Newton helps out at Oprah school

British actress Thandie Newton helped out as an instructor at Oprah Winfrey’s South African school today as part of a week-long festival.

Winfrey said today the dream she had for the poor girls attending the school she established is coming true.

The talk show host spoke after watching some pupils put on a show at the end of the school’s annual arts festival.

Newton, whose films include 'Run Fatboy Run' and 'Crash', was one of the instructors for the festival, in which the girls take part in acting, photography and fashion design workshops.

Winfrey said she was overwhelmed by the talent of the girls and that they were “living the vision” she had for them.

The lavish £24m (€28.3m) school was opened in 2007, the fulfilment of a promise Winfrey made to Nelson Mandela and aims to give girls from poor backgrounds a quality education.