Bonnie Henna renowned South African actress has been in a number of international films including Drum, Blinded Angels, Catch a Fire and Invictus. We caught up with her at her book launch 'Eyebags and Dimples' at The Rosebank Mall. Bonnie was searching for freedom in her life and decided to write this touching story. It's her honest tale of how her depression almost robbed her of her life and how she continues to fight this darkness. From actress to author Bonnie shines with grace and sincerity. 

In this interview Bonnie shows us her lighter side...as mother, actress and now author.

What Book do you wish you had written and why:
I love books and have read many amazing ones and the answer changes from time to time depending on where I'm at. Today, my answer is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, his melodic and enchanting use of words is intoxicating, but what is most memorable for me about that book is how it rejuvenated my ability to dream, it taught me how to value my dreams, at a time in my life when I needed to kick into a new level of faith.

If you could change something about your personality what would it be?
I like myself, I generally love being me, but If there’s anything that continuously infuriates me, it's my tendency to procrastinate. I procrastinate about almost everything.

Your advice on raising a child:
Raising children is a calling, just when you think you’ve gotten the hang of it, the rules change, my advice is that parents should strive to be the best people they can be because who they are influences their children more than what they say they are.

What’s your next book about?
My next book is about letting my imagination run wild, I'm going to venture into the scary world of fiction .That's all I'm willing to give away for now…

What is your favourite book of all time.
Wow, what a tough question...it would have to be Half of A Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

If you could have Dinner with a famous person who would it be and why?
I would love to have dinner with Mamphele Ramphele, she has a beautiful mind and is ever so graceful. She makes me proud to be a South African woman...I would pick her brain all night.

Knowing what you know now, would you have skipped modelling altogether?
No I wouldn’t have, it helped me further define what kind of a woman I wanted to be .

The most challenging movie role you’ve played in and why:

My most challenging movie role thus far would have to be my first big one ,that would be Drum ,there was a lot of pressure on me and the director was not a fan of mine and he didn’t mince his words about it, so I had a lot to prove .

What makes you laugh
I love laughing ,so I try to find humour in everything, but Flight Of The Concords “ gets me every time.

 
What famous movie character would you like to play and why

I'd love to play Audrey Hepburn ,which obviously won't work cause I'm black ,but she's just adorable .

What inspires you?

People who overcome great adversity ,great odds and defy physical ,social and cultural limitation to live their dream.

Your Life quote:

“if the dog you're drawing looks more like a horse ,make it a horse”

quote from Eyebags and Dimples: "For a long time I felt misunderstood by the world. Now I realise that I was the one who misunderstood me. I've had to forgive myself for being so hard on myself and others.  I had misguided and unreasonable expectations, and wandered around aimlessly seeking fulfilment in all the wrong places."