Elise Black Athena Fernandez joins PJ on Dial Afrika Wed. 16

Elise’s Fighting Talk

“I was a disruptive kid….bloody knees, bruises and a butter knife tucked in my boots….smoked….dropped out of school at 17, went to live with my sister in Hillbrow….got involved in clubs….the hip-hop culture embraced me….pregnant at 20, the father abandoned me, came back and left again when the second one was 6 months old….”

That was the start of Elise Fernandez’s story. Like something out of a novel.

Looking at her dainty frame and dimples, hard to believe that this gorgeous piece of womanhood who stood in as Halle Berry’s double when the actress was shooting in town, had such an abrasive start in life. But just as things were getting better, they got worse. Having just started to find herself a place in the film industry, at 35 Elise was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was Linda Greef of Cancer Care who nominated Elise for this series, not least for the fighting spirit she’d shown during the  treatment, a double mastectomy and awareness motorbike ride Journey of Hope around the country.

An extraordinary example of Elise’s ability to fight back is that within hours of having a second breast cancer operation one Friday, she got a call offering her a post as Production Assistant. She started on the Monday. ‘I needed the money for the rent and the boys school fees.’ She’s since started her own film production company, Aurealism.

Now at the age of 43, (she shares a birthday with Madiba), Elise acknowledges the huge support she’s had from her family – living proof was the presence of her aunt Lyn and mum Lydia who was able to make the presentation of the Woman Zone certificate.

 Elise’s journey was a combination of – the rebellious beginning, single parenting, cancer combat, a drive to sing, exhaustion, despair – and the journey continues. But the line that has everyone nodding is, ‘Sometimes I have to think myself happy’

https://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/people/foschini-launches-couragetoconquer-campaign-2082294

https://womanzonect.com/2014/07/26/elise’s-fighting-talk/