Ashley Callie

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Persondata
NAME Callie, Ashley
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actress, best known for role of Leone Haines in Isidingo
DATE OF BIRTH 1976-12-30
PLACE OF BIRTH Johannesburg, Gauteng, Flag of South Africa South Africa
DATE OF DEATH 2008-02-15
PLACE OF DEATH Johannesburg, Gauteng, Flag of South Africa South Africa
Ashley Callie
129x194
Ashley Callie on the set of Isidingo
Born Ashley Callie
1976-12-30[1]
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa[2]
Died February 15, 2008 (aged 31)
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa)[2][3]
Occupation Actress
Years active 1998–2008

Ashley Callie (1976 - 2008) was a South African actress best known for her role as Leone Haines in Isidingo (from 2000 to 2008). Callie died on 15 February 2008 as a result of head injuries from a head-on car accident in Johannesburg, South Africa on 8 February 2008.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Ashley Callie was born in Johannesburg, and received a BA Honours degree in dramatic arts, from the University of the Witwatersrand.[4] Callie began her career with a role in the SABC TV production, Homeland, directed by Neil Sundstrom. Thereafter, she starred in a number of series, including Natural Rhythm. She also spent some time in Cape Town, South Africa, where she starred in a number of commercials for the local South African market, as well as for overseas markets.[4]

On 2007-03-15, Callie told Lynne Gidis of Top Billing magazine that playing the role of Lee Haines on Isidingo had been a life long ambition of hers. She had been a fan of the show ever since it first aired in 1998. In this interview, she explains how she does not enjoy the fame that comes with her celebrity status, and that her family is an extremely important part of her life. She also goes on to explain why her character, Lee Haines, is not at all like her.[5] During that year (2007), she appeared on the cover of the magazine.[6]

Also in 2007, she played a role in a movie in Holland, which was originally to be called Secrets. However, that title has now changed to Mafrika, and the producers have promised to dedicate the film to Callie's memory.[7] In addition to her role in Isidingo (Which she held from 2000, up until her death in 2008), Callie was co-owner of La Vista social club, in Melville, Johannesburg, but she sold her shares in 2007.[6]

In 2006, she won the SAFTA (South African Film and Television Awards) award for best actress, for her role in Isidingo. The awards took place at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 2006-10-28.[3][8] On 2008-02-29, Callie won the Mzansi Star Actress award at the inaugural Stars of Mzansi awards ceremony, held at the South African State Theatre in Johannesburg. The award was accepted on her behalf by Robert Whitehead (Who plays Barker Haines in Isidino), and Steven Miyambo (Who plays Orlando).[9][10]

After her death, South African Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Zweledinga Pallo Jordan has called Callie the image of the new South Africa:[11]

“ We were truly blessed to have a young, gifted, South African who stretched all the sinews in her body to reflect the ideals of a united, non-racial and non-sexist society... the ministry is deeply shocked and saddened ”
 
— Dr Zweledinga Pallo Jordan

[edit] Death

A portrait of Ashley Callie at her memorial service
A portrait of Ashley Callie at her memorial service

On 2008-02-08, Callie was on her way home from the Pirelli Calendar launch in Hyde Park, when her Smart Car collided with a red Renault on the corner of 4th Avenue and Tana road (in Linden), at around 22:30 SAST.[3][12]

She was immediately rushed to the Johannesburg General Hospital, where she underwent surgery to alleviate pressure on her brain.[12] Four days later, her sister (Lauren Callie) told the media that she was said to be in a stable condition in hospital.[13][14][14] Shortly after, however, due to complications from her injuries, Callie died in hospital.[2]

Shortly after her death, Johannesburg Metro Police released a statement, speculating that Callie might have been to blame for the accident. According to the statement, Callie was driving on the wrong side of the road when the accident occurred.[15]

A memorial service for Callie was held on 2008-02-21, at the Johannesburg Country Club.[16][17] At the service, Callie was described as both radiant and charming, and the ceremony itself was described as a celebration of Callie's life:[18][19]

“ We are not going to beat our breasts or don sack cloths and ashes. We are here to celebrate Ashley's life, and what a life it was. ”
 
— Kate Turkington, Close family friend and master of ceremonies, speaking at Ashley Callie's memorial service

[edit] Isidingo footage

Callie's character, Lee Haines, continued to be portrayed on screen all the way through February and March 2008, due to the fact that Endemol, the production company behind the soapie, still had footage of the actress. However, the character was written out of the show at the end of March 2008, following a statement released by the company. Haines disappeared from the show after learning of her mother's death. She then mysteriously died while away, although it was not revealed how.[20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ashley Callie Tribute. Respectance. Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
  2. ^ a b c Isidingo star Ashley Callie dies. Sapa (2008-02-15). Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  3. ^ a b c Ashley Callie, TVSA profile. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  4. ^ a b Hamba Kahle Ashley. Women24. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  5. ^ Lynne Gidis (2007-03-15). Meet the girl behind Isidingo's Lee. Top Billing magazine. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  6. ^ a b "Top Billing Tribute to Ashley Callie". Top Billing. SABC. SABC 3. 2008-02-21.
  7. ^ "A Tribute to Ashley Callie". Nolene Mahalwana Sanqu (Presenter). 3 Talk with Nolene. SABC. SABC 3. 2008-02-21.
  8. ^ Ms Ashley CALLIE, Who's Who profile. 24.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  9. ^ Ordinary guy Menzi steals the show. The Times (2008-03-01). Retrieved on 2008-03-02.
  10. ^ Ashley wins Star Actress award. AshleyCallie.co.za (2008-02-29). Retrieved on 2008-03-02.
  11. ^ Callie projected image of new SA. News24 (2008-02-16). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  12. ^ a b Isidingo star out of surgery. SABCNews.com (2008-02-09). Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  13. ^ Isidingo star Ashley Callie stabilised. SABCNews.com (2008-02-12). Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  14. ^ a b ‘'Isidingo’' star will live. Sapa (2008-02-11). Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  15. ^ Annelene Moses, Beeld (2008-02-20). Ashley to blame - metro cops. News24. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  16. ^ Isidingo star's memorial this week. Sapa (2008-02-18). Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  17. ^ Ashley Callie memorial. News24. Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  18. ^ 'Callie was radiant, charming'. News24 (2008-02-21). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  19. ^ Ashley fans to pay last respects. News24 (2008-02-21). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  20. ^ Itumeleng Motuba (2008-03-12). Isidingo’s Lee takes her final bow. The Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.

[edit] External links