Meet Marié Botha: The South African Actress in “The Best Episode Yet” of The Penguin

The fourth episode of The Penguin is now available on Showmax and aired on M-Net 14 October 2024, marking a pivotal moment in the Batman spinoff series. Episode 4 shifts focus from Oz Cobb (Oscar nominee Colin Farrell) to Sofia Falcone (Critics Choice Super Award winner Cristin Milioti), delving into her origin story and earning her the nickname “The Hangman.”

Esquire has hailed this installment as “the best episode of The Penguin yet,” stating, “Episode 4 just proved this is one of the year’s best shows. Cristin Milioti vaulted this series—and herself—into the Emmy conversation.” IMDb seems to agree, with the episode earning a staggering 9.6/10 rating, pushing The Penguin into the top 100 highest-rated series of all time.

A key highlight of the episode is a flashback scene in Arkham Asylum, where South African actress Marié Botha takes on the role of Magpie. As a rising star, Botha’s performance has caught the attention of both viewers and critics alike.

Marié Botha: From Pretoria to Gotham

Marié Botha’s journey to international stardom began in Pretoria, South Africa, where she was born and raised in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. At just 18, she left South Africa to pursue her dream of acting, studying at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. She continued her studies at Yale School of Drama, where she was one of only 17 students selected for the MFA program.

Now, after 14 years of living in New York, Botha has carved out a career in Off-Broadway productions, indie films, and TV roles. South Africans may remember her from her appearance in the local series Erfsondes back in 2012, but her role as Magpie in The Penguin is proving to be her most notable work yet.

The Role of Magpie in The Penguin

Botha plays Magpie, a character with a split personality and a fascination with shiny objects. In a key flashback to Arkham Asylum, Magpie forms a bond with Sofia Falcone, only for paranoia to twist their relationship.

“Playing Magpie was like walking a tightrope. She is a childlike creature, yet deeply haunted and vengeful. It’s a gift to play characters like this, who call on me to transform and put myself into parts of a psyche very unlike my own.”

Botha says

Botha’s performance adds depth to Sofia’s story, revealing the darker forces that push Falcone to the edge, helping make this episode a standout.

Working on a Major Series

Botha describes her experience working on The Penguin as awe-inspiring.

“Watching Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone allowed me to see what it takes to lead a show of this calibre. I was extremely fortunate to play opposite her, and I hope we get to work together again.”

Her path to landing the role, however, was anything but easy. While on a visit to her family in South Africa, Botha had to do a Zoom callback with the director at midnight South African time.

“It was the most intense callback of my life,”.

she says

Despite feeling uncertain afterward, she received the call the next day that she had booked the role, and was on a plane back to New York the following morning.

Reception and Future Aspirations

Botha has been blown away by the positive feedback for her role.

“At the premiere, Lauren LeFranc, the showrunner, said, ‘We all love Magpie.’ That was such an incredible moment for me.”

As for her future, Botha has her sights set on more complex roles. A long-time fan of villains, she dreams of playing Bellatrix Lestrange in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter series, a role previously played by Helena Bonham Carter. However, she’s not quite ready to say goodbye to Magpie just yet, hinting that the character could have more stories to tell in the DC Universe.

South African Roots

Despite living in New York for 14 years, Botha still holds her South African roots close to her heart.

“I will always be a South African. When I step off the plane in Cape Town and smell the sea air, hear the melting pot of languages, and see my family waiting, I know I’m home.”

She shares,

Her journey from Pretoria to Gotham is a testament to her talent and determination, and her role as Magpie has solidified her place as one of South Africa‘s rising stars on the international stage.

Catch The Penguin on Showmax and M-Net, with new episodes airing every Monday.