Raised in Soweto in the 90s, Thuli Thabethe has always had an imaginative mind as a child. Years later, she’s a SAFTA award winner, nominee and has also landed another lead role in 1Magic’s new Telenovela, Lingashoni.
We’ve grown to love her as the glamorous wife of taxi boss Judas Ngwenya, played by the late Menzi Ngubane on Mzansi Magic’s Isibaya. But Thuli’s resume extends way before that. She scored her first acting role at the age of 19 on SABC3’s Isidingo as a featured extra, she also played the role of Malaika in ETV’s Ashes to Ashes and had a strong role playing Pinky in Zone 14 on SABC1. She became a household name after she took on the role of Phumzile on City Ses’la and went on to win a SAFTA for that performance. With parents who are both academics, going the acting route was never something Thuli initially aspired to.
Thuli’s days are quite busy and while she barely has a free moment, she managed to spare some time for a quick chat to tell us who she is and what her plans for the future are.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR YOUTH AND WHERE YOU GREW UP
I was born and raised in Meadowlands, Johannesburg, my mom and dad are both from Soweto. I grew up mostly in my grandmother’s house because my parents had to work. So, I moved between Meadowlands at home and Dobsonville which was Gogo’s house. I had a really good upbringing with my only sibling Mbali.
I grew up like most kids elokshini, playing in the streets, playing games such as house and pretending to be characters from the soapies, and acting out scenes from shows such as Jam Alley, dancing, singing, and dressing up. We would re-enact the soapies that were on TV at the time, like The Bold and the Beautiful and Days of Our Lives. I’ve always had a very imaginative mind even as a child, I guess that’s where I fell in love with acting.
After the 1994 democracy, we moved out of the township to the south of Johannesburg into a small suburb called Naturena, and that’s where I completed my schooling. Being born in the ’80s and growing up in the ’90s was something special. I remember we had to be back inside the house when the street lights switched on, otherwise, we would be in big trouble.
DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN ACTRESS?
I guess it’s something that has always been inside of me. I remember being in front of the mirror in my mother’s high heels, dancing, playing songs, and always just wanting to be on stage. I’ve always loved performing. I don’t think I always knew because I didn’t think it was something possible for a girl like me growing up in the hood. My parents are academics with my mom being a school teacher, and my dad having an MBA, we were always encouraged to go to school. So being creative was not something I fathomed. Having a mom that’s a teacher, there was the expectation of having the traditional career of a doctor, lawyer, etc. She would often take us with her to her school during the holidays, so education was very important to her and she instilled that in us.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST ROLE ON TV
I landed my first professional TV role straight out of high school as a featured extra on SABC3’s Isidingo. I played Maria.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER HIGHLIGHT?
It would definitely be Isibaya. In my 20s, I was on the SABC1 Sitcom City Ses’la playing the role of Phumzile and I won a SAFTA for that in 2009 for Best Actress in a Comedy. The very same year I was pregnant with my son Ruri, so that win was a big milestone for me because it’s a role I think I did very well, and the people loved it – the SAFTA award was confirmation of that. After I had my baby, I decided to take a break to be a mother. I later joined the Isibaya cast and was nominated for a SAFTA again. I didn’t win that year but the nomination was a big career highlight for me.
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE ON LINGASHONI
Lingashoni started in January this year, so I’m still finding my feet. It’s a story that follows the journey of a businessman who returns to reclaim his life after 10 years of being declared dead. I see this new role as quite a big step in my career. On Isibaya I was a supporting actor, whereas on Lingashoni I play the lead and I have a title – I’ve never had that before. It’s quite exciting when the show starts and my name pops up on the TV screen, I feel so proud and I guess it’s an industry nod. It’s confirmation that the producers have trusted my talent and ability as an actor to carry the show, together with Patrick Mofokeng and Thato Molamu.
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT BESIDES ACTING?
If I’m not on the screen, I work as a Creative Brand Strategist. I have a Diploma in Strategic Brand Communications from Vega School of Brand Leadership. I practice as a Brand Strategist, an events coordinator, and also work on social media campaigns. So, anything that enables me to express myself creatively. My mother always wanted me to be a lawyer because she thinks I’m incredibly argumentative and I talk a lot. But I never saw myself being in a corporate suit behind a desk, working 9 to 5. I’m just not built that way, that’s just not me at all.
WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS AN INSPIRATION TO YOU, OR THAT YOU LOOK UP TO?
You know ten years ago I would have said Oprah or Beyoncé and all those Black American women who were making it big at the time. But the older I become, I start to look within my lineage and bloodline, and I realised that I actually come from good stock. So, I’m inspired by so many women in my family. I come from a family of strong females that make things happen.
I look at my mother who’s been in education for years. When my parents got divorced, I watched her raise myself and my sister to be strong independent women post-divorce, teaching us the struggles of having to start from scratch. I also have an incredible aunt – my mom’s sister is Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and she’s an immense inspiration to me. I’ve watched her transition from being a musician to philanthropist to businesswoman and just continue to grow. I’m forever in awe and say to myself ‘yes girl’ we can do it, we are capable of strong, powerful things in this family. So yes, the Oprahs of the world are amazing, but getting older has shown me that right here at home, in my bloodline, the women that raised us and shaped us are the true heroes and role models. They are often overlooked and taken for granted but they have made tremendous contributions to our lives.
“In Xhosa, they say ‘uzalwa ngoo bani’ which means ‘who birthed you’, ancestrally. You will know how strong you are when you look at your grandmother, your mother, and aunts. I then came to know and understand that if they could do all these amazing things, why can’t I, what’s stopping me to not overcome life’s hurdles, I too can achieve greatness and all these beautiful things.”
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WOULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
There is so much! I’m a huge advocate of self-work, self-love, and taking care of your soul. Self-love is beyond just going to the spa, being pampered, and looking pretty. It’s about standing up for yourself, teaching people how to treat you, and knowing things that no longer serve or benefit you. It’s also about recognising who I am in this world, how I relate to the world, and how it relates to me.
When I was 26, I was struggling emotionally and I didn’t have this kind of mindset, the language, and the knowledge. If I understood the concept of projection, I think I would have made better decisions at the ages of 24 and 25.
I wish I knew that sometimes things have nothing to do with you. People will often project their fears, insecurities, and inadequacies onto you based on their point of reference and their story. So, don’t fret, some things have absolutely nothing to do with you.
At 16 I’d tell myself to relax because I grew up being very insecure and I cared a lot about what people thought of me, I wanted approval and validation so if I knew all these things, I would’ve been better and stronger and further than I am now.
ON WEEKENDS AND YOUR DOWNTIME, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO GET UP TO?
I’m quite a homebody and the older I’ve become I look forward to a day of just doing nothing. If I’m home with a bottle of wine, watching my Netflix or DSTV Catch Up, and just be with my son relaxing, I’m perfectly happy. I’ve also been hiking with my family a lot lately. Since we can’t go to church anymore, we go hiking together. This has become a good way of just catching up and a special bonding experience with my family.
IF YOU HAD A SUPERPOWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
OMG! If I had a superpower, I would want to be invisible. I’m very intrigued about human behaviour and psyche, and if I were invisible there would be rooms I could just be in and understand why people do certain things.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNGSTERS WHO LOOK TO YOU?
For any young person, who wants to go into acting, especially females, I would advise you to go and equip yourself with knowledge and get the proper education. Pretty looks are not going to get you there, having a certain body will not get you where you need to go, and also the amount of Instagram followers will not make things easier. Having a solid foundation in the craft or the field in which you want to be, will not only get you through the door but will also keep you there!
ANY FUTURE PLAN OR GOALS YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE?
I want to still study further and complete an MBA. I still want to explore other avenues creatively as well as in acting. Together with my sister who is a graphic designer, we want to build a creative agency where we package SA content and art internationally. I also want to travel more, when the time is right and the global pandemic is over.
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONE FOOD TO EAT FOREVER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Tuna crunch sushi, any time, any day.
WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE READ OR SEEN THIS WEEK?
How messy my house is. I’m a self-proclaimed certified neat freak, borderline OCD actually. So seeing my space come undone has been very interesting to me because keeping it in order is a control thing for me.
WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD THEME SONG FOR YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The song and lyrics are so simple yet so powerful.
THULI THABETHE’S RISE TO STARDOM!
Reviewed by Michelle Pienaar
on
April 22, 2021
Rating:
Reviewed by Michelle Pienaar
on
April 22, 2021
Rating:
