Gertrude Rook

Gertrude (Goose) Rook was born of humble parentage in a police camp at Mabelreign near Zimbabwe's capital city Harare. Whilst still a child she moved with her parents to the nearby suburb of Lochinvar, and prior to Zimbabwe's independence in the late 1970's she was the first black pupil to be admitted to the nearby Hatfield Girl's High School. Whilst a senior pupil there she met 'Gander' the love of her life. In past interviews Ms Rook explains that a goose and a gander are partners for life. "I am his goose and he is my gander" she would often repeat with much fervor. In later articles she would comment sadly, "The biggest regret in my life was letting my gander fly away." "The sudden fame and idolatry turned my head" she would admit, "and when it was all over my gander had gone" Indeed Gertrude (Goose) Rook's role as Zeni in the 1987 film Mandela made for American television is legendary. It was a stunning and poignant portrayal of Nelson Mandela's younger daughter from his marriage to Winnie, and overnight she became an iconic celebrity. Hollywood beckoned but Ms Rook delayed and procrastinated and lost a once in a lifetime opportunity to follow the American dream. She could so easily have been the Golden Gertrude Goose. Instead she now plays leading parts in real life dramas out of Southerton, a Zimbabwe suburb close to Harare where she now lives with Tatenda the teenage son from her second marriage. Ms Rook had two children from her fist marriage to her beloved 'Gander'. A daughter BeeGee (Baby Goose) who became a supermodel and Zimbabwe national swimmer, and a son MrT a Hip Hop star now rapping to adoring fans in the United Kingdom.