Bonné de Bod | |
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![]() Bonné de Bod in 2015 | |
Born | Kempton Park, South Africa | 11 June 1981
Nationality | South African |
Alma mater | University of Pretoria |
Occupation(s) | Television presenter, documentary film producer |
Known for | Presenter and producer of the documentary STROOP - Journey into the Rhino Horn War |
Bonné de Bod (born 11 June 1981) is a South African television presenter and documentary film producer. [1] She is best known for her film STROOP - Journey into the Rhino Horn War. [2] She is also noted for field reporting on the nature television series 50/50 for seven seasons. [3] Recognition for her television presenting include a Jackson Wild Media Award nomination for 'Best Host/Presenter' in 2019 [4] a SANParks Kudu Award [5] for 'Best Journalist' in the years 2015 [6] and 2019 [7] and two Impact DOCS [8] for 'Best On-Camera Talent' and 'Best Narration/Voice-Over Talent' in 2021. [9] She has won over 30 awards as a film producer. [10] [11]
De Bod was born in Kempton Park, South Africa and brought up in Northcliff, Johannesburg. [12] She has a B.Com in Industrial Psychology from the University of Pretoria. [13]
After graduation a modelling agency offered De Bod a modelling contract in Cape Town. She accepted and located to Cape Town where she modelled for three years. [14] [15] This was followed by an offer from London but she followed her passion for wildlife and aced the audition to become a presenter on South Africa's 50/50 , the well-known environmental and natural history television show, remaining there for seven seasons. [16] [14] [17] [18]
In 2008, rhino poaching was a growing problem in South Africa. [19] In 2013 a story involving rhino poaching which De Bod made with film director, Susan Scott in Kruger National Park, inspired the pair to create the documentary STROOP - Journey into the Rhino Horn War . [20] Filmed over four years, STROOP, showed the complete chain from African poachers to Asian consumers. [21] [22] An official selection at 40 film festivals, the film has won 30 awards. [23] [24] Anton Crone of The Sunday Times wrote in a newspaper article that De Bod and Scott's ability to engage with people, "whether vulnerable, dangerous or courageous, [gave] the film it's human depth". [25] The Mercury said that De Bod is tough as nails. [26]
De Bod's second film, also with Scott, Kingdoms of Fire, Ice and Fairytales, premiered at Jackson Wild in 2020, winning several awards as well as receiving positive reviews. [27] Kingdoms was filmed and edited during the COVID-19-pandemic. [28] The pair devised 'Kingdoms of Fire, Ice & Fairy Tales' in California while on the film festival circuit. [29] De Bod has been praised for her presenting in Kingdoms by notable film critic, Leon van Nierop, [30] and by Getaway Magazine, that calls De Bod "the protagonist, with an authentic, assured voice whose screen presence reflects the beauty of the environment she is exploring". [31] In 2015, De Bod also worked on Rhino Blog, (known as Rhino Planet outside of Africa), airing on People's Weather. [32] [33] She received the SANParks Kudu Award for 'Best Journalist' in 2015 for her work on 50/50 and again in 2019 together with Scott for STROOP. De Bod was asked by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to moderate a panel discussion on Illegal Wildlife Trade at the 2015 World Forestry Congress. [34]
De Bod lives in Bryanston, [35] and is a member of the Documentary Filmmakers Association (DFA). [36]
Year | Title | Role | Awards |
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2010–2016 | 50/50 | Presenter, producer, Researcher | |
2018–2019 | STROOP - Journey into the Rhino Horn War | Presenter, Producer |
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2020 | Kingdoms of Fire, Ice and Fairy Tales | Presenter, Producer |