Effusive, dynamic, charming and wildly passionate about her craft, Shannon is not merely an Actress who can portray a wide array of characters; she is also an outstanding public speaker, and voice artist, making her an asset to any event, production or commercial.
Growing up in Johannesburg, Shannon Esra was cast in her first professional acting role at 16, playing Siri in the feature film I Dreamed of Africa, alongside Kim Basinger and Daniel Craig.
In 2003, Shannon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand and found herself debuting in her first professional theatre production at Pieter Torien’s Monte Casino Theatre that same year. It may come as a surprise that the theatre is where she first cut her teeth; but it was her portrayal of Neets in Dorothy Ann Gould’s 2004 theatre production “Japes”, which garnered Shannon The Naledi Award for Best Performance by a Newcomer/Breakthrough (Female), as well as a Fleur du Cup nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2021, Shannon made unprecedented South African television history with her character Sandra Stein, the ruthless and most sought-after criminal attorney, who represents various characters across the Mzansi Magic platform. Sandra Stein has crossed over between The Queen, The River, The Throne, Gomora, as well as MNET’s Legacy.
Shannon also headlined MNET’s hit show Lioness, a family thriller about a woman who loses her children, her lover and her freedom when she is framed for fraud committed by her husband before his death; only to discover, eight years later (after serving half her jail sentence), while trying to reunite with her son and daughters that he is still alive. She fights to prove her innocence, set the record straight and get her children back. Shannon’s portrayal of Samantha Hugo (Lioness) earned her a SAFTA NOMINATION for Best Actress in a TV Drama.
In March of 2023, Shannon starred in the hilarious and off-beat dramedy romance alongside Kate Liquorish, Wayne van Rooyen and Rea Rangaka on Netflix.
In 2020, Shannon starred alongside an all-star cast in MNET’s Still Breathing, the gripping and deeply moving drama series about a group of old friends who have drifted apart, but are suddenly brought together when tragedy strikes, causing forgotten wounds to break open, old flames of passion to rekindle and buried secrets to finally be uncovered. Shannon is almost unrecognisable in her vulnerable portrayal of Candice Burton.
Shannon’s other TV credits include the misguided, cult-following, self-mutilating girlfriend of Kyle Ortlepp, Yvette Meyer in Isidingo; the lead role of Caz O’Donough in MNET’s drama series Snitch; she was a main credited cast member in the second and third seasons of the SABC3 drama series Hard Copy, playing hard-edged journalist Kim Smollen; as well as Samantha Mazur in The Lab. Shannon returned to Isidingo in 2015 where she played Angelique Scott (yup, she’s played two different characters on the same show!); Shannon starred alongside Eric Stoltz, playing his estranged and embittered ex-wife, in the International Sci-Fi mini-series The Triangle; and she also played the romantic lead Katie in Darryl James Roodt’s rugby feature film Number Ten. In 2007, Esra made Bollywood history by being the first Caucasian female in a starring role, which saw her in a star-studded cast, as one of the six heroines in the Bollywood film Salaam-E-Ishq. Shannon also starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe in BBC 2’s highly anticipated, The Game Changers in late 2015. Midway through 2016, Shannon was on set with Lawrence Fishburne, in the BET Biopic, Madiba.
For bookings or more information on Shannon, please get in contact with an agent at OSM Talent.
