Minke always believed that her parents would eventually come around and understand her passion for acting, she says. That moment came when – after her final performance of her grade eleven production – Minke walked out of the theatre into the sea of cheering parents where she saw her father crying and cheering for her.
“In that moment, when he was crying and told me he’s proud of me, I was like ‘I’ve got you. You understand me now. You understand why I’m doing this’,” says Minke.
“We have fully supported Minke ever since because it is important to do what you are passionate about. Because then you will always excel in whatever you do,” states Sarika Marais, Minke’s mother. Both of her parents are extremely proud of everything she has managed to achieve, adds Minke.
When Minke Marais [pictured above] was in high school, it was her dream to study drama at Stellenbosch University (SU), she says. She never had any specific career goals or dreams at the time, all she wanted was to study at SU, adds Minke. PHOTO: Hannah Theron
One of Minke proudest accomplishments was her performance in the one-woman play Waterbrief, she says. Minke won best actress for Waterbrief at the Reza de Wet-Tienertoneelfees, Allegretto Toneelfees, and Noordheuwel Toneelfees in 2019. Additionally, in 2019, Minke won best actress award at the Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging (ATKV) for her performance in Waterbrief, stated Minke. This marked her second consecutive year of winning the best actress award at ATKV as she won the previous year for her role of Annamaria in the stage production of Annamaria Davidtz van Dikdaan van Diepgezet.
For Minke, acting is not about winning awards or becoming famous. It is about storytelling and creating empathy for the characters you play, she says.
In 2020, Minke started studying BA Drama and Theatre Studies at SU. This is where she met Schalk van der Merwe, one of her lecturers that had an immense impact on her life.
“The energy she [Minke] exhumed during her audition was frighteningly spot on for the character she auditioned for,” says Schalk. “I immediately thought here is a student with the whole package. Brains, talent and beauty.”
In 2023, Minke completed her honours in BA Drama and Theatre Studies with a focus on creative writing at SU. She chose to focus on creative writing because she wants to be able to write her own productions one day, adds Minke. “There’s obviously the stigma around drama that there’s no money. But the thing about drama is you have to create your own work,” says Minke.
However, it is not the money that drives Minke, but her passion for acting, she says. “When there’s something that’s burning in your heart, you cannot ignore it.”
While her career started with stage productions, Minke has also been in six TV shows, according to her. Acting for TV is more challenging for Minke as she has been doing it for less time than she was doing theatre, Minke adds. However, she does not have a preference for either theatre or TV and hopes to continue doing both, she adds.
Outside of acting, Minke Marais [pictured above] has a multitude of hobbies including reading, crocheting, golfing, and playing the ukulele, she says. Her love for golfing comes from playing with her father, Minke adds. PHOTO: Hannah Theron
Fighting imposter syndrome
2023 was a “very tough” year for Minke, she says. She attended 20 auditions and did not book any of the roles. All the closed doors were difficult for Minke to deal with and added to her experiencing imposter syndrome, she explains.
Imposter syndrome has been a constant struggle in Minke’s life and she has been actively trying to overcome it, she says. “You constantly compare yourself with other people. [With acting] it’s a constant race and competition because we often get cast based on our looks.”
One of her biggest challenges has been reminding herself that she is good enough to fulfil her dreams and she deserves the roles she gets, says Minke.
In the highly competitive acting industry, one of Minke’s biggest goals is to create a culture where people encourage and support one another, she explains.
“It’s a very competitive journey and industry and some of my friends are getting auditions for the same roles I’m getting auditions for. I just [want to] create this community where we back each other and root for each other,” says Minke.
In light of a hard 2023, Minke has been making time for her mental health, she says. “It’s really doing the work reflecting on what is going on and wrong, and how am I going to be better or happier or free.”
Before Minke Marais moved to Stellenbosch for university in 2020, she decided to get a tattoo of the word ‘inspire’ to remind herself of why she wants to be an actress, she says. She aims to inspire people and create a character that the audience can relate to through her performances, adds Marais. PHOTO: Hannah Theron