Lena Farugia

Nicolina Elizabeth Farruggia (1 June 1951 – 18 January 2019), popularly known as Lena Farugia, was an American-born South African actress, screenwriter, director and producer. She is best known for the roles in the films The Gods Must Be Crazy II and The Sandgrass People.

Personal life

Farugia was born on 1 June 1951 and grew up in Westchester County, New York, United States. Her father, Giuseppe Farruggia, was a supervisor for the Penn Central railroad company. Her mother, Grazia "Grace" Grassi, was a designer with a fashion house. She studied at Thomas Moore College, and dance from Fordham University. She later completed her MA in history from Columbia University.

In 1977, she married South African filmmaker, Robert Davies, but later divorced and then remarried him on 28 August 1996.

In 1989, she played the female lead role as "Dr. Ann Taylor" in the blockbuster movie The Gods Must Be Crazy II directed by Jamie Uys. After that success, she played another lead role as "Elizabeth Carter" in the film The Sandgrass People directed by Koos Roets. In 2005, she scripted, directed and edited the documentary film An African in Paris. Other than cinema and television, she performed in many stage plays such as: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1982), Agnes of God (1983) and Extremities (1984). In 1989, she wrote and acted in the play We and Them.

Filmography

Year Film Role Genre Ref. 1977 Les diamants du président Maggie TV mini series 1977 Mister Deathman Pamela Film 1979 Land of the Thirst King Writer, Editor TV series documentary 1981 Westgate Bonny Thornton TV series 1982 Westgate II Bonny Thornton TV series 1987 The Fiddler Jennie Mars TV mini series 1987 Saturday Night at the Palace Associate producer, Supervising editor Film 1989 The Gods Must Be Crazy II Dr. Ann Taylor Film 1990 The Sandgrass People Elizabeth Carter Film 1993 Tropical Heat Alicia TV series 1995 Tales of Mystery and Imagination Woman from Paris TV series 1996 Tarzan: The Epic Adventures Queen Talia TV series 1998 Double Shift Producer TV series 2000 Jika Jika Writer TV series 2009 Diamonds Helen Danielson Film