Ben Voss
Benjamin Voss | |
|---|---|
 Ben Voss | |
| Born | 3 May 1973 |
| Citizenship | South African |
| Alma mater | University of Natal, South Africa |
| Known for | Beauty Ramapelepele |
| Website | benvoss |
Ben Voss (born 3 May 1973) is a South African comedian, actor and satirist. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998 and is best known for his portrayal of fictional character, Beauty Ramapelepele, his comedy Sketch shows and performances in Pantomime. He has also starred in films alongside the likes of John Cleese and Troye Sivan. He has starred in the TV series Desert Rose due for release on Mnet and Showmax in 2022.[1]
Formative Years
He was born in Rhodesia and educated at Uthongathi School, Natal, South Africa, where he matriculated in 1990. He then went on to complete an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering at the then University of Natal. He followed that with a post-graduate degree in Human Resources at the same institution. After a gap year in South East Asia he returned to Durban, South Africa to take up a post as an engineer in the paper industry.[1]
Performing Arts Career
Voss became disillusioned with his engineering career and, in January 1997, he started a career in acting despite no formal training in the performing arts.
In addition to Voss's contributions to the South African comedy circuit, he is also an accomplished actor and script-writer with particular accolades for his performances in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night in 2001 and the title role in Macbeth in 2002. He is also multiple Naledi Award and Fleur du Cap winner and nominee.
STAGE
On stage Voss is a satirist. He set up the production company, Mamba Productions and together with John van de Ruit (of Spud fame), produced and performed the comedy skit shows Green Mamba and Black Mamba. Both won many of South Africa’s major comedy and theatre awards[2] and played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Germany and the United Kingdom, with acclaimed runs at the Wimbledon Theatre in London.
Voss is arguably best known for his portrayal of the fictional South African business woman, Beauty Ramapelepele. Voss uses the alter-ego of Ramapelepele to deliver satirical social commentary on life in post-apartheid South Africa. His shows, Beauty and the B.E.E. and Bend it like Beauty (commissioned by the Oval House Theatre in London) have played in South Africa and abroad. His run at the Oval House Theatre in London was featured on BBC world news and he was commissioned to perform at events in honour of the South African Soccer World Cup.[3] Voss has also shared the stage with Pieter-Dirk Uys's "Evita" on his DVD release of Elections and Erections.
His latest one man show Benny Bushwhacker played over 100 shows throughout southern Africa. In 2018 he played the Evil Queen in the pantomime stage show of Snow White, directed by internationally acclaimed director Janice Honeyman at the Joberg theatre. In 2021 he was top billed, as one of the ugly sisters, alongside Desmond Dube in Janice Honeyman’s latest spectacular, Cinderella.
In 2023 he played Captain Hook in the three-month season of Peter Pan. In 2024 he was awarded a coveted star on Joburg Theatre’s walk of fame.
FILM
Voss’s film credits include the Spud series of movies where Voss plays Mr Lily, Spud's art teacher and under-14D/E rugby coach alongside Troye Sivan and John Cleese.
He also Played the lead in Robert Fraser’s Game and the supporting lead in Craig Friemond’s acclaimed drama Beyond the River in 2017.
TELEVISION
In 2021, Voss turned his attention to television and played a lead role in the MNET and Showmax production of Desert Rose which was internationally release in 63 countries in early 2022.
In 2023 he featured alongside Iian Glen from Game of Thrones in the Emmy nominated Reyka -season 2.
Awards
Naledi Award – Best comedic performance
Naledi Award – Best South African Script.
FNB Vita award – Best Supporting actor
FNB Vita award – Best Actor
Fleur du Cap award – Best Actor
3 Ovation Awards – National arts festival
References
- ^ a b "Biographical information from www.benvoss.co.za". Archived from the original on 3 July 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- ^ "Awards for Mamba Productions". Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Theatre Review: Bend it Like Beauty at Oval House Theatre". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
External links
- Interview with John van de Ruit and Ben Voss about the comedy 'Green Mamba'
- Ben Voss's website
- Mamba Productions website
- Living people
- 1974 births
- University of Natal alumni
- South African dramatists and playwrights
- South African male comedians
- White South African people
- South African drag queens
- South African male actors
- Actors from Durban
- Writers from Durban
- 21st-century South African LGBT people
- 1973 births
- Actors
- Film actors
- Television actors
- Stage actors