Publications
Partners
- Shoki Mmola is opening up about her Skeem Saam exit, joining Scandal! and so much more.
- Speaking to News24, Mmola says acting was 'never, ever' part of her plans as she had dreams of becoming an academic.
- Mmola credits veteran actor and entertainer Lillian Dube for aiding her debut in the entertainment industry.
It has been a whopping 28 years since she made her debut in the entertainment industry, and while she says it was never part of her plan, Scandal! actor Shoki Mmola has no plans of slowing just yet.
In an interview with News24, Mmola spoke about where it all started, leaving SABC 1 edutainment series Skeem Saam after 10 years, joining e.tv drama Scandal! and much more.
"You know, I found this journey by default," she said. "It's as if someone has dropped me on the map of the world and said nothing."
'Never, ever part of the plan'
Speaking about how acting was not part of the plan when she matriculated at 15, Mmola said she had plans to become an academic.
"Mme Lillian Dube found me coming from campus at the Carlton Centre, which was the cool kid hangout place, and I was there because I wanted to be one of the cool kids," she said. "She said, 'Kgatelopele (a new drama back then) is coming – that was my first role, Sarah."
Despite a nearly three-decades-long career, Mmola is adamant "I cannot act".
"I don't know how to act," she said. "I go in there, I feel something, they say cut, and I walk away. It's what I do best; my job is to feel and be present in the moment."
"I have been able to be present for all those women that I've played for 28 years. It's been marvellous beyond belief."
'It was time to let go of Celia's shell'
Mmola had already starred in several local shows, such as Muvhango, Death of a Queen and Mfolozi Street, but it was her role as Celia Kunutu on SABC 1 edutainment series Skeem Saam that made her an even bigger household name. After 10 years on the show, her exit was announced in July 2022.
"South Africa found out a year after I had walked away," she said. "That was simply because they needed to wait for the season to finish then be able to announce it so that it's not a sudden, 'Oh my God, she said she left, but you still see her on our television'."
Explaining why she left the show, Mmola said:
She added that "it was time to let go of Celia's shell" because there were other roles that she wanted to take on.
Becoming Prudence Molepo
The next role Mmola would take on was that of Prudence Molepo on the e.tv drama Scandal! Her new character debuted on the show at the end of February.
Per the channel's description of the character, Reverend Prudence Molepo was a woman of the cloth who had wholly given her life to faith and held herself in high regard, expecting others to do the same for themselves.
She is a strict mother and can often be too hard on her children.
Mmola said, at the moment, viewers did not really know who Prudence was, but "they should stick around and find out".
She admitted that it had been challenging, but she was willing to participate in the relationship.
'These women have become my friends'
Comparing her previous and current roles, Mmola said she could not compare her friends.
"Every character that I've played and every journey that I've taken with every woman that I have involved myself in their lives, I have fallen in love with them," she said. "I fought for them, defended them, shared ideas with them, and disagreed with them."
She said she would not have played their roles if she had not liked the women.
"I'm not going to compare my friends," Mmola said. "These women have become my friends, and they have put me where I am right now in this journey that I need to travel right now."
Looking to the future
Talking about her plans for her future, Mmola said her main assignment was to stay prepared for God's plan.
"My job is to make sure that what I desire, what I want and what I wish for myself and my children happens at the right time that the universe grants," she said. "And when the universe grants me, I am prepared."
"I'm not one to sit and say in five years I would like to say XYZ. I don't do that; I prepare myself for the XYZ, wait for my turn, and be available when that time comes."
