Cindy’s strong role as Siyanda on Mzansi Magic’s The Queen has made her ‘one to watch' on our local TV screens. With just a few years in the acting game, she’s quickly making a name for herself and has plans to make it big in Africa.
Cindy and her brother were born and raised by her Gogo and mother in the small town of Standerton, Mpumalanga. She hasn’t been on our TV screens for long but with the few successful roles she’s had, she’s blown audiences away and she’s set on making her mark in the entertainment industry.
She started out as Dumazile on The Herd and then landed the role of Siyanda on The Queen, and later bagged the role of Zama Boltoon on Netflix’s Blood and Water. After high school, Cindy never planned on going the acting route but wanted to leave Standerton and be in entertainment. She’s now a model, sought-after actress with a bright future and has her sights on bigger roles outside of Mzansi.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD?
I’m from Standerton, that’s where I did most of my schooling and completed my high school at Höerskool Standerton. Yes, I’m fluent in Afrikaans, I did all my school subjects in Afrikaans, and I truly enjoyed it. When my parents divorced, my brother and I were raised by my mother and grandmother. My Gogo played such a big role in my upbringing, she is my angel.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST EVER ROLE ON TV
A few years back, I was asked to audition for a role on The River. I was like a deer in headlights, I had no idea that you needed to have a script for an audition, I just rocked up. I gave it a shot, and it didn’t go very well, which is what I expected. I then decided to be more prepared for my next audition, and when I got another call, I was told it was improv – LOL! I’m a very shy person and I was really nervous. It was a tough experience for me, especially seeing other actors I watched on TV audition for the same role. I had no hope. So I went in there, gave it my best, and landed my first ever TV role, which is the character of Dumazile on The Herd.
WAS ACTING SOMETHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO?
My mom was very strict, and she laid down the rules for me as to what needed to happen with my life after high school. She was adamant that the only way to leave Standerton was if I went to school and studied. I then chose to study financial accounting as per mom’s orders. My mom has always been supportive, paying for school fees and helping me out. As you grow up, you soon realise that you have to make your own money and let go of the apron strings. I decided to look for a job and found work at offices in Sandton in my second year and studied part-time. I had to finish my studies because that was the only way I could stay in Johannesburg, even though I didn’t really like what I was studying. So acting was not something I had set out to do. I just knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry, that’s all.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM PLAYING SIYANDA ON THE QUEEN?
Siyanda is very different from Cindy. They are both go-getters but Siyanda is more ambitious and determined. She’ll do anything to have the posh lifestyle, she’ll hustle hard to get the fancy things in life and be relevant. People call her a gold-digger but to me, I see her as a mother who is trying to make ends meet and survive. She’s been through a lot.
She’s been disappointed by all the men in her life, she has a child to take care of, and on top of all of that, she lost her second baby. Siyanda believes that to get ahead, she needs to have a rich man by her side. So I’ve learned from her both good and bad qualities.
Often with her character, I have to do research before scenes to portray the storyline and what the writers want. With this character, some things challenged me that I couldn’t identify with, such as becoming a drug addict and losing her baby. But with research and speaking to people who have had those experiences, it helped me portray the story on screen.
IF YOU WERE NOT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING NOW?
Honestly, nothing else. I would’ve worked at a job just to pay the bills and make a living, to put bread on the table but honestly, I would not choose anything else. This is the industry where my heart lies.
WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE READ OR SEEN RECENTLY?
It has to be the news of Oscar winner Viola Davis and Mzansi’s own Thuso Mbedu’s new film project called The Woman King. This is such a historic moment for South African actors. For me, this means ‘black girl, it’s possible’. You can come from anywhere, and if you know what you want and you work extremely hard to get that, it can happen for you. Give everything to God and let him lead the way, let him guide you and you will see things that you thought were not possible happen. I have a strong feeling that Thuso never thought she’d be where she is right now, and it’s so inspiring for us too, who have just started in the industry and have big dreams. Anything is possible, you just have to do the work.
WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS AN INSPIRATION TO YOU?
It has to be Taraji P Henson. I love how she is so versatile and with every character she takes on there are so many layers of her that we get to see. I always learn so much from her with every movie. People looked down on her, they told her she wouldn’t get there and she would not reach that level of success. She’s honestly my biggest inspiration.
WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE YOU WOULD GIVE TO YOUR FANS?
I say if you believe that you are destined for something, hang on to that. Don’t let the next person tell you you can’t achieve it or will never make it to the top. God's timing is the best. Don’t be intimidated by others who’ve made it, but rather pace yourself. Never stop learning and never think you know everything. Respect the people around you, both young and old, you never know what you can learn from someone.
IF YOU HAD A SUPERPOWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I think I kind of have a superpower already… I can read minds a little. I have strong intuition and have a keen sense of what the other person is thinking and feeling.
IS THERE A SONG YOU COULD LISTEN TO ALL DAY?
I listen to a variety of songs, it all depends on my mood. I can’t choose one song, but I know it has to be something soft, slow, and with lyrics that speak to me. For the moment, I’m listening to JP Cooper’s The Only Reason.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY?
I’m a complete homebody, so anything at home would be ideal for me. I’ve made sure my home is the most comfortable place for me. I can turn it into a movie theatre for movie marathons, a dinner place where I can cook and entertain friends and whatever I desire.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT 5 to 10 YEARS?
Career-wise I want to explore Africa. I would love to shoot something maybe in Lagos, Nigeria and tap into the African film space. The entertainment industry is very different in each continent. I want to have all the different experiences of acting and then move into the role of director.