Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacoline Frank
Jacoline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in South Africa in 1977, grew up there, went to school there, and studied acting (National Diploma: Drama) after school in Pretoria. I was a professional actor in South Africa for 10 years before moving to The Cayman Islands in 2011. I met my Texan husband there, and we got married twice – once in Texas, and once in South Africa! We eventually moved to Orlando, during my immigration process. That took 5 years, and a lot of money! So I am a South African, married to a Texan, who I met in the Caribbean, became an American and living as a Floridian, working as a Thespian!
I have been an actor my whole life, and my first love would be the stage. I have been performing since I can remember, and I’m currently writing my one-woman show, and auditioning as much as possible.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To name only a few of the struggles – the big one would be the homesickness….it’s hard to make that decision to leave everything you love behind and start over at a later stage/age in life, in a strange country. I miss the people, the smells, the food, the different…pretty much everything. Sometimes, when you are an immigrant, you feel like you ‘betrayed’ your home country, and you have to be brave and remember why you left in the first place. But being homesick can literally feel like a hole in your stomach.
My parents are still in South Africa, my oldest brother lives in Cayman, and my younger brother lives in New Zealand, so we all miss each other terribly, and plan our trips accordingly. It forces you to grow up quickly, though, and I really miss that ‘quickly stopping by for a glass of wine’ from my best childhood friends, who are still all in South Africa.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am very proud that I started over, again, in America, at the age of 38, and have built a wonderful group of friends, colleagues and fellow creatives. In the short 9 years that I’ve been in America, I’ve done 3 musicals, 7 Commercials, 18 Plays, 23 Short Films and 10 Feature Films.
I even sang in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and at EPCOT in the Candlelight Processional, which I still can’t believe!
I like all mediums of acting – be it voice work, puppet theatre, educational theatre, children’s theatre, or films. But my first love would be the stage. There’s something magical about it, and my favourite smell is still a dressing room/backstage with all the makeup and costumes.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First of all, my husband. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is a wonderful, supportive, funny, kind, generous, loyal and very loving human being, and I can not thank God enough for him.
Even though they are far away, my family is a fantastic support system, along with my best childhood friends.
My parents supported me when I told them at the age of 16 that I wanted to go study acting – in Pretoria – and it was a 2 hour flight away from Cape Town – I grew up near Cape Town in The Strand, a small fisherman village in South Africa. They have always supported me in my dreams. My best friend from childhood – next door neighbour Samarie, who I have been best friends with since 1982, was always my biggest cheerleader when it came to my drama dreams, and she still believes I deserve the best.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacolinefrank
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacoline.frank
- Youtube: @jacolinefrank998
Image Credits
The photo in the purple dress was taken by Jorge Barba.
