Team Mela : Zakeeya Patel
1,994 views · Published 13 September 2014 · 1:31 · Indexed 9 October 2026
Channel: Mela on SABC · 2014 · People & Blogs
Zakeeya Patel traces her gypsy and acting roots across centuries and continents. Before she could walk she could dance and spent all her free time dressing up and pretending to be characters in her wild fantasies. At the age of 26 she has already established a reputation for professionalism, talent, versatility and commitment to her craft. Shortly after graduating at the top of her class from the University of Cape Town, Zakeeya landed her first role in the feature film ‘Material’, in which she took a leading role alongside acclaimed actors Riaad Moosa and Vincent Ebrahim. From Material she went on to star in the TV series The Wild, and then in High Rollers. She has also appeared in Skwizas and 7de Laan and Mzansi Love. Equally adept on stage and the dance floor, Zakeeya achieved nimble-footed success on the Latin and ballroom reality TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Most importantly she is, as she puts it, “comfortable in her own skin” – self-assured without being self-absorbed and with a generosity of spirit that makes it easy for producers, directors and colleagues to work with her and for an audience to relate to her. Never having her love of theatre, Zakeeya has been cast for the play ‘Emotional Creatures’ written by the internationally acclaimed, Eve Ensler and directed by US-based Jo Bonney. The play deals with current women’s issues throughout the world. As a warm-hearted rising star herself, Zakeeya is perfectly positioned to introduce and exchange ideas with other young people on the fast track to success or with something fresh and positive to offer the world.
