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The South African
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
6 movie and TV filming locations in SA you can visit in real life
South Africa has quietly become one of the world's go-to filming locations. With its breathtaking landscapes, modern infrastructure, and versatile terrain, it's no wonder major film and TV productions keep setting up camp here. But the best part? Many of the places you've seen on screen are open to the public. Here are six filming locations across South Africa that you can actually visit… Cape Town is South Africa's crown jewel when it comes to film production. The city and its surroundings have doubled for 18th-century Caribbean ports, modern African capitals, and even alien planets! The most iconic example is Black Sails , the pirate drama shot primarily at Cape Town Film Studios. The massive sets included full-size pirate ships and detailed colonial forts. While the sets aren't always open to the public, you can visit nearby filming locations like Hout Bay, Simon's Town, and Table Mountain, which have featured in everything from Blood Diamond to Safe House . The Drakensberg range is as dramatic as it gets – jagged cliffs, green valleys, and misty peaks. These ancient mountains stood in for the jungles of the Congo in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) and have appeared in period action series like Warrior . The sweeping shots of wilderness are no CGI trick. That raw, untamed beauty is real – and it's waiting for you to hike, climb, or simply stare up in awe. Neill Blomkamp's District 9 didn't shy away from showing Johannesburg's gritty urban sprawl. The film used real neighbourhoods, scrapyards, and townships to build its sci-fi refugee zones. The visual impact was unforgettable, but so was the social commentary – rooted in real South African history. You won't find alien spacecraft hovering over the city, but you can explore the culture-rich neighbourhoods that gave the film its pulse. While you're there, be sure to visit Maboneng Precinct for local art, food, and design, and stop by the Apartheid Museum for essential context. The lush, forested landscapes of The Giver (2014) were filmed in Tsitsikamma, a jewel along South Africa's Garden Route. The film's dreamlike setting was no fantasy – this coastal forest is real and teeming with life. With towering trees, dramatic river gorges, and suspension bridges over crashing waves, it's one of the most cinematic spots you can experience with your own eyes. Roland Emmerich's prehistoric epic 10,000 BC used the Cederberg Mountains to portray a wild and ancient world. Though the movie's accuracy is questionable, the scenery is spot-on. The Cederberg's orange rock formations, open desert spaces, and ancient San rock art sites give it an otherworldly feel that's perfect for explorers. You don't need a time machine to walk through this prehistoric landscape. Port Edward and its surrounding coastline on the Wild Coast have hosted multiple seasons of Survivor South Africa . With its rough seas, remote beaches, and thick vegetation, it's the perfect backdrop for survival challenges – and an unforgettable travel destination. You can walk the same beaches and forests where contestants battled it out, minus the stress of tribal council. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Metro
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
7 'captivating' period dramas on Amazon Prime that you can binge now
I think we can all agree that the modern world is frequently a busy and bewildering place. Is it any wonder, then, that period dramas have exploded in popularity in recent years as weary TV viewers seek some respite from buzzing phones, blinding lights, and busy brunch schedules? No, of course it's not. Who doesn't love a bit of Regency pomp, some medieval intrigue, or even 1920s glam? But where's the discerning TV fan supposed to find these shows? Well, Amazon Prime Video has a library crammed with enough historical dramas to keep even the most voracious TV binger busy. Here are the 7 Amazon Prime historical dramas to watch if you love Peaky Blinders For those who like their historical fantasy a bit more punk, I'd recommend My Lady Jane. Set in an alternate 16th-century England, the series imagines a world where Lady Jane Grey's brief reign as Queen (she ruled for just nine days before being overthrown by Queen Mary) wasn't so brief. Boasting an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the series is a blast featuring thrilling court intrigue, scintillating romance, and even shape-shifting magical creatures (It's an alternate reality,y just roll with it). Is it any wonder fans have labelled the series the 'best show of 2024' or that George RR Martin has been asking Amazon to consider commissioning a second season? For a swashbuckling adventure, binge-watch Black Sails, a TV prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island. Set in the early 18th century, the historical drama follows the pirates of New Providence Island as they hunt for the Spanish shipwreck, Urca de Lima, to uncover treasures. If that's not enough to entice you, Tom Long of the Detroit News previously said of Black Sails: 'Alliances are made and broken, power shifts go this way and that, blood is spilled, and wenches keep wenching. It's oddly addictive.' Long before Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, there was Manhattan, which retold the creation of the atomic bomb in Los Alamos, New Mexico. While the show wasn't strictly historically accurate (nor did it claim to be), it did feature real-life figures, including head scientist Robert Oppenheimer played by Daniel London. Manhattan has flown woefully under the radar since its debut more than a decade ago in 2014, but fans, who have rediscovered it on Amazon Prime Video, have described it as 'captivating.' If you're yearning for a British period drama that's more historically accurate than My Lady Jane, then The Tudors is the answer. Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry VIII and following the monarch's many trials and tribulations as his ability to rule was put under strain by international conflicts and political power struggles playing out in his own court. Upon hitting screens in 2007, the show became the highest-rated Showtime series debut in three years and has been hailed as a 'masterpiece' and 'phenomenal' by viewers. Oh, you want to see more of King Henry VIII? Well, look no further than The Spanish Princess, based on the life of one of his many wives. Running for two seasons, which aired in 2019 and 2020, it stars Charlotte Hope as Catherine of Aragon, the titular princess who was crowned the Queen of England when she married King Henry VIII, played by Ruairi O'Connor. 'The Spanish Princess is the ideal period soap, dexterously and intelligently balancing the webby intrigue of 16th-century court life with the dewy eroticism of a classic melodrama. There's no guilt here. Just pleasure,' The Hollywood Reporter wrote in its review. Lavish series Versailles caused quite a stir when it premiered in 2016 for its graphic sex scenes, including a 24-person orgy, and not shying away from gory violence. Set in the Baroque era, the show is a no-holds-barred depiction of the court of King Louis XIV (George Blagden) – and the continuous rumours of sex sessions and gluttony that took place in the period. Speaking about the show previously to Metro, George said: 'I remember hearing this incredible phrase, 'bedrooms were boardrooms at Versailles', and it's just such an amazing idea and concept to play with.' Leonardo has all the ingredients of a classic TV show – a beautiful period backdrop, a complex historical figure and an accusation of murder – so fetch your remote. More Trending It stars Poldark's Aidan Turner as Leonardo da Vinci and lifts the lid on the Italian artist, inventor and Renaissance man's personal life, including the belief that he had male lovers. Describing the series, Aidan previously told Metro: 'It's not just a straightforward historical look at his life. We were trying to get to the essence as to who the man was behind the artist.' View More » An earlier version of this story was published on February 19, 2025. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Amazon Prime drops all episodes of 'one of the best TV shows ever made' MORE: 20 best new TV shows of 2025, according to Rotten Tomatoes MORE: 'Sinfully fun' new sequel on Amazon Prime lands surprising Rotten Tomatoes score
The Age
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Is it sexier to swerve?': actor Toby Schmitz pivots to his fallback plan
This story is part of the April 26 edition of Good Weekend. See all 11 stories. Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week, he talks to Toby Schmitz. The writer, director and actor, 47, is known for his award-winning stage productions and roles in TV shows such as Black Sails, Boy Swallows Universe and The Twelve. His debut novel is The Empress Murders. BODIES Toby, how's your body going? How's your health? Good! I went for a run and did my press-ups at 6am this morning. But now I just feel like I'm ready for a nap. Welcome to the mid-40s, right? That's right, but I've gotten back into the swing recently. I'm going to be in a play soon which will be very demanding, and I thought, 'You know what? I need to get as fit as I can.' Do you enjoy working out? Not for a single moment. It's all hideous; I find it so boring. But podcasts have changed everything. Now I can listen to some tweedy boffin talk about trench warfare in World War I and 45 minutes can pass. You were never that sporty person at school? No, I was doing so much extracurricular debating, drama and the school newspaper. If I'd been good at it, maybe I would've got into sports more, but I was tall, pigeon-chested and pimply, and never derived pleasure from competition. And I always loathed the idea of there being one winner and one loser. Yet you're often cast as the handsome, dashing man on stage. Is this vision of an acne-ridden, pigeon-chested Toby real? Absolutely real. I couldn't smile without bleeding and the acne was well down my back. But by the time I got to NIDA, it had cleared up. And notoriously, at NIDA they make you deal with the fact that you have a body. On the very first day, they're like, 'Get down to tights and a singlet.' I'd forgotten to bring mine, so I was down to my silky Davenport boxers. From that point on, I owned it, and started to love my body more. What else are you noticing nowadays? When my daughter says, 'Whoa, your grey hairs!' or 'Daddy, you look old this morning!', you're like, 'F--- me!' But I'm most aware of it when I've said things like, 'Where's my audition for such-and-such?' And they're like, 'Do you mean the guy in his early 30s? Yeah, look, there's another role we think might be more appropriate for you …' I may have passed Hamlet and Romeo, but it's not Lear yet, is it?
