The Mozambican movie industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of ace actress, Hermelinda Simela after giving birth.
According to BBC, the award-winning actress and producer died at a hospital after she suffered complications during childbirth.
“The country has lost a strong, resilient woman, an exemplary mother and, above all, an engine of our dreams.
“Hermelinda encouraged theatre people and created opportunities for actors to succeed,” Simela’s longtime friend and colleague, Alvim Cossa told the BBC.
Simela during the span of her career won the best-supporting actress at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards for her Virgin Margarida role.
Her death comes a week after the funeral of Botswana-born actor and producer Shona Ferguson who died of Covid-19-related complications in SA.
Before her sudden death, Simela helped found a major theatre group. She also worked across the country at times training other artists. She also travelled and worked abroad, including in Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany, India, and Spain.
She won the Best Supporting Actress award at the African Film Academy Awards for her role in Virgin Margarida.
Source: BBC