Shamilla Miller


Shamilla Ismael Miller is a South African actress, television presenter, and model. She is best known for her roles in Amaza, Forced Love, Tali's Baby Diary, Troy: Fall of a City, and The Girl from St. Agnes.

Early life and education

Shamilla Ismael Miller was born on 14 September 1988 in Cape Town, South Africa.
She graduated with a bachelor's degree in live performance and film from AFDA, The School for the Creative Economy in 2009.

Career

Miller started her acting career in theatre, acting in plays under David Kramer and Alfred Rietman. She also played lead roles in productions such as Krismas van Map Jacob’s and Baby. From 2011 to 2015, she joined Vulture Productions and performed in five sitcom-style plays performed at the Artscape Theatre and Grahamstown Festival. She also appeared in television commercials.
In 2013, she made film debut with Hollywood blockbuster Zulu directed by Jérôme Salle. In 2014, she joined the SABC1 youth drama series Amaza, where she played Ayesha Ibrahim. In 2014 she became a television presenter, where she presented the kids TV show Challenge SOS.
In 2015, she played a guest role, as Chanel, in the second season of the SABC1 comedy-drama series Forced Love. In the meantime, she appeared in many short films such as: Lazy Susan, As ek huistoe kom, Nommer 37, and Kleingeld. For her role in the short Nommer37, she won best actress for her role as Pam at the Mzanzi short film festival.
In 2016 Miller was included in the "Top 12" of the BET reality competition Top Actor Africa. In the same year, she acted in Maynard Kraak's film Sonskyn Beperk as Nicola. In international arena, she acted in the film Bock to School Mom and TV series Hooten and the Lady.
At the end of 2016, Miller moved to Johannesburg, where she had notable television roles. She also played Daniella in the SABC3 soap opera Isidingo. In 2017, she joined the third season of e.tv drama Z'bondiwe, as Hilda Miller. In the same year, she played the support role as Athena in the BBC drama series Troy: Fall of a City.
In 2018, she appeared in the SABC3 police procedural The Docket with a minor role. In the same year, she appeared in Showmax comedy Tali’s Wedding Diary as Kim. The show had the most successful launch day of any series on Showmax ever.
In 2019, she played the role Riley Morgan in the South African Netflix original Blood & Water. In the same year, she appeared in the Showmax's first original series The Girl From St Agnes, playing the role of Jenna. The show later broke the record for the most number of unique viewers in the first 24 hours, previously held by Tali’s Wedding Diary.
In 2021, she appeared in two television series, where playing multiple roles in the SABC2 comedy serial Comedy Mixtape, and then as Kelly Peterson in the Netflix South Africa original Dead Places.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleGenreRef.
2013ZuluBar ladyFilm
2014T-JunctionNatalieShort film
2014AmazaAyesha IbrahimTV series
2015Nommer 37PamShort film
2015Forced LoveChanelTV series
2015Lazy SusanMiss SugarShort film
2015KleingeldCoreyShort film
2016IsidingoDaniellaTV series
2016Sonskyn BeperkNicolaFilm
2016Hooten & the LadyCaribbean barmaidTV mini series
2017Z'bondiweHilda MillerTV series
2017Double EchoSandraFilm
2018Troy: Fall of a CityAthenaTV series
2018The DocketGuest roleTV series
2018Tali's Baby DiaryKimTV series
2019The Girl from St. AgnesJennaTV series
2020Blood & WaterRiley MorganTV series
2020The VerdictEmeraldShort film
2020JerusalemaJoShort film
2021Comedy MixtapeVarious rolesTV series
2021Dead PlacesKelly PetersonTV series
2022My BeskermerShort film
2023Devil's PeakAnna GriesselTV series