Embeth Jean Davidtz (born August 11, 1965) is a South African-American
actress. Her screen roles include movies such as Army of Darkness,
Schindler's List, Matilda, Mansfield Park, Bicentennial Man, Fallen,
Junebug, and Fracture, and the television series Mad Men,
Californication, In Treatment, and Ray Donovan.Davidtz was born in
Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering
at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to
Trenton, New Jersey, and then back to their native South Africa when
Davidtz was nine years old. Davidtz has Dutch, English, and French
ancestry. She had to learn Afrikaans before attending school classes
in South Africa, where her father took up a teaching post at
Potchefstroom University. Davidtz graduated from The Glen High School
in Pretoria in 1983 and studied at Rhodes University in
Grahamstown.Davidtz made her acting debut at age 21 with CAPAB (Cape
Performing Arts Board, now known as Artscape) in Cape Town, playing
Juliet in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet at the Maynardville
Open-Air Theatre. Performing in English and Afrikaans, she also
starred in other local plays, including Stille Nag (Silent Night) and
A Chain of Voices, both earning her nominations for the South African
equivalent of the Tony Award.
actress. Her screen roles include movies such as Army of Darkness,
Schindler's List, Matilda, Mansfield Park, Bicentennial Man, Fallen,
Junebug, and Fracture, and the television series Mad Men,
Californication, In Treatment, and Ray Donovan.Davidtz was born in
Lafayette, Indiana, while her father was studying chemical engineering
at Purdue University. Her parents, John and Jean, later moved to
Trenton, New Jersey, and then back to their native South Africa when
Davidtz was nine years old. Davidtz has Dutch, English, and French
ancestry. She had to learn Afrikaans before attending school classes
in South Africa, where her father took up a teaching post at
Potchefstroom University. Davidtz graduated from The Glen High School
in Pretoria in 1983 and studied at Rhodes University in
Grahamstown.Davidtz made her acting debut at age 21 with CAPAB (Cape
Performing Arts Board, now known as Artscape) in Cape Town, playing
Juliet in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet at the Maynardville
Open-Air Theatre. Performing in English and Afrikaans, she also
starred in other local plays, including Stille Nag (Silent Night) and
A Chain of Voices, both earning her nominations for the South African
equivalent of the Tony Award.
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