|
Egoli star reaches out
09/10/2008 12:04 - (SA)
|
|
|
 |
220.jpg)
|
| Michelle Pienaar will lend her support in the fight against women abuse. (Picture provided) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Duncan Alfreds
Cape Town - Michelle Pienaar who acts as the abused wife Audrey in TV soap Egoli is taking her role to heart.
The star is creating national awareness of women abuse and has partnered with Avroy Shlain to support Garden Route and Klein Karoo charity shelters.
"Playing an abused woman has affected me on an emotional level," Pienaar told News24.
"I felt ugly and insecure. People don't realise what damage their words can do," she adds.
The star, who hails from Elsies River in Cape Town, says she experienced abuse when speaking to her friends about their lives while still at school.
"We would travel on the train and friends would tell me about what happened at home. I don't think that parents realise what they put their kids through when they have fights behind closed doors."
Reaction
Public reaction to her role has been mixed, though.
"Women would come up and hug me, but some of the men I meet make rude comments about me - I have to wonder what goes on in their homes," she says.
"Maybe they're also abusive and they don't even realise it."
She says that her husband has been supportive of her when she had difficult scenes to shoot.
"He was really loving and supportive. He would tell me how attractive I was, and often send flowers to the set to make me feel better."
A portion of the profits of Endangered for Her Eau de Parfum sales until October 17 will be donated to shelters that support abused women.
Asked about what the next step is for her character on Egoli, she simply says: "Watch this space."
- News24
|
