Meet Coco Blignaut

Today we’d like to introduce you to Coco Blignaut.

Hi Coco, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have lived many lifetimes in this one life: as a lost child in a dysfunctional family, a stellar student with a fertile imagination, a Covergirl in South Africa at age 21, and an intrepid wanderer of the world in my twenties, I have been homeless in Paris, lived with Bedouins in the desert, and almost lost my life in a fire (when the angel of my childhood saved me). I have been married to a heroin addict, whilst training to be a fearless actress through many humiliations. In order to survive, I also took care of, and educated, well over 1000 children in my life.

More recently, I am a practicing Druid witch with a deep relationship with trees, and an unreasonable desire and laser-sharp vision to make a film called SAINT: a Fellini-esque black and white film which tells a true story of balls- to- the wall nun and wild woman, called Teresa of Ávila.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been more obstacles than breakthroughs, more shame than glory, and more poverty than wealth – all of which have made me a woman of grit and Vision, with a large compassionate heart.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am definitely a Renaissance woman. And finally ready to shout it out to the world, rather than whisper it to me.

Walking in the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci, I spill over into so many fields of interest, desperately juggling all my non-paying talents with eking out a living. I am a thoroughly trained actress, an accidental playwright and screenwriter, and a joyous children’s book writer. I am also a scary Druid Witch.

In 2019, I created a film company in Los Angeles, called Rosarium Films. Rosarium means – a bouquet of prayers. God knows I have needed each and every one of them! My husband and I have written our film, SAINT, which is based on Saint Teresa of Avila’s Renaissance book – Libro de la Vida, and 12 years of research! The film grew out of my play – God’s Gypsy – which was produced on the stages of Los Angeles and Washington DC, about the same Saint Teresa. She simply will not leave me alone! I always say “she has me either by the neck or by the hand”.

In order to escape this great saint’s enormous energy, I write children’s picture books. I have just finished my fourth book – Our Young Lady of Paris – about a teenage Parisian girl who has an existential crisis on her 16th birthday, as she walks through Paris. The book will be published in January 2023 through my imprint, Darling Child Books.

In the meantime, Rosarium Films and I are courting Hollywood with SAINT… an intimate black-and-white Fellini-esque independent film, to be shot in a theatrical way on a soundstage. The Jimi Hendrix of the violin, Lili Haydn, is attached to compose and perform.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I read a tremendous amount, and prefer it to apps.

The books that have always guided me, are Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott (deal with your shadows once and for all), The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wollheben, The Mystic in the Theatre: Eleonora Duse, by Eva Le Gallienne, The Keys of Enoch by JJ Hurtak and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I also enjoy Spellbound by Chaweon Koo, and everything by the grand magus and once death row prisoner, Damien Echols.

I am, of course, an avid collector of children’s books! Dare Wright’s Lonely Doll, The Wizard of Oz, The Giving Tree, and all of Lauren Child’s picture books are a delight. Frustratingly, though, there are too many books that live in my heart, to mention here…

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rosariumfilms.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosariumfilms/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosariumfilms
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FilmsRosarium
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSmwUdOW5EWMXOUJVz0W43w
• Other: https://www.darlingchildbooks.com/

Image Credits
Silvia Spross