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Wicked Witch of Montana (stillettos added!)

Written by TVSA Team from the blog TVSA Guest Columnists on 22 Jun 2009
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We've asked Montana actress Chantal Stanfield to write a special guest column for us about her experiences on the show. Chantal plays rich-witch Dalene Phillips, who uses her cash to promote her dubious, often sex-andalous agendas.  Here's what she had to say ...
 
chantal_4
Chantal with Montana director Thabang Moleya

I have yet to meet anyone who thinks Dalene Phillips is a misguided, misunderstood, sad, distressed victim of her circumstances!

As the actor who plays her, I do have understanding and compassion for her. That might sound a bit crazy - feeling any kind of sympathy for someone who plots the downfall of her brother and his fiancé’s dream, sleeps around behind her husband’s back and talks down to her mother - but it’s the only way to make the character human. That’s why nobody I’ve met likes her!

It was so much fun creating Dalene. On the surface, she’s so hard and manipulative. What’s interesting as an actor is finding out what made her put up that front. There’s so much insight you can gain as a viewer if you just listen and watch closely. I won’t go into all the detail of ‘the craft of acting’ and ‘the method’, don’t worry. But trust me, there really was much work put into making Dalene ‘come alive’.
 
chantal_1

Here’s some scoop. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but that hair ain’t mine! It’s a real human hair wig. I wasn’t prepared to cut my hair that short and, on top of that, go through all the schlep of hair treatments, salon visits and hours in the make-up chair getting it done everyday.

In the end, the wonderful hair and make-up department decided on the wig which made things easier for everyone. The funny thing though is the hair on the wig behaved like normal, moody hair would - we were shooting a scene outside Dalene’s house in the rain with umbrellas and, would you believe, the hair actually frizzed! Or rather, minced… we went through lots of hairspray!

Have you seen the heels Dalene wears?
 
stilletto_1

They’re real killers. We called them ‘The Winstons’ because when I wore them I was almost as tall as Az Abrahams, who plays my husband Winston.
 
chantal_5

They’re gorgeous, pointy black stilettos that could pierce a soccerball. I bought myself a pair because they’re so sexy. As lovely as they are though and even after wearing them in for a few weeks before shooting started, there’s no way anyone could wear them all day.

Luckily, the wardrobe department and I came to very cosy arrangement. Every time our director called “Cut”, one of them would be there with flat pumps! Pretty soon, I wasn’t calling for the pumps, the crew was!

Last week’s episode saw Dalene meeting up with Charles Johnson and it looked all good, right? The Irish Coffee was very nice - I kept asking for more cream! But at one point, when Dalene takes a final seductive sip, I lost focus.

I forgot to close my mouth after sipping (don’t ask, I don’t know either) and quite un-seductively spilt coffee back into my mug with everyone watching! Gross and stupid-funny! I hope there’s not a gag-reel somewhere… I also almost fell off that chair; it was one of those nouveau-chic stools that you should never lean back in because there’s no back!

A few more behind-the-scenes titbits:
 
chantal_3

• The heel of my shoes ‘malfunctioned’ at some point and I couldn’t walk properly. We didn’t have back-ups and couldn’t get them fixed that day so wardrobe borrowed lots of black masking tape from the crew to make it better. Very DIY.

• The B-Boys did really good impersonations of Dalene. Her attitude, her walk, everything - very funny!

• We shot all the scenes in Dalene’s Salon at an actual salon called Eve & Steve in Westgate Mall, Mitchell’s Plain. They had sparkly tiaras on display - I simply loved them all and had to try them on between takes.

However, too much of a good thing can be bad for you - one slipped down, hit my nose hard and left a red mark for the rest of the day. It was pretty funny when it happened but the make-up department wasn’t happy. I kept my distance from the tiaras after that.

• We had many hot days as the shoot went into summer and the heat intensified when there were outdoor shots. I took to carrying my little Spanish fan around in Dalene’s handbag so each time we cut, out it came and I fanned myself to keep cool. Yes, very diva but it really was necessary, possums!

And so concludes the first column of these tales. Next time, I’ll tell you how we were literally attacked by irritating, little flies while shooting scenes at Victor’s warehouse; about the boisterous dogs at Richard’s house and why you should dish your dessert as soon as lunch is called on set.
 

Actors in this post: Chantal Stanfield, Thabang Moleya

Shows in this post: Montana

Channels in this post: SABC1



43 Comments

sweetie my baby
22 Jun 2009 14:23

nice - this column is a great initiative, keep it coming, tvsa and chantal! you're a good writer too - amusing and engaging...i predict more viewers for montana...

and from what little i've seen on montana, your character's a wench from hell... unsavory comments about some poor gambling addicts miscarriages.... even her own hubby looked traumatised at her undiplomatic statements....

monchooza
22 Jun 2009 14:31

i just love Dalene bitchy character...ooh and she has sexy lips..big and rounchy

nekzo
22 Jun 2009 14:33

very nice Chantal I love your character

Ms. Jay
22 Jun 2009 14:39

I also I like your character Chanti, great acting skills!

Msoe
22 Jun 2009 14:56

I love your character too Chantal but than Montana would be boring without a b*tch to steer up the place.....Keep up the good work!!!

BUT WHY DIDNT YOU INCLUDE A PIC OF THE SHOES????? I'VE NEVER NOTICED THEM.

sexyd
22 Jun 2009 17:34

I Love u DALENE/Chantal!!!!

chantalgal
22 Jun 2009 17:36

Thanks guys and gals! We will get that pic of the stillettos, trust!

