Nicky Greenwall: Behind the Name
By Michelle, age 16, South Africa
Editor's Note: Michelle conducted a short interview with Ms. Greenwall and received permission from her executive producer at e.tv, Tinet Crous, in writing this feature. The photos below are copyrighted by e.tv, and used by permission.
As eNews' dedicated entertainment journalist, it's Nicky's job to party with the rich and report on the famous. Meeting celebrities such as Sir Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt, and attending international film festivals - all part of the daily routine for 31 year old South African entertainment journalist Nicky Greenwall.
Nicky was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. After graduating from Rustenburg Girls High School with Academic Honors, she moved on to further her studies in Art Direction at The Red and Yellow School of Advertising. At the age of 19, Nicky graduated second in her class and found work with top ad agencies, such as TBWA Hunt Lascaris and The Jupiter Drawing Room.
Moving On to Bigger Things
At 23, Nicky presented a proposal to free-to-air broadcasting channel e.tv, outlining a plan to improve their arts and entertainments news. However, the same day Nicky signed up with e.tv, her father Ryno Greenwall passed away from cancer. "It was terrible. We were very close," she says, "but I believe everyone has their turn for drama in their lives, and when it's your turn you just have to deal with it."
In September of that same year (2002), Nicky was offered the position of arts anchor for eNews Live at 7. Then, in October, she was offered the opportunity to host a late night entertainment show, Nightlife. She co-produced and wrote the scripts for Nightlife, which turned out to be one of the most watched late night television shows in the country. In March 2004, Nightlife moved to the prime time slot at 7:30 PM and went live.
After a brief break with Nightlife, she started working on another proposal to pitch to e.tv. January 2005 saw the pilot episode of The Showbiz Report, a new entertainment news show. After six months in its 7:30 PM Thursday time slot, The Showbiz Report then moved to the 7:30 PM Saturday prime time slot, where it now enjoys a weekly viewership of 1.8 million people.
But Nicky did not stop there. In 2007 she pitched another proposal to e.tv for a ten part documentary on the rise to fame of some of South Africa's hottest entertainment acts. Nicky wrote, produced, and co-directed the project. The first episode of Behind The Name went to air in September 2007. A second series is being considered.
Nicky is now a daily entertainment news contributor for e.tv's 24 hour news network, started in 2008. She recently opened her own production company, Greenwall Productions, in April 2009. "I like the business side of TV and the way it's changing. And I love how powerful it is."
But Nicky's talent is not confined to e.tv only. She is also an accomplished journalist and illustrator, contributing articles to well-known newspaper and magazine publications, such as Seventeen, Glamour, and The Sunday Times. She has also recorded radio inserts for 5FM and the BBC World Service. As an emcee, Nicky has hosted a number of high profile events and functions, including The Elle TV Style Awards and Glamour Magazine's Oscar Party. Nicky has been featured in a number of magazines, including South African editions of Glamour, Elle, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Heat, Seventeen, and FHM.
Nicky is also a South African style icon, having earned the Most Stylish Presenter Honours at The 2004 Style Awards. She doesn't see herself as a style icon, nor a celebrity. "I'm a TV producer. Fame is just a by-product."
Nicky currently shares her Green Point flat in Cape Town with former-model boyfriend Robin Fryer.
