I'm also told not to bring a lensman as the heavily preggies actress is feeling "fat and ugly".

But the lady approaching me in the Scandal! reception area at Sasani studios in Balfour Park, north of Jozi. is anything but fat and ugly.

Almost out of breath, Dawn shakes my hand. She tells me my confirmation e-mail wasn't sent to the producers and she's busy shooting, so the interview will be marred by interruptions.

She apologises profusely. Seated in the boardroom, she holds her belly and smiles. She says she's due to give birth to her first child in two months' time.

"Imagine becoming a first-time mom at age 36. A complete opposite to my mom, who had me when she was a teen. I was raised by my grandparents and viewed my parents as my siblings.

"I was such a happy child, despite growing up under apartheid. We lived in a small community where everyone knew everyone.''

She moved to Jozi about 12 years ago, after varsity, to be a KykNET presenter.

"I was a horrible presenter but I enjoyed it," she says laughing.

"I lived an interesting life, sharing an apartment with reggae band 340ml and we'd frequent Newtown. I prefer guy friends. Women are so full of s**t."

Just as the interview warms up, we're politely interrupted. She must go back on set. She apologises again and excuses herself. It's a frustrating hour-long wait.

I kill time by watching the shoot in progress on the boardroom TV and I'm wide-eyed when Shakira's pregnancy is announced.

When she returns she seems a bit agitated and I'm getting nervous. But I still beg her to tell me who's fathering Shakira's baby. Mistake.

Her reply is a blunt "no''.

She tells me of a confidentiality clause and that, like every other viewer, I'll have to wait for another two or three months before I'll find out.

Enough fiction. I ask her about her real life hubby, Rhythm City headwriter Charlie Sapadin. She gives me the "Shakira look".

"We've been married for three years but I've known him for six." Full stop.

She doesn't elaborate.

Just then her hubby phones and they talk briefly. As I'm about to ask another question he calls again. She's not impressed and lets him know it.

"You see, people must learn to listen. I said he must SMS me. Why's he calling?"

So what annoys her? "Intolerance and ignorance, that really gets to me.''

Like people thinking she's of Indian descent.

"I hate that race classification thing. I don't believe we should be ruled by it or live our lives based on our race.

"Some of my ancestors are Indian but I'm coloured, my folks were coloured. "

She holds her belly again.

How many kids does she want?

She smiles again and says one is enough at the moment.

I have a hard time wiping Shakira out of my mind. Do they have anything in common?

She laughs.

"We're complete opposites. For starters, my hemlines are longer and our personalities are worlds apart."

Do people get heavy with "Shakira" when they see you?

"It's funny. When I meet people, like in a mall, instead of attacking me they want to hug 'Shakira' and comfort her.

"It's actually sweet, especially with little kids and their mommies, who look up to Shakira as a role model."

Sweet or scary?

She clearly has a loyal following, but what happens when she becomes a mom?

"The baby isn't gonna put a break on my acting career. I'm still gonna entertain viewers. I'm not going anyhere.''

THIS & THAT

• Grew up in the Karoo, Western Cape.
• Studied at Stellenbosch University.
• Loves Italian and Indian food and likes cooking from recipé books.
• Acted in movies Racing Stripes, Swap and Red Dust - and has done a few ads.
• Likes cricket and international soccer.
• Loves cats but is allergic to them.
• Her natural hair is curly.
• Is into big cars.