'We'll miss her sense of humour'
2008-02-15 23:03
Annelene Moses and André Damons
Johannesburg - Tears were flowing on the set of SABC3 soap Isidingo on Friday, once actors heard their colleague and friend, Ashley Callie, 33, had died.
A spokesperson told Die Burger that everyone on set hugged and comforted each another once they got the news that they had lost a member of the Isidingo family. Trauma counsellors were called in. Callie played Lee Haines in the TV drama.
She died in the Johannesburg Hospital after severe head injuries sustained in a head-on car crash in Johannesburg last Friday evening.
One of the soapie's actors, who wanted to remain anonymous as it was "a family affair", said on Friday night Isidingo was like one big family and they were all very close.
"She was a wonderful person and we are all traumatised after hearing of her death".
Executive producer, Pumla Hopa, said in a statement that they were shocked by Callie's death.
"Ashley's professionalism and talent will be missed by us, the production team, actors and set staff of Isidingo. Her sense of humour, compassion, sparkle and positivity will be missed the most," she said.
Hopa added that the writers of the TV series had not yet considered how to deal with the impact of her death on the script.
She asked the media to show understanding for the grief felt by Callie's family and the rest of the Isidingo team.
Callie's Smartcar crashed into a Renault Scenic, head-on, in Emmarentia on February 8. She had to be freed from the wreckage with the help of the Jaws of Life.
She was on her way home after the launch of the Pirelli calendar in Sandton.
An emergency operation was performed the next day to relieve pressure on her brain. She had been kept sedated since then due to the severity of her injuries.
She was one of four actresses nominated for the first Stars of Mzanzi awards. The winners will be announced on February 29.
In 2006, she won a Best Actress award.
Her agent, Mairie Sirtees Cameron, was on Friday too sad to talk about Callie and said the family would gather on Saturday and release a statement.