Mortimer Williams, known for his various roles in local soapies and series, celebrated one of the biggest wins of his career recently for his role in Barakat, a film set in Cape Town.
Williams was nominated in the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2021 under the category: best supporting actor. At a virtual ceremony streaming from Los Angeles, it was announced that he had won the category. That was not the only win for the film that evening – it won best international feature film, best ensemble cast feature film, Mary Austin award excellence directing, and the Indie spirit award original score feature film.
“This is quite a big deal for me and solidifies what I have been feeling all this time. Being in the industry for the past 27 years and now being recognized for my work is something I am proud to have achieved.”
During his two decades in the industry, he has had roles in Skeem Sam, Isidingo, Soul Buddies, Erfsondes, to name a few.
Though Barakat has seen the silver screen in various festivals across the world such as United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, winning notable awards in those countries, it will only be released in South Africa on 28 May at Ster-Kinkor cinemas.
When Williams reflected on the year 2020, recognising the challenges, both life-threatening and overwhelming, he endured to come out victorious. To lighten the tone of a terrifying memory he said, “My year literally started with a bang.” This is because he was one of the victims of a drive-by shooting that took place in the early morning of 1 January last year at Poppy’s restaurant in Melville. “I was shot in my lower back, the bullet went straight through, bearly just missing my kidney and colon,” he explained while shuddering at the thought that while pressure was being put on his wound by a member of the community, two female victims laid lifeless next to him just a few steps ahead.
He spent a few days in hospital recovering and the rest of the following two months doing so on the set of Barakat, probably propelled to do so by the age-old actors’ adage ‘the show must go on, after he was given the go-ahead by his doctor to so. “There was a paramedic on set the whole time who would tend to the wound during breaks.”
By the time he returned to his Westdene home, Covid-19 had gripped the country and hard lockdown was pending. “The last year has been hard on artists,” he said with bated breath.
Williams is a bold character, it is not only his mere presence that shouts of his welcomed extrovert nature but also how he engages with a friendly waitress handing him coffee, that shows why he is in one of his best forms when in front of an enamoured audience.
This has been the toughest year of his life – with the shooting, Covid-19 and its residual effects, and the recent passing of his mother. “Whatever is coming at me next, bring it on.” For this fortified belief he attributes his wife’s unwavering support in him all these years and the pride she evoked when he won the award.
As he put it, the industry chose him, “I have always had a love for performing and the arts.” A singer, actor and dancer, Williams said when it comes to performing he will give it his all. “My philosophy is that you should always give the powers that be a very good reason to say ‘no’.”
To young actors coming up, Williams said to just work on your craft, and do what you love.
