With unbeatable drive and passion, this multi-talented dynamo is a gifted actor, proud mom and business owner.
Noni Mafani has made quite the name for herself in the South African entertainment industry. Known for being an incredible actor, her talent lies in her ability to bring authenticity and depth to the roles she plays, pushing boundaries and leaving an indelible mark on our hearts.
Born in the Eastern Cape and raised in Johannesburg, Noni comes from a close-knit family that has always put love and strong family values at the forefront of everything. This provided a solid foundation for her own philosophy about life, and she believes that family has been an integral part of her identity and success.
“Growing up, I had the privilege of being surrounded by so many phenomenal women,” she says. “Family is everything to me. My family is huge, and we are all about loving and supporting each other loudly. It’s what I know and it’s how I’ve been raised – deeply rooted in love for God and kindness towards others and myself.”
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
While completing her first year at AFDA Film School, where she enrolled for a Bachelor of Live Performance, Noni landed her first role – on the popular South African TV series Generations, playing the multi-dimensional character of Layla. She captured the very essence of Layla’s hardships in her emotional and nuanced portrayal, making the character relatable and familiar to the audience.
Her passion for acting led her to audition for the complex role of Dintle in DiepCity. This Mzansi Magic TV drama delves into the severe realities of women living in townships. The strong narrative of DiepCity enabled Noni to sink her teeth into a character that showed her range as well as her commitment to authentic storytelling. The role highlighted her as a name to be noticed in the industry, portraying her character with strength and sensitivity, which truly resonated with viewers.
Noni then went on to showcase her acting prowess in 1802 : Love Defies Time, a historical romance story on 1Magic. It brought new opportunities for Noni to further explore aspects of her craft as she played the dual roles of Princess Nomabali as well as Vuyiseka. She embraced the highly emotional layers of characters that don’t fit into conventional norms and showed that she could mould her skills to various genres and themes.
Noni regards this role as her big break. “It has been the highlight of my career so far because it was a challenge for me as an artist. I love a challenge, and it enabled me to tap into different aspects of myself that I haven’t necessarily gotten to tap into as an artist yet.”
Noni is currently starring in the Showmax series 016FM as DJ Latoya. Her character is constantly challenged with balancing a public persona while dealing with struggles in her personal life. Noni acted opposite the late SAFTA winner Mpho Sebeng, whom she says will always be dear to her. Noni has honed her craft over the years and spent plenty of time in front of the camera – it’s where she feels most comfortable and is able to explore her passion for acting. But, if she’s ever given an opportunity to go behind the camera and produce a show of her own, she’s ready for it. “I’m excited to see what it can bring for me and what I can bring to more South African homes, sharing rich authentic stories we are able to relate to.”
To aspiring actors, Noni has only one piece of advice and that is to remain consistent. “Constantly work on your craft and never think you’re great or you’re good enough. Choose to move from being good to being great, from being great to being phenomenal. Train and remain teachable. It doesn’t matter how big the projects you work on are. There’s a new level of creativity and art that comes when you allow yourself to be malleable.”
I APPRECIATE LEARNING, I LOVE IT. OUR MINDS ARE LIKE MUSCLES – IT’S HOW WE GROW AND EVOLVE AS PEOPLE.
THE POWER OF BALANCE
Offscreen, Noni is also known for having an active lifestyle, having taken part in tennis, netball and cross-country athletics from a young age. “I always view maintaining a balanced lifestyle with a holistic approach and see wellness at its pinnacle, making sure all areas of my life are well balanced and well nourished. My mental well-being is always my priority,” she explains.
Noni finds that fitness is essential as it makes her happier, more productive and focused. “When you’re a generally busy person, it’s often so easy to unknowingly neglect yourself. I take time to take care of myself holistically. Keeping the balance can never be compromised, no matter how busy life gets.”
As a mother, a well–balanced life is even more important. It motivates her to be the best parent, and woman, that she can be. “I am a mom, which is one of my biggest and favourite titles. Apart from taking time for myself and making sure that I am fulfilling all the different aspects of my life, I always make sure that I fulfil the role of being a mom to the core. Motherhood, my career, my relationships then all get to be the recipient of a healthier, clearer version of me. When I am balanced and happy, I am at my optimum,” she explains.
Noni finds that fitness is essential as it makes her happier, more productive and focused. “When you’re a generally busy person, it’s often so easy to unknowingly neglect yourself. I take time to take care of myself holistically. Keeping the balance can never be compromised, no matter how busy life gets.”
As a mother, a well–balanced life is even more important. It motivates her to be the best parent, and woman, that she can be. “I am a mom, which is one of my biggest and favourite titles. Apart from taking time for myself and making sure that I am fulfilling all the different aspects of my life, I always make sure that I fulfil the role of being a mom to the core. Motherhood, my career, my relationships then all get to be the recipient of a healthier, clearer version of me. When I am balanced and happy, I am at my optimum,” she explains.
I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS A WOMAN WHO DREAMED BIG, BOLDLY AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY – THAT I WENT OUT THERE TO ACHIEVE CONTINUOUSLY AND TO WORK HARD AT IT RELENTLESSLY.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
A new year means a fresh new start and an opportunity to set new goals for ourselves. Noni hopes to continue to growing in her career and broadening her horizons to mould a better actor and creative.
“I appreciate learning, I love it. Our minds are like muscles – it’s how we grow and evolve as people. I believe strongly in constant self-development. There’s so much more to do and be when you’re a learned person. So, that self-development project you’ve been holding back on? That book you want to read? It’s a good time to finally start!”
In between work, parenting and self-care, she has been building on her formal education, and shares that she hopes to be graduating with her Honours in Business Administration this year, which she is very excited about. “Learning and studying can never be bad. Personal development of any kind is always on the cards for me! So there will be more of that happening in 2025. “I approach all that I want with a strong mind and resilience,” she states, adding, “I’ve also been working on several projects within my company, which are going to be quite demanding and new to me, but the growth I’ve achieved in male-dominated spaces is always a thrill.”
Noni believes that staying equipped to be the best that she can be, in all spheres of her life, is super important. “Wake up, decide, commit and succeed. But don’t forget to rest and love yourself!” Noni is all about encouraging others to work hard, keep their energy up and never lose sight of their end goal. “I hope to teach people that sometimes you have to do what you like in order to do what you love. That takes a great balance of maturity, responsibility and comfortably pursuing that which sets your soul on fire,” she says.
Ultimately, she wants to leave behind a legacy of being a woman who never compromised herself or her values. “I want to be remembered as a woman who dreamed big, boldly and unapologetically – that I went out there to achieve continuously and to work hard at it relentlessly.”
Follow NONI MAFANI
Facebook: Noni Mafani
Instagram: nonimafani_
X: @NoniMafani
Words by Rughsaar Bibi Ismail
Additional text: Chandré Emma Kippie, Courtesy of Fitlife
Photography: Zhann Solomons
Photography assistants: Yaseer Abdul & Austin Taylor
Styling Assistant: Calista Da Luz
Styling: Mia-Tess Smith
Hair & Make-up: Hedwin @Makeup_By_Hedwin
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE WITH NONI MAFANI
Reviewed by Amaarah
on
January 06, 2025
Rating: