Danica de la Rey, widely known by her stage name Danica Jones, is emerging as one of South Africa’s most compelling action‑film talents. With the July 22, 2025 Sowetan Live feature spotlighting her lead role in Hunting Jessica Brok, the 35‑year‑old actor has firmly established herself as a rising force in both local and international action storytelling.
From Stage to Screen: A Versatile Journey
Born in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu‑Natal, Danica traces her performance roots back to childhood, performing for family in her living room. She earned honours in drama performance in 2007 and went on to win the Mercury Durban Theatre Award for her stage work in Asinamali at the Playhouse Theatre Loft in 2015. A role that led to her first film discovery. Her screen credits include impactful roles in Aya (a harrowing film about human trafficking), Darby and the Dead (her international debut with Disney), and the long-running SABC1 soap Generations: The Legacy, in which she played Tamryn, a confident motorbike-loving character whose identity blurred lines in unexpected ways.
Hunting Jessica Brok: The Bold Leap
In her latest film, Hunting Jessica Brok, Danica portrays a mother with a Black Ops background caught in a fight to save her loved one. With just two‑weeks of preparation, compared to up to four months typical for international actors, she plunged into rigorous stunt training, dealing with bruises, snake‑handling, even working with a hawk on set, all of which she says fuelled the character’s intensity.
Representation and Empowerment
Danica believes representation matters: “Women need to see themselves winning, both on screen and in real life.” She sees progress in local female-led action projects, citing series like Unseen (with Gail Mabalane) and Marked (with Lerato Mvelase), but acknowledges South Africa still lags behind Hollywood in the scale of female‑led action productions. She cites Queen Sono as a turning point. “the first time I truly felt, ‘Okay, that a South African woman can lead an action series”.
Vision for South Africa’s Action Future
Danica’s ambition extends beyond roles. She envisions South African actors standing on any stage alongside international stars without losing their authenticity. She emphasises that her country’s “superpower” is determination, perseverance and willingness to learn, even when preparation time is limited.
Global Reach and Industry Impact
Hunting Jessica Brok hits South African cinemas on August 22, 2025, and is set to open in over 100 cinemas in the U.S. in September. This marks an especially bold move for a local action-thriller, signalling increasing confidence in South African stories on the global cinematic stage.
What’s Next?
Expect to see Danica continuing to stretch her range by possibly exploring roles that demand physicality, emotional complexity, or even producing and directing. With her craft and outlook, she’s poised to become a flagship name not just in South Africa, but across global action cinema.
Danica Jones represents a new generation, rooted in South African authenticity yet reaching for global impact. Her journey from theatre to action film reconfirms that when talent meets determination, a star is born.
