Antonia Benson from Westbury to represent SA in the USA
Spreading her wings on international stages.
Antonia Benson (20) from Westbury got scouted to represent South Africa at The Applause Rising Talent Showcase (ARTS) in Orlando Florida, the United States of America in July.
Benson’s first audition was held in Sandton last year where she performed in front of thousands of people.
“I got a call back for the next audition which took place at Silver Star and this was in front of judges from Just You Model and Artist Management (who scouted her), Kim Meyers the Director of ARTS, and representatives from the New York Film Academy and the Tyler Perry Studios. It was an amazing experience. I didn’t think it was so big so I was shocked,” said Benson.
The aspiring actress said that she prefers stage performances but knows that she has to be versatile.
“You can’t just stick to one thing,” she said. In the community, Benson acted in Judah Productions at the Westbury Recreational Centre.
“I was like five years old when I use to watch people acting then I use to say that I can also do that, and I wanted to be there. I always wanted to do acting, since a young age but my parents were not that supportive of it but when I finished high school they gave me the go ahead with it,” explained Benson.
She studied a two-year course in Professional Acting for Camera at City Varsity.
When asked what acting has done in her life, Benson said; “I was a very shy person and I didn’t know how to express myself so when I got onto the stage, it changed me, I think it’s the way people view you. I get to be myself and you just can’t hide on stage.”
If Benson isn’t acting, she is either at church, writing poems, dancing or modelling. Her favourite actress is Amandla Stenberg and her actor is Nick Robinson. If she could star in a movie she would have loved to be part of the movie ‘Everything, Everything’.
Benson had now been scouted to showcase her talent at the ARTS International Auditions.
“I’m actually very excited and nervous because now I have to bring my ‘A game’. It’s not only people from South Africa but it will be contestants from around the world. There will be agents there so I wouldn’t even know who is watching me,” she said.
Benson will be going alone to the auditions in July where she will spend a week in the USA. It will be her first time flying and her first time out of the country.
All expenses are on her and her parents and to make it possible for her, Benson is asking the community for help with any sponsors for her trip. The young aspiring artists said in closing: “It’s about just trusting the process that you in and pushing forward.”
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