SA's Tanya, Van Damme in movie

2007-06-18 09:52

Karin Burger

Cape Town - The muscles from Brussels and South Africa's top sexy lady will soon be sharing a movie-set in Cape Town.

Tanya van Graan, who came tops in a recent FHM competition to choose the 100 sexiest women in the land, has landed a cameo role in a movie featuring Belgian action hero, Jean-Claude van Damme.

The movie which does not yet have a working title will be shot in Cape Town in July.

"It's a tiny role and I don't know much about it, but I'm terribly excited," Tanya said.

Van Damme is perhaps best known for his lead roles in Bloodsport, Double Impact and Universal Soldier.

But Tanya won't be moping around Cape Town until Van Damme pitches up.

She's already in the Mother City where she'll be working on the set of Starship Troopers: Marauder for the next few weeks.

Filming of the third movie in the Starship Troopers series began recently at Table Mountain, with Casper van Dien cast again as Johnny Rico.

Starship Troopers, a sci-fi drama set in the 23rd century, first hit the silver screen in 1997. It depicts a battle against invaders from outer space, who resemble giant insects.

Saving the world

"I'm one of the seven troopers who must help to save the earth," says Tanya, who was also seen locally in the TV-series Snitch.

"I'm not sure exactly where the movie will be shot, but I know that many of the outer-space sequences will be filmed in a studio."

Tanya admits that science fiction is not exactly her favourite movie material.

"There aren't that many opportunities in South Africa to work on international movies, and I use every available opportunity to get experience.

"Starship Troopers 3 looks very challenging, in any case. And who can say no to saving the world?" she asked impishly.

Although she is still sought after as a model, acting remains her first priority. "That's the direction I studied in. Modelling happened quite by chance."

- Rapport