SMH 23 December 2011

Thuso Lekwape has always been bold.

As a four-year-old in Johannesburg, he knocked on the door of Australian journalists Sharon Davis and Geoff Parish and asked, ''Can I come in?''

In drama classes at International Grammar School in Ultimo, he was ''always willing to take risks'', his head of drama, Rita Morabito, said.

And at his NIDA audition this month, the institute's acting tutor, Jennifer Hagan, said the 19-year-old showed great power and passion. ''He was fearless, but that was coupled with great intelligence,'' Hagan said. ''I just thought, 'Here's an actor' - as simple as that.''

Lekwape not only beat almost 2000 hopefuls to get in to NIDA, he was also offered places in the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the Victorian College of Arts.

He made the list of distinguished achievers in HSC drama and will appear in February in OnSTAGE, a presentation of performances and projects by outstanding HSC drama students.
Lekwape, who has lived in Australia for four years, modestly puts his achievements down to ''pure luck''. Hagan credits his talent, saying: ''He's already a great natural.''

But Davis, who, with Parish, acts as Lekwape's guardian, said drive and hard work were behind his success.

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