Model and actress Tanya Van Graan reflects on a stellar career, and why she’s ready to answer nature’s call for conservation.

Tanya Van Graan certainly needs no introduction. Over the years, her work in the worlds of modelling, television, theatre and film have cemented her status as a household name in South Africa. Now, with more than 18 years in the industry, Tanya shares with Balanced Life her career highlights, the lessons she has learnt along the way, why nature conservation is so close to her heart, and why every little action makes a big impact.

What does one learn from a career in the entertainment industry as one of South Africa’s brightest stars? For Tanya, it’s all been about retaining perspective, and focusing on her own happiness. ‘The career we choose is only an expression of who we are,’ says Tanya, ‘It doesn’t define us in any way. In the arts, for instance, we have to rely on so many different elements falling into place to even get an opportunity to do what we love. It can be so unpredictable and inconsistent, and there is rejection around every corner.’ Negative feelings associated with a career aren’t a reflection of the person, Tanya says.

For her, she learned not to attach her self-worth to her work, or to the process of working towards success. ‘When I learnt to do that,’ she says, ‘I discovered that things such as rejection didn’t really exist out there – it was only me experiencing it because of my conditioned thinking. It’s freeing when you can really start seeing and experiencing things from a different point of view.’ For Tanya, this was a natural evolution as a result of experiencing the highs and lows of a career in the entertainment industry first-hand. ‘What was important to me 15 years ago, isn’t important to me now. Today I try to choose work that I really love. I will say no to something even if it sounds amazing when my gut tells me it’s not for me.’ Tanya says that for her, it’s not about trying to be better than yesterday or upholding a certain stature. Instead, she wants to focus on experiences that make her happy.

One of these experiences was participating in a dancing reality show. For Tanya, it was an example of how important it is to search for happy and fulfilling things in life. ‘I’ve been in the entertainment industry for a very long time,’ she says, ‘and it feels as if I’ve done it all! But if I had to single out one experience as a highlight, it would have to be Strictly Come Dancing.’ She says that it was an experience that pushed every boundary and limit, and allowed her to do things she never dreamed were possible. ‘And I think anyone that has participated in the show would say the same thing: the physical element of learning at a very fast pace at a high level, with the additional mental pressure of doing it on live television. It was one of the greatest experiences of growth and transformation for me.’

Growth and transformation have been on Tanya’s mind a lot over the last two years, as we all continue navigating the ongoing pandemic. ‘I learnt so many things during this time,’ she says. ‘On a personal level, I learnt to embrace the changes and see it as a “reset” and an opportunity to “remember” who I am as a person before life became so busy. On a professional level, even before COVID-19, I learnt with some effort that work comes and goes. During the pandemic, there were longer periods of work going, but it always comes back.’

At the onset of the pandemic, the world’s focus turned to nature. The sudden halt of travel and many industries coming to a complete standstill, resulted in a brief respite, and showed just how harsh our impact was on the environment. For Tanya, this period of time also showed the important connection we share with nature. ‘If we’ve learnt anything over the last two years, it’s that we’re all connected to nature. The key is not to see ourselves as separate from nature, but to raise our consciousness as a collective, and through that, we will find ways to heal and evolve. Loving nature is loving yourself, and we are all worth fighting for.’

Tanya’s love for nature started at a very young age – a love she has carried with her all her life. ‘I grew up on a game farm,’ she says, ‘so nature and being around animals formed my first collection of memories.’ She says that during these formative years, she also learnt important lessons about nature by those around her living by example. ‘I remember learning how to take care of the things around me, as I watched others taking care of the land that served them. Even at such a young age, I realised and valued the importance of nature conservation.’ Today Tanya is a vocal advocate for local conservation efforts, particularly for the ocean. And being an avid freediver, no one knows the beauty of the ocean – and the help it needs – better than Tanya.

‘I have always loved fighting for the ocean,’ says Tanya, ‘all while educating people about the importance of a well-balanced ocean ecosystem.’ She acknowledges that there’s a prevailing idea that one individual can’t make a difference, but she firmly believes that every single action taken is a step in the right direction. ‘I believe that every action towards helping protect nature has a value and an impact. Yes, it becomes frustrating when we want to see more change come quicker, so we feel like giving up because our actions feel insignificant in the big picture. But we have to remember that nature didn’t deteriorate overnight, so we can’t fix it overnight.’ Tanya says it’s important to do what we can, even when we feel overwhelmed, and to spread the word and lead by example, while encouraging law and policymakers to action radical changes. ‘Unfortunately, as long as we are producing products that will end up as trash, we will always have this problem. So to really reduce plastic waste, it will be important to improve plastic-waste collection and recycling technology, and to develop more eco-friendly alternatives.’

‘I truly believe that awareness is the precursor to change,’ says Tanya about looking to the future of nature conservation. ‘The children of today will one day become heads of companies that will have to decide what is good and what is bad for the planet. So my advice is not to just preach what you have read, but teach by taking the journey yourself, and inspiring those around you.’

Best book that you’d recommend?

The Untethered Soul by Michael A Singer

Do you follow many podcasts?

There aren’t any I follow at the moment, I mostly just read books.

Best self-care routine?

Meditation

Some of your best childhood memories?

It would be spending time with my pet cat.

One of your dream destinations?

Tahiti

Favourite food?

Chicken, for sure!

Coffee or tea?

Tea

A quiet night in, or a big night out?

Definitely a quiet night in.