South African actress, writer, and director, Maggie Benedict best known for playing the role of Akhona Miya in the soap opera Generations, celebrates her 40th birthday today.

The award-winning actress born on February 10, 1981, in Pretoria, South Africa, received the South African Film and Television Awards for best ensemble cast for the 2011 film The Mating Game.

As Maggie Benedict turns 40, here’s a walk down memory lane.

Maggie Benedict arrestedOn Twitter and Instagram, Maggie Benedict created quite the buzz as photos of her being arrested and later produced in court, did the rounds.

Drama was rife as Generations actress, Maggie Benedict, was arrested following a shoplifting incident at Cresta mall. Maggie was placed in a holding cell in Linden before authorities took her to Randburg Magistrate’s court.

Her family’s got her backHer family stood by her during the arrest and claimed that the charges laid on the actress were “ridiculous.” They declared that they would do what it takes to clear her name.

Her brother, Abel Benedict, spoke to the press saying:

“Why would you spend R100 buying other things in the shop and then steal something for R17? It doesn’t make sense, but unfortunately for Checkers common sense is not that common for them and they must pay peanuts because they hire monkeys.”

International debut

When on twitter and Instagram, Maggie Benedict created quite the hype for her role in an American television series, her fans could not contain their excitement.

Besides other awards, she received the South African Film and Television Awards for Best-supporting actress for her role in the telenovela series Ashes to Ashes.