FORGOTTEN ACT
Mophakedi aka ‘Matlakala’ yearns to return to acting
Beloved actress for the famed local drama, Thokolosi reminisces
Local actress Dineo Mophakedi is yet to see or even experience anything near her gripping yet chilling role as Matlakala which she played on popular local drama, Thokolosi. that aired on Botswana television years back.
Thokolosi, which aired on Botswana Television(Btv) some years back, was her much-needed breakthrough into the acting world, something she never knew existed.
She took a chance by going to the auditions and it paid off handsomely. But more than a decade later, Mophakedi’s flair is still left idling. This is despite the Matlakala nametag being stuck to her like glue among many Batswana. To many who meet her on the streets today, Mophakedi remains that devilish woman who caused havoc and disrupted the lives of many through the use of a mythical creature.
Although it is an identity marked by witchcraft, it is one that reminds her daily that she pulled one hell of a hectic and unforgettable show as Matlakala. She was part of another locally produced drama - The NO 1 Ladies Detective Agency series- but it never impacted on her in a manner that Thokolosi did. With Thokolosi, she was a lead actress while with the Agency she was just some nurse who was not even identified by name. But what has she been up to since Thokolosi days? “I am a television content producer at Bright Visions Studios.
“The highlight of my career with this company is being the co-creator of Pillars Television drama currently showing on NowTV and UPIC,” she told The Midweek Sun. One would have assumed that Mophakedi would have by now gone on to prove her mettle beyond local borders. Or better still she could be doing what she loves most, which is acting. However, she is just a content producer. Yet Mophakedi is not even complaining. Nonetheless she still has big dreams: she dreams of the day when acting will be taken seriously and Botswana producing high quality shows that will also appeal to the international market. They just need the right amount of investment. Mophakedi’s personal achievement would be producing a soapie or even a movie for Botswana. Asked if she has called it quits with acting, Mophakedi said, “I love it and I will never say never to it. “I would not say I am searching for opportunities but when the right one presents itself I am sure going to go for it,” she said. She is single and has no kids but before the gents can get all excited, the beautiful Mophakedi is not searching.