The four things people don’t know about me are:
1. I’m actually very shy but I hide it well.
2. As weird as it may seem, I actually don’t like sleeping on pillows. I find them so uncomfortable.
3. I’d like to think that I’m good at baking and cooking.
4. I love hearing people chew – another weird one!
I discovered that I loved acting when I did my first play in high school. There was just something about the buzz I felt when I was on and off stage. I had never felt something so amazing before, and from that day on I knew it’s what I wanted to do. I was absolutely right!
The highlights of portraying Palesa Motaung include discovering everything that I didn’t know I was cable of, and learning things about myself I didn’t even know existed within me. The opportunities that have come as a result of this role have made an incredible change in my life.
Some of the challenges of playing Palesa include working with different personalities, although I’m trying to adjust. Learning how to deal with my life no longer being private has also proved to be a challenge but I’m almost there – some days are better than others.
Working alongside industry veterans like Hamilton Dlamini, Chichi Letswalo and Meshack Mavuso has been truly amazing. What I love the most about it is how natural and unreal it is at the same time! It’s great and fun. I’ve learnt so much from each of them and I’m grateful for that.
Palesa and Nolo are both very caring and warm-hearted people. We both confront challenges head on and are confrontational yet gentle in the approach. However, Palesa loves going out and making friends, whereas I enjoy being at home, watching series or reading a book. Another difference between Palesa and I is that she’s rich and I’m not (laughs).
My advice to aspiring artists is: grow a very thick skin; don’t take anything personal in this industry. Read a lot and if finances allow, study for whatever it is you’d love to do. Lastly believe in yourself as that will be half the battle won.