Sydney Morning Herald
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Is it sexier to swerve?': actor Toby Schmitz pivots to his fallback plan
This story is part of the April 26 edition of Good Weekend. See all 11 stories. Each week, Benjamin Law asks public figures to discuss the subjects we're told to keep private by getting them to roll a die. The numbers they land on are the topics they're given. This week, he talks to Toby Schmitz. The writer, director and actor, 47, is known for his award-winning stage productions and roles in TV shows such as Black Sails, Boy Swallows Universe and The Twelve. His debut novel is The Empress Murders. BODIES Toby, how's your body going? How's your health? Good! I went for a run and did my press-ups at 6am this morning. But now I just feel like I'm ready for a nap. Welcome to the mid-40s, right? That's right, but I've gotten back into the swing recently. I'm going to be in a play soon which will be very demanding, and I thought, 'You know what? I need to get as fit as I can.' Do you enjoy working out? Not for a single moment. It's all hideous; I find it so boring. But podcasts have changed everything. Now I can listen to some tweedy boffin talk about trench warfare in World War I and 45 minutes can pass. You were never that sporty person at school? No, I was doing so much extracurricular debating, drama and the school newspaper. If I'd been good at it, maybe I would've got into sports more, but I was tall, pigeon-chested and pimply, and never derived pleasure from competition. And I always loathed the idea of there being one winner and one loser. Yet you're often cast as the handsome, dashing man on stage. Is this vision of an acne-ridden, pigeon-chested Toby real? Absolutely real. I couldn't smile without bleeding and the acne was well down my back. But by the time I got to NIDA, it had cleared up. And notoriously, at NIDA they make you deal with the fact that you have a body. On the very first day, they're like, 'Get down to tights and a singlet.' I'd forgotten to bring mine, so I was down to my silky Davenport boxers. From that point on, I owned it, and started to love my body more. What else are you noticing nowadays? When my daughter says, 'Whoa, your grey hairs!' or 'Daddy, you look old this morning!', you're like, 'F--- me!' But I'm most aware of it when I've said things like, 'Where's my audition for such-and-such?' And they're like, 'Do you mean the guy in his early 30s? Yeah, look, there's another role we think might be more appropriate for you …' I may have passed Hamlet and Romeo, but it's not Lear yet, is it?
The Independent
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Toby Stephens shares details of mother Maggie Smith's final moments
Maggie Smith 's son Toby Stephens has opened up about the final weeks of the acclaimed actor's life. Stephens and his brother Chris Larkin announced their mother, who was best known for her prominent roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, had died 'peacefully' in hospital in September last year. Smith's health was in decline for the final two years of her life and by 2023, the Oscar-winning actor had stopped working altogether. Speaking to The Times, Stephens revealed he wasn't in the UK when his mother died because he'd been offered a role in the New Zealand horror film Marama, which was shooting at the time. Smith encouraged her son to take the role despite her health troubles. 'She was in hospital. She was supposed to be coming out, but the last two years of her life had been a decline: she would get worse, then she would get better, then she would get worse,' he explained. 'So I said, 'Look I've got this film,' and before I could even ask her, she said, 'Go do it. God, you don't want to hang round here, I'm fine.'' When Stephens arrived in New Zealand, however, the hospital staff informed him that his mother's condition would not improve. 'But it could take two months, two weeks, they didn't know,' he said. Shooting had began for Marama, and so Stephens rang Smith who insisted he stay and complete the project. Soon afterwards, his mother stopped being able to communicate. 'I'd spent hours and days sitting with her at home and in hospital over the course of two years, and there was nothing I had left unsaid,' Stephens said. Smith died on 27 September, the day before Stephens finished filming. His wife, Black Sails star Anna-Louise Plowman, and their three teenage children were all with her at the hospital the day before she died. Larkin was at Smith's bedside for her final moments. 'I was so sad not to be with him,' Stephens admitted. 'I found that very difficult, but she was no longer aware. And it allowed me some space to actually get my head round what had happened.' Elsewhere in the interview, Stephens said he had been touched by the response to his mother's death and the number of people who remembered her for her earlier roles. He added: 'The thing that really got me was: it's very rare that you have actors that everyone likes. And she had spent her life not thinking of herself like that, which is very winning. 'If she had thought of herself like that it would have been ghastly. But she wasn't like that at all. She had self-knowledge, self-belief. Like most actors, though, she was riven with self-doubt.' A giant of theatre and a deft character actor on film, Smith was nevertheless something of an outsider, despite the adulation she received throughout her career, having acquired a reputation as rather spiky and acid-tongued, disinclined to suffer fools gladly. On whether she had ever felt inclined to try to correct this perception, she told an audience at London's Tricycle Theatre in 2017: 'It's gone too far now to take back. If I suddenly came on like Pollyanna, it wouldn't work – it would frighten people more if I were nice. 'They'd be paralysed with fear. And wonder what I was up to. But perhaps I should try it… 'Hello! What fun! We're going to be here all day! And then filming all night, too! Goodie! And it's so lovely and cold!''
