Cape Town has always been a city where creativity thrives – from world-class artists and musicians to storytellers who shape how the world sees us. And now, at just eleven years old, Lamiyah Barnard from Kraaifontein is proving that the Mother City is just as capable of raising the next generation of global film stars.
The Accidental Actress
Bubbly, funny, and charmingly self-described as “a bit of a drama queen,” Lamiyah never set out to become an actress. But the stage, and the camera, seem to have found her. After modelling sparked her love for performing, she auditioned for her first role and landed the lead in Snake, a feature film by Cape Town director Meg Rickards.
The ad on Facebook said they were looking for someone who loved adventure and climbing trees. As that perfectly described Lamiyah, she made a tape and sent it in.
Her Character Transformation
It was a challenging part. Lamiyah had to step into the shoes of Stella, a young girl navigating hardship. With coaching from Tamryn Speers and guidance from the film’s creative team, she learned to feel Stella’s emotions and live her reality.
“It made me feel like I had superpowers,”
Lamiyah recalls – the ability to transform completely into a character and then back again into herself.
The performance didn’t just impress audiences. It earned Lamiyah the Best Actor Award at the Florence Film Festival, an extraordinary achievement for someone so young, and a proud moment for her family and community.
She is also a nominee for this years’ SAFTA, Best Acress in a Feature Film award.
Aiming for the Stars
Lamiyah’s ambitions are as large as the world, but her heart is firmly rooted in the specific joys of Cape Town.
Like many kids, Lamiyah juggles homework with hobbies, from afternoons at the Clay Café in Hout Bay to relaxing with her German Shepherd and three cats. She loves YouTube videos, sushi, and spa days with friends, but her goals remain firmly focused:
“I want to be an international actress like Charlize Theron, and travel the world.”
A Global Ambition
Photos courtesy of Andrew Harvard Photography
This global ambition, however, is fueled by local and personal pleasures. Her ideal form of relaxation is a calm day with her family at the Citrusdal Nature Reserve. For her, a perfect day is one orchestrated by her mom – a fun-filled trip anywhere she chooses. She would share the iconic view from the Table Mountain cable car withvisitors, and a little-known fact about her is a passion for fast cars, a private thrill that contrasts with her family-oriented calm.
Together, these details paint a picture of someone whose strength comes from this balance: a drive for global acclaim, grounded in a deep appreciation for family, creativity, and the simple, profound joys of home.
Lamiyah’s Inspiration
Her inspiration? Zendaya, the actress, singer, and dancer whose multi-talented career has made her a global role model.
Lamiyah’s journey is a huge victory, reflecting an inner strength and self-knowledge. It’s also a reflection of Cape Town itself – a city that continues to shape artists with the talent, grit, and imagination to shine on the world stage. And for young girls across the Cape, she offers a clear message:
“Never stop dreaming big. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it. You just need to work hard towards it.”
Lamiyah Barnard is a rising star – a local hero who’s showing the world that greatness can start right here, in Cape Town.
