Actress Maggie Benedict celebrates her 40th birthday today

South African actress, writer, and director, Maggie Benedict best known for playing the role of Akhona Miya in the soap opera Generations, celebrates her 40th birthday today.

The award-winning actress born on February 10, 1981, in Pretoria, South Africa, received the South African Film and Television Awards for best ensemble cast for the 2011 film The Mating Game.

As Maggie Benedict turns 40, here’s a walk down memory lane.

Maggie Benedict arrested

On Twitter and Instagram, Maggie Benedict created quite the buzz as photos of her being arrested and later produced in court, did the rounds.

Drama was rife as Generations actress, Maggie Benedict, was arrested following a shoplifting incident at Cresta mall. Maggie was placed in a holding cell in Linden before authorities took her to Randburg Magistrate’s court.

Her family’s got her back

Maggie Benedict, was found guilty for stealing at Checkers Cresta after she allegedly took a box of Panado (Paracetamol tablets) from the store.

#MaggieBennedict pleaded not guilty to a theft charge. She claimed she bought the pills two weeks prior to her arrest @dailysunsa

— Mfundi Mkhulisi (@MfundiMkhulisi) June 4, 2015

Her family stood by her during the arrest and claimed that the charges laid on the actress were “ridiculous.” They declared that they would do what it takes to clear her name.

Her brother, Abel Benedict, spoke to the press saying:

“Why would you spend R100 buying other things in the shop and then steal something for R17? It doesn’t make sense, but unfortunately for Checkers common sense is not that common for them and they must pay peanuts because they hire monkeys.”

International debut

When on twitter and Instagram, Maggie Benedict created quite the hype for her role in an American television series, her fans could not contain their excitement.

Besides other awards, she received the South African Film and Television Awards for Best-supporting actress for her role in the telenovela series Ashes to Ashes.

THREAD: SA ACTORS WITH INTERNATIONAL CREDITS

Moitheri Pheto.

The Bold & The Beautiful / Mandela : Long Walk To Freedom / A United Kingdom /Madiba / Faces pic.twitter.com/wsAUqfxfUi

— Angelinah Mofokeng (@Angelinahhhhhh) December 10, 2020

The actress made her appearance on ‘The Good Doctor’ – an American medical-drama television series about a young surgeon who has autism as well as savant syndrome.