She’s been on our TV screens from the days of ETV’s Backstage, Scandal, and Rhythm City. She later continued giving us inspiring performances on popular shows like Mzansi Magic’s The River, MNET’s Legacy, and now the much-talked-about drama series Lioness on MNET.
Nokuthula has risen against all odds in the industry while maintaining her integrity in her career choices. She knows her worth and prides herself on knowing who she is and what she is capable of.Nokuthula is now part of the biggest channel in South Africa and she speaks about why she belongs there!
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A KID, HOW DID YOU GROW UP?
I had a pretty normal childhood filled with the adventures growing up in the township. We were really free back then. Playing in the street till dark, getting home and trying hard to clean myself up with a skroplap so mom wouldn't see just how filthy I was. Or tying knots on my torn dress and hiding it at the bottom of the laundry basket.
YOU’VE BEEN ON A COUPLE OF POPULAR TV SHOWS, TELL US ABOUT YOUR ACTING JOURNEY.
With acting in South Africa, it’s really ‘touch and go’ it can go well or really bad or just a mixture of both. With everything that is going on – legislation and the rights of actors, I wouldn’t advise anyone to enter the industry right now. This is simply because of the legislative issues and politics we are facing as actors, it’s quite a lot. Yes, every industry has its challenges, but I have been very fortunate to be part of successful projects that have interested viewers. I’ve mostly been in shows that have high viewership and numbers, like Rhythm City or Scandal. I could say there’s an element of luck to it as well because when you get a script there is no telling what might happen. I’ve been fortunate to get good roles since I started in 2006. It’s a true blessing to do what you love and get involved in projects that audiences enjoy.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HELPS YOU STAY IN THE GAME OF ACTING?
Over the past ten years, social media has changed the way actors and actresses receive feedback. Before we could gauge how popular we are with audiences by the magazine covers we do or the live roadshows we attend – even when we’re out in public, we may have fans come up to us, but now, everything is different.
Social media is where you’ll find out how the audience feels about you or your acting. If you don’t have a large following on Twitter and Instagram, you’ll immediately know that the story isn’t working and that it’s a flop. There’s also Showmax and Netflix, so if people are not interested, they would either bash the show that you’re on or watch something else instead. There are so many other options viewers can now choose instead.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO GO INTO ACTING?
I believe I’ve always been a storyteller, but it was never a career that I thought I’d venture into. I wanted to be a veterinarian. After high school, a friend of mine was part of a community theatre group and invited me to audition. Though I was very skeptical, I gave it my best shot. I met so many young people who came from poor backgrounds, like me and were incredibly talented. The passion they had for the arts was just mind-blowing. These were people who could not get into university because of financial challenges and the arts became the only available space for them.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EVER PROFESSIONAL ROLE ON TV?
I started on the theatre stage, and luckily my agent called me for Scandal, which was my TV debut. It was a small feature but I remember being so nervous because I’ve never been on a TV set in studios before. I was so unsure of myself, and after my performance, the director insisted that I do another take and show what else I can do. He was impressed with my first try. Herbert Hadebe and I, who was the director at the time, forged a friendship, and later on, when I was in Rhythm City, he mentioned that he never forgot the role I played in Scandal because I blew them away with my first try. Sometimes it’s that one ‘call back’ that can change your career forever.
That was a confidence booster for me because that’s when I finally had that feeling of I’m capable, and when I knew I had a future in TV. Even back then I instinctively knew that I would be working at ETV, and a few months later I got a call to join the cast of Backstage, and after that, it was Rhythm City.
WHAT TYPE OF ROLES ARE YOU DRAWN TO?
As actors, we always want a challenge. And when something is not challenging enough it causes me to decline scripts and have no work at times. Sometimes producers see you doing a particular role so well that they want you to do the same thing again. For me, I’d rather walk away and funny enough my agent and I always argue about this. When I get an interesting script, I challenge myself to go people-watching. Just walk in the street, watch people's patterns, and listen to the way they speak – that’s the beauty of every time you get a new script, you ask the character – ‘who are you’? You create a real person by familiarising yourself with the character’s surroundings and lifestyle. Audiences want to see themselves in these roles we play, although sometimes it's aspirational they want to imagine themselves as that character, and truth be told, these characters are based on real people like you and me.
DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER OF AMU THWALA ON LIONESS
Amu is a housewife who has chosen to be at home, raise her kids, and support her husband. She chooses to put her career on hold and be a stay-at-home mom, look after the kids and make sure her family is taken care of. What people don’t know about her is that she is secretly studying law. So, everything is calculated. She knows what is going on around her but has an obligation to her family and protect the life they’ve built. It’s the typical story of a young black couple who make it out of poverty, and you hang on to that for dear life, because going back to poverty is not an option. She’s determined to give her children the best of everything and will do whatever it takes to stop them from struggling the way she did.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would say that ‘you are the standard’. There is no need to follow what everyone else does – just trust what you have. There were a lot of times where I doubted myself and the talent that I have. I knew I had it, but the trauma sometimes overshadowed that feeling. I wish I could tell myself that all of that doesn’t matter, and it will pass.
My advice would be to trust what you have been given, trust what you are here for and go out and be great.
IF YOU WEREN'T AN ACTOR, WHAT OTHER CAREER DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE?
Initially, I wanted to be a veterinarian after I witnessed a vet take care of my sick dog. I think it was in grade 9 when I developed a love for creative writing and spending time at The Market Theatre which was about 300 metres from my mom's office in Newtown. I watched so many rehearsals and appreciated the art form. Radio was where I really wanted to be though, or even behind the camera. I have many passions. Baking is one. Maybe one day I'll be a founder of a sculpture park. Art is life.
WHO IS AN ACTOR OR DIRECTOR YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH?
There are several directors that I would like to work with. I’ve had the pleasure of working with directors like Justin Chadwick, Tebogo Malope, Vincent Moloi, and Zolani Phakade.
IF YOU HAD A SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I have a few already. A heightened intuition. I've always known this about myself. I apply it in everything I do now. It works every time.
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONE FOOD TO EAT FOREVER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Food... is chocolate food? Yes, dark chocolate. Chilli flavoured or sea salt flavoured chocolate.
WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD THEME SONG FOR YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
Oleta Adams – Dance. It's a song about hope. Never ceasing to believe in life and all its wonders.
WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
- Running a spiritual wellness centre for artists.
- Starting a sculpture park in the heart of Mpumalanga.
- Sky diving with my daughters one day.
- Travelling the world with them and their father.
- Swinging on a hammock, overlooking the Moholoholo mountains at sunset.
- Being counted amongst the best of the best actors in the world.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ASPIRING ACTORS?
One thing you need to do is to love acting with your whole heart. It’s hard work and there will be heart-breaking moments but you need to be honest with yourself. This needs to be something that feeds your soul. You need a strong work ethic. Go study and get mentorship. Be ready and prepared to put in the work.