Presley Chweneyagae, the star of Tsotsi, has scored again, winning the award for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role at the Black Movie Awards in Los Angeles.
He was up against Denzil Washington (Inside Man), Cuba Gooding Junior (Shadowboxer), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots) and Tyrese Gibson (Waist Deep).
Speaking from his Hollywood hotel, having just returned from the awards afterparty, Chweneyagae said he was surprised by the honour.
"I didn't know I would win, it was a shock. I thought 'Presley, you'll be with the big guns, just go'," said Chweneyagae.
"I am just mind-blown by the whole thing. It's really good for our country. It's amazing how many people know about South Africa. I travel a lot now and they ask about the crime, but I say 'it's not happening in the whole country'," said Chweneyagae.
He had not prepared a speech, but when the announcer stumbled over his surname, the stunned Chweneyagae gamely got up and managed to say a few words.
The awards show was launched in 1997 and recognises creative achievements by people of African descent in feature-length films and honours outstanding films portraying the black experiences.
It was hosted by Tyler Perry (Maedea's Family Reunion and Diary Of A Mad Black Woman) and last year marked its first televised broadcast on TNT.
Nominees and recipients of awards were chosen from a list of films released in the US between August 1 2005 and July 31 2006.
Chweneyagae was chosen for his searing portrayal of a Johannesburg gangster who learns the value of human life when he is forced to care for a baby he has kidnapped.
Based on the novel by Athol Fugard, the film was directed and written by Gavin Hood and became the first South African feature film to win an Oscar.
Chweneyagae is pleased not only by the award, but also that he got to meet just about every black American artist he looked up to as a child.
"I grew up watching films by Spike Lee, and I was sitting next to him. He is a really nice guy. He said 'You're Presley, I saw your movie'."
At the afterparty, Chweneyagae got to rub shoulders with the likes of Cuba Gooding Junior, Kenny Latimore and Chante Moore, and just soaked up the atmosphere.
"This year has been such a good year," Chweneyagae said.
He has been travelling around the world, promoting Tsotsi and also talking about the play he co-wrote with Paul Grootboom, Relativity: Township Stories.
That production is currently touring the UK, but he had to withdraw from the performance because of other commitments.
He will stay in Hollywood for the next few days and return to South African on Thursday, which is his 22nd birthday.
"This is the best present ever," he said.