Image: COURTESY OF DANILO ANTONELLI
Not many people can boast of having Hollywood star Kevin Spacey sending them a personal letter.
But up-and-coming actor Danilo Antonelli can. In a letter from the Oscar winner he was told that he had secured a scholarship from the Kevin Spacey Foundation.
In September, Antonelli will embark on a three-year course towards a BA (Hons) acting and global theatre degree at Regent's University, London .
The course is worth just over R700000. Only five others have secured a scholarship.
In the signed letter, Spacey writes: "I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your time at Regent's University, that you will learn and grow as an actor, and expand your understanding of global theatre.
"I look forward to meeting you and hearing about your experience of the course when I visit to give a master class to your year-group."
Antonelli told The Times: "It all started with [Spacey's] tweet, calling for entries, and I entered because I eventually want to be a director, and I think there's no better place to do it than in London.
"I'm totally a fan of his, too - American Beauty is still one of my favourite films."
The 26-year-old was accepted after a rigorous process that included camera auditions [which he had to shoot himself], motivating letters, telephone interviews with members of both the foundation and staff of the university, tests and a final audition workshop in London last month.
A Northcliff High School alumnus, Antonelli took part in school productions but when it came to making a career choice he studied communications through Unisa - a degree he recently completed.
His first break came in 2008, when Deon Opperman offered him a role in My Fair Lady at the State Theatre. Later Antonelli also acted in the South African production of The Lion King .
"[The UK is] a brand new country for me but what is nice is that I have a few friends that I met from my time on The Lion King," said Antonelli.
"What's also nice is the course is only 16 hours a week so I hope to have a chance to find work at the many theatres in London."
On his website, Spacey said that, in his younger years, he was encouraged to stick with acting by actor Jack Lemmon. He now hoped, to quote one of Spacey's films, "to pay it forward".
"I'd love you to help me keep the elevator moving, and in good working order so that we can bring along as many passengers as possible," wrote Spacey.