Foxxy
22 Jun 2009 18:48

Hey Chantal. We actually love Dalene... She's one of the reasons i watch the show.

sjura
22 Jun 2009 19:10

Hi Chantie is dat you?

dali
22 Jun 2009 19:28

Lol sju offcourse it is!

sjura
22 Jun 2009 19:48

Are u sure?lemme PM her i wana ask her hw she fils...lt me nt ask ths here!

Foxxy
22 Jun 2009 19:57

Hi sjura is that you?

Green.arrow
22 Jun 2009 20:08

..the guys with a sock or something on his hand (khululeka gusy)..i saw him on going nowhere slowly......brotha man can play a guitar oh my...with some of his fingers "drumming" on the guitar...t'was beautiful i must say....

sjura
22 Jun 2009 20:10

Lol @ Foxxxy, ts me in cyba flesh no manga manga!

Green.arrow
22 Jun 2009 20:29

Online: 423
i have been trying to understand this since the first day it was displayed......Where are all this people?????........somebody?...anybody??.....a ke understande...

dali
22 Jun 2009 20:36

We r here green! Lol sju dont stalk her pls!

Foxxy
22 Jun 2009 20:46

Ok sju, maybe i'll just pm you to check. Ga, i've also been wondering where those people are.... Maybe its silent bloggers.

mjj
22 Jun 2009 21:40

B4 i read the whole article, when & which channel is this show shown?

Phikza
22 Jun 2009 21:47

its shown ku simunye, mjj

Onkez
22 Jun 2009 21:48

Great job Chantal,my fave Dalene moment was when she was trying to talk Richard out of going back to his slot-happy wife and then tears come streaming down,hectic.

mjj
22 Jun 2009 21:54

thanks Phikza.....................on which day?

Phikza
22 Jun 2009 22:03

ngolwesibini, ngecala emva kwentsibi yesibhozo....mjj......ndiyathemba uzoyibukela ke emjayjay.....ndingakuxeleli nje mahala le information....lol

Luke
22 Jun 2009 22:05

Green.arrow - the users online reflects all registered members who are currently online. They don't all post on blogs or even read the blogs - the site is used for a multitude of different things, not just the blogs.

mjj
22 Jun 2009 22:16

Thanks Phikza - I'll watch it 2moro @ 8:30pm

chantalgal
23 Jun 2009 15:09

It's tonight guys! 8pm because of the soccer but 8:30pm after next week, SABC1, Tuesdays!

cleve
23 Jun 2009 15:15

Chantal, I must admit that I don't watch the show. But everytime I switch the channel and you or jack Novuka are on I stay there until your scenes are over. You guys can act very well.

chantalgal
23 Jun 2009 15:35

Oh, and the guy with the sock-glove-thing on his hand is Anelisa Phewa. We were in a band together so I know he's really hot on that guitar, very talented man! I missed him on going nowhere slowly though, bummer.

nekzo
23 Jun 2009 15:42

iyo Chantal he is hot,hot,hot  I mean the guy with the sock on his hand

Dash
23 Jun 2009 15:47

Hey nice shoes chantalgal, but you sure have finished them! LOL I luv luv Montana. I think most of the actors are extremely talented. And Anelisa (the glove guy) I like I like.. honestly I luv I luv. Tell him to halla at a sista. I’m a real groupie, can’t help it.

cleve
23 Jun 2009 15:51

Or is it Jet Novuka........ I'm not sure

dali
23 Jun 2009 16:00

ohh i also luv the guy with the glove! eazy on eye i must say!


he's gud yena shame *hint* *hint* drum magazine, i want to see him on your cover!

Sobza
23 Jun 2009 16:01

You must be doing something great with that character chantalgal...I don't like Darlene.

Those stillettos need isoli

cleve
23 Jun 2009 16:05

Those stillettos need isoli

kwa kwa kwa kwa

monchooza
23 Jun 2009 16:06

mjj its not @ 20:30 kulamalanga since the confed cup ischedule ye fo sho has changed kancani..i think it airs at 20:00

nekzo
23 Jun 2009 16:06

Ewe Sobza those stillettos need isoli

JadaPinkett
23 Jun 2009 16:06

LOL Chantalgal are u here ma gal coz if r  i mst tel u dat u r a gud devil character anyway keep up the gud work dear i luv u

mjj
23 Jun 2009 16:11

Thanks Monchooza, i'll try to watch it, i just hope it's good.......

JadaPinkett
23 Jun 2009 16:14

so chantalgal tell me gal are u the one who goin to spread out the news about ur brother';s fiance that she's having an affair with her ex the one from jail(Sparks) en mmmmmmmmmmmmm i must Sparks is hot as well.

dali
23 Jun 2009 16:17

i must say @ fisrt i thot the show was wack but now im always glued to ma screen evry tues to watch it. itz good mj u wont regret watching it.

AmANDaCT
24 Jun 2009 13:04

Those shoes look very familiar Chantal - I think I saw you wearing them at the show you presented at Bergvliet High.... I was wondering how you were managing with them killer heels. Excellent article, will definitely make a point of watching the show now!

2Die4
24 Jun 2009 13:46

U rock Chantal....

monchooza
24 Jun 2009 14:18

jah noh...montana must be a soapy fo sho.......so much drama

Floh
28 Jun 2009 08:12

Those stilletos!!!!!!!!!!!


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