Therese Benade is probably better known as the character "Katryn" in Song vir Katryn.

Therese grew up in Estcourt in Natal. After leaving school, she moved to Bloemfontein to study but she was not quite sure what she wanted to do. At first she was too shy to register for drama, but when she was introduced to the drama department, she changed her mind!

Three years later she was adrift again. She did not have a car or a driver's licence and a fake agent conned her out of R500. Disillusioned with the world of drama, she started working as a waitress and saving to go to Los Vegas where she wanted to try to work on large sets. However, her sister convinced her to go to England first.

Alone in London at 21! Therese says she was scared witless but mad about the endless possibilities - she tasted life to the brim. She worked as a pub cleaner, waitress, receptionist at a restaurant and kitchen assistant to a French chef.

But this lifestyle also had its downside. Therese recently publicised her battle with Bulimia and how she has taken it upon herself to educate young girls about this destructive disease.