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- Omuhle Gela has joined the cast of the hit SABC 1 show Uzalo.
- The former Umlelo actor made her debut in the soapie last week.
- Gela says that this role allowed her to break away from the typecast role she has been getting in recent years.
Hopping onto one of television's most-watched shows in Mzansi, Omuhle Gela is ready to challenge herself as an actor.
The former Umlilo actor spoke to Channel24 while on the set of season 8 of Uzalo Gela said she was grateful for the opportunity to be back on the small screen.
"I'm obviously very excited to be on a show that has over 10 million viewers. It's such a huge platform, and it's such a great opportunity, and it's got really amazing cast members. So, I've been very excited to work with some of the amazing activities that they have. And as for this role is very different from the other roles I've played," she said.
Gela plays the role of Nomaswazi Magwaza, the daughter of Njinji (played by Thembi Nyandeni).
According to the character bio, Nomaswazi's parents shipped her off to the best schools in the land, but her defiance brought her back to her roots.
"She was basically taught to accept being inferior and underneath. But no 2000 would accept that. As the only Magwaza child, she wants her rightful place at the table. She wants to lead. Her ambition pits her against her own mother and her cousin, Vika."
'It's very different'
Gela explained that this role allowed her to break away from the typecast role she has been getting in recent years.
"It's very different. That has obviously been challenging, developing myself as an artist. But I've been excited because I feel like I've been typecast in a lot of roles. And it was very exciting to challenge myself as an actor," said Gela.
The 30-year-old is known for her breakout role in 2012 on Muvhango as Busi Motsamai.
"Obviously, with time and as you get to work with different people and get deeper in the industry, you learn a lot of things about yourself, about the craft, and how to handle the public. So, I've learned a lot, and I've grown massively as a human being and an actor," she said.
Uzalo is a predominately isiZulu speaking soapie racking over 10 million viewers.
Born and raised in Johannesburg, she said she was comfortable taking up this role, knowing that her isiZulu diction might not be of the standard of those directly from KwaZulu Natal.
"I am from Joburg, and obviously, we speak Joburg isiZulu compared to KZN isiZulu. But luckily, I grew up in an isiZulu speaking area in Joburg, and there were a lot of people from KZN, hence my isiZulu. But it has been tricky. As much as I think my isiZulu is on parr, and then I meet people who are actually from there, I would take pointers on how to say some things. It's not that difficult, though," she said.
Gela made her debut appearance on the show last week, with fans of the show expressing their love for the actor.
"I'm getting very positive reviews about my acting because people have never seen me like this. I think people are starting to warm up to Nomaswazi so well."
