. Successful producer and actor Shona Ferguson said that there was a time in his life when he couldn’t afford toothpaste and ‘brushed’ his teeth with soap.
*Rae Seleme
Actor, producer an co-owner of Ferguson Films, Shona Ferguson, recently opened up on Twitter about how he overcame a life of poverty in a thread he called his “moment of reflection and gratitude”.
The actor revealed some of the challenges he faced at the beginning of his career and a time when he couldn’t afford toothpaste and had to brush his teeth with a bar of Sunlight soap”.He said in the thread that he hopes his tweets will inspire anyone who is currently struggling to make ends meet. He advised his followers to keep pushing themselves to achieve a successful life. Ferguson said he had to fight haters in the industry who kept telling him that he’s just not talented. The actor revealed that he tried his luck in Hollywood, but was rejected by a producer in the US.
The unknown producer told Shona that he “didn’t have what it takes” to make it.THE HARDSHIPSThe producer revealed that some told him he didn’t have the “right look”. His wife, actress and producer Connie Ferguson, joined in on his thread and said her husband was also told he didn’t have “real talent”. Ferguson also stated that he “doesn’t hold grudges” against actors who speak ill of him and will always give people opportunities. The father of two daughters — Lesedi Mutsuenyane-Ferguson and Alicia Ferguson — added that his faith carried him through poverty. He said he is grateful and blessed with the life he has today and told his followers to “continue praying and feeding their soul with positivity”.
The Botswana-born actor and his wife count under Mzansi’s most successful actors and producers at present.The production company also produced, Rockville, Igazi, The Throne, The Gift, The Herd, The Queen, The River and The Imposter, as well as the Netflix six-part series Kings of Joburg in 2020.