Capetonian Stelio Savante is one of the more prolific South African actors in the film & TV industry. He became South Africa’s first male SAG Award nominee (Ensemble lead cast Ugly Betty) in 2007. A US citizen with over 135 international credits, he is a steady product of leading, large supporting, & recurring roles in television, independent, & international theatrically released studio features that have accumulated almost $400million in worldwide box office proceeds, & leading roles in billion dollar grossing video game franchises. So, if you love Savante’s performances, here are the 10 best movies and TV shows starring Stelio Savante that should be on your watchlist.
10. My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Plex & Rent on Prime Video)
My Super Ex-Girlfriend is a superhero romantic comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman from a screenplay by Don Payne. The 2006 film follows the story of Matt Saunders, an ordinary man who discovers that his new girlfriend, Jenny, has superpowers, and after discovering this life-altering news, he breaks up with her. But after the breakup, Jenny uses her superpowers to wreak havoc in Matt’s life. My Super Ex-Girlfriend stars Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson in the lead roles, with Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson, Eddie Izzard, Wanda Sykes, and Stelio Savante starring in supporting roles.
9. Infidel (Tubi & Rent on Prime Video)
Infidel is a political thriller written, directed, and produced by Cyrus Nowrasteh. The 2020 film follows the story of Doug Rawlins, a Christian American journalist who gets kidnapped in Cairo by the Iranian regime. His wife, Liz, a State Department, does everything in power to get the American government involved and get her husband back home. Infidel stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan in the lead roles, with Stelio Savante, Hal Ozsan, Aly Kassem, Isabelle Adriani, J.R. Cacia, and Nadeem Srouji starring in supporting roles.
8. What Remains (Starz & Prime Video Add-On)
What Remains is an independent drama film written and directed by Nathan Scoggins. The 2022 film follows the story of Cress Williams, a small-town pastor who is forced to confront his choice of forgiving a man who murdered his wife when the man returns to town five years later and might be related to another murder, still being investigated by the sheriff. What Remains stars Cress Williams in the lead role, with Kellan Lutz, Anne Heche, Marcus Gladney Jr., Juliana Destefano, Korey Scott Pollard, and Stelio Savante starring in supporting roles.
7. The Cleaning Lady (Prime Video & The Roku Channel)
The Cleaning Lady is a horror thriller film directed by Jon Knautz from a screenplay co-written by Alexis Kendra and Knautz. The 2018 film follows the story of Alice, a love-addicted woman who hires a severely scarred cleaning lady to distract herself from an affair, but soon, the cleaning lady shows her psychotic side, which puts Alice’s life in danger. The Cleaning Lady stars Alexis Kendra in the lead role, with Rachel Alig, Stelio Savante, Elizabeth Sandy, Mykayla Sohn, JoAnne McGrath, Keri Marrone, and Robert Hugh Starr starring in supporting roles.
6. Selling Isobel (Tubi & Prime Video)
Selling Isobel is a crime drama thriller directed by Rudolf Buitendach from a screenplay co-written by Frida Farrell and Glynn Turner. Based on true events, the 2016 film follows the story of Isobel, a model who goes to a photographer’s apartment for a job interview, where she gets kidnapped and sold into sex slavery for 3 consecutive days. Selling Isobel stars Farrell in the lead role, with Gabriel Olds, Matthew Marsden, Lew Temple, Amber Benson, Stelio Savante, Alyson Stoner, and Samantha Esteban starring in supporting roles.
5. Running for Grace (Tubi & Prime Video)
Running for Grace is a romantic drama film directed by David L. Cunningham from a screenplay co-written by Christian Parkes and L. Cunningham. The 2018 film is set during the 1920s in the Kona Coffee Belt of Hawaii, where Japanese immigrant labourers and the white upper class live in an extremely classist society and it follows the story of Jo, a mixed-race orphan who is ostracized by society and works for a doctor to run medicine to the coffee pickers in the mountains. Trouble begins when Jo falls in love with the daughter of a plantation owner. Running for Grace stars Ryan Potter and Olivia Ritchie in the lead roles, with Matt Dillon, Jim Caviezel, Cole Takiue, Juliet Mills, and Stelio Savante starring in supporting roles.
4. The Chosen (Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock & Disney+)
The Chosen is a Christian historical drama series created by Dallas Jenkins. The Angel Studios series is set during the 1st century in Judaea and Galilee, and it follows the rise of Jesus, the son of a carpenter, who helps numerous people while he preaches his kindness-based ideology to the people who will listen to him. The Chosen stars Jonathan Roumie in the lead role, with Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James, Janis Dardaris, Lara Silva, Shaan Sharma, and Stelio Savante starring in supporting roles.
3. A Million Colours (Tubi & Prime Video)
A Million Colours is a historical drama film directed by Peter Bishai from a screenplay co-written by Bishai and André Pieterse. Based on the lives of Muntu Ndebele and Norman Knox, the 2011 film follows the story of two friends separated because of the Apartheid in South Africa. The film sees our main characters through their lives’ major ups and downs and how they intersect over the years. A Million Colours stars Wandile Molebatsi and Jason Hartman in the lead roles, with Masello Montana, Stelio Savante, Mpho Osei Tutu, Matshepo Maleme, and Ernest Ndlovu starring in supporting roles.
2. Pursuit of Freedom (Tubi & Prime Video)
Pursuit of Freedom is a biographical drama film directed by George A. Johnson from a screenplay co-written by A. Johnson and Lonnie Norris. The 2022 film follows the true story of Anna, a Ukrainian woman who was separated from her children and sold into trafficking by Russian gangsters who were after Anna’s husband. We see Anna’s will to survive and reunite with her children while going through some of the most brutal treatment humanly possible. Pursuit of Freedom stars Jessica Koloian in the lead roles, with Robia Scott, Sharonne Lanier, Brayden Eaton, Tenley Kellogg, Elias Kemuel, Mark Lowry, and Stelio Savante starring in supporting roles.
1. Ugly Betty (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video)
Ugly Betty is a comedy-drama series created by Silvio Horta. Based on a Colombian telenovela titled Yo soy Betty, la fea created by Fernando Gaitán, the ABC series follows the story of Betty, a young, hard-working woman who tries to make her mark in the publishing industry but faces constant rejection because she doesn’t match the societal standards of beauty. Ugly Betty stars America Ferrera in the lead role with Mark Indelicato, Ana Ortiz, Eric Mabius, Tony Plana, Ashley Jensen, Becki Newton, Michael Urie, Christopher Gorham, Vanessa Williams, Judith Light, Kevin Sussman, and Stelio Savante starring in supporting roles.