One of PALI’s biggest success stories by far has to be that of Desiré Gardner. As an actress she is known for starring roles in Binnelanders, Suidooster and the award-winning comedy Magda Louw.
The second season of Magda Louw is currently airing on kykNET and the story of this beloved character had quite an interesting journey. Desiré originally wrote it as a stage play and performed it at various festivals starting 2017. In 2021 the 50-minute film version was released and in 2023 the first season of the series introduced South-Africans to the expanded world and family of Magda Louw. At the 2023 Silwerskerm Toekennings vir Film en TV she won Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Magda Louw not only proves the possibilities of artists creating work for themselves, but also highlights the importance of having a diverse set of skills.
According to Desiré having a diverse skillset is important because as an artist you will always have your ebbs and flows, so when you have quiet times in the industry you need something to fall back on. “Artists often have a plan B within a different career field, but I think our industry is so full of opportunities that can also be an option.
"... I think our industry is so full of opportunities..."
Something that I specifically looked at was translation because you can work in dubbing, translating, and subtitling. Learning the necessary skills gives you something else to offer as an artist.” One of Desiré’s fondest memories of her time at PALI is the 2009 production Noises Off which she performed in at the Breytenbach Theatre. “It was really one of the best and most fulfilling productions that I’ve been blessed with in my life. It was so much fun, but the amount of work that goes into a farce is just something else. It was really a magical time in my life…. And the people! That’s the thing with PALI, you become such great friends because you share this love for the industry and telling stories with this group of people that you can’t help but form an amazing bond with. The whole experience at PALI was amazing and I learnt so much about television and theatre; writing and creating your own work and putting yourself out there.” Upon being asked if she has any advice for aspiring artists pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, Desiré responded –“Find the thing that comes easy to you, that comes naturally. Whatever comes naturally tends to become the things we are good at. The other thing is – know your why. Ask yourself why you want to be in the industry and then follow that why. The third thing is continue creating, even if you find it difficult, keep creating. Don’t stop and wait for something to come your way, put yourself out there.”
