Actor, producer and voice artist, Bruce Gounder (47), like so many others, had hopes and dreams of becoming a movie star one day and having his name known internationally.
He was born on the South Coast at G J Crookes Hospital and schooled in Umzinto.
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“I’ve had a passion for acting from my schooldays and no one really took me seriously, but I still persevered through it all,” he said.
Everyone saw him as the ‘shy boy’ in school and didn’t know that he was holding back on all of this talent. After leaving the coast, he went to Johannesburg and then to India, where he obtained his Master’s Degree in Method Acting. Since then, he has featured in hundreds of TV commercials and been on radio and television shows, as well in local and international movies.
Before actually making it big in my younger days, I used to sweep the cinema in Umzinto just to watch free movies and now I’m so grateful to be on the other end, as I’m starring in these movies.” It wasn’t an easy process to get to where he is now, but Bruce still pulled through.
“I went to many auditions, faced a lot of rejections, but I didn’t make it something personal and just kept going for it.”
One of Bruce’s greatest achievements was when seven commercials he had featured in all played on TV in one day and he was extremely proud.
There was even a time where he had a role in a South African stage production called ‘Where The Soul Resides’ which was performed in 2008. Most people would recognise Bruce from local movies, ‘Run For Your Life’ and ‘Broken Promises’.
He has just finished his latest movie, Renaldo Kell’s ‘The Bush Knife’, which screened at Nu Metro, Pavilion and will be screened at Galleria on September 2.
In ‘The Bush Knife’, Bruce plays the lead role and is also the producer of the movie. The movie was predominantly shot on the South Coast so keep your eyes peeled as several other locals have been cast in this movie too, alongside actors from America and even France. The production began in 2016 and took this long to hit your screens as the production team wanted the movie to be perfect and match international standards.
“People can expect to see jam-packed action in this movie, which is very gritty, dark and my character is a bit more serious than most of the other roles I’ve had,” said Bruce. “I urge the public to see this movie, as we value the support of our locals.”
Bruce never imagined actually seeing himself on the big screen like this and is grateful for his achievements thus far. He is a method actor, so in order to prepare himself for any roles, he goes into character long before production actually begins.
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“It’s a process. I can’t lie to the camera, the acting has to come out naturally, so I delve deep into the life of the person I am portraying. Other people I admire for this acting are Marilyn Monroe and Robert De Niro,” he said.
Many people thought his dream of being an actor was too far-fetched. “I’m not one to give up on my dreams. There have been many disappointments, but I’ve never given up through all the obstacles. Not everything is a bed of roses and actors go through a lot at times, but it’s important to stay focused, believe in yourself and stay grounded.”
Bruce also hopes to open up an acting academy on the South Coast one day, to share his knowledge of the film and TV industry with locals who are aspiring actors and actresses. He said it is known that acting as a full-time profession is a gamble, because one doesn’t have a set income and has to keep trying for roles as they come.
There is a lot of sacrifice, but at the end of the day it’s doing what you have a passion for.
Bruce plans to head to Los Angeles early next year after earning a role in a movie called ‘1949’, in which he will be starring in alongside some American actors.
He has so far done work on television, radio, print, on stage and now on the big screen. Some of his most challenging roles were when he had to learn other languages such as Xhosa, isiZulu, Sotho and even Hindi.
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Bruce is a bookworm and spends most of his time reading, especially biographies, when he’s not in front of a camera.
For those who hope to be able to walk down the same path as Bruce one day, here’s some advice: “Be a big dreamer. I’m a big dreamer and I wanted to achieve success beyond the borders of South Africa, which is what I am currently doing. Do things you have a passion for and keep persevering. As Walt Disney once said, ‘If you can dream it, you can achieve it’.”
To keep up with Bruce Gounder and his journey in this industry, follow his Facebook fan page ‘Bruce Gounder‘ or on Instagram @gounderbruce.
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