Remembering the bubbly and talented Ruth Moore
Celebrated actress Ruth Moore recently made her spiritual transition, and her passing saddened those who knew and had worked with her.
She was popular for her appearance in adverts such as Orange Ditebogo and Yimiwee, and also had popular roles in television dramas Re bina mmogo, Colours and Botshelo jo. She also had a role in the renowned movie, MmaRamotswe: No. 1 Ladies Detective.
Moore was such a vibe: a bubbly and vibrant free spirit. She was also approachable and friendly, and could make anyone feel at ease in her presence. I recall once, in early 2020, I spotted her at a mall and I shyly approached her to greet, not sure if she would remember me.
She chatted me up as if she had just seen me the previous day, and in between giggles and flashing her trademark bright smile she exclaimed: “O montlenyane jang mma wena, ebile o choma monate...o ka tshwanelwa kego nyalwa ke lekgoa gore!”
She folded over in fits of laughter when I did a comical rendition of Charma Gal’s hit song, ‘Mama ntshware nna ke sia le matebele,’ and playfully told her I received the ‘blessing’ provided that the ‘mlungu’ who marries me is not a “moukepere.” Ha!
I had the privilege to first interview Moore in 2018 when she was preparing for a theatre show in Zimbabwe. At the time, I was fairly new at this publication and having made the transition from working behind-the-scenes as a copy editor and proofreader, to plunging into the newsroom as a reporter,I didn’t have many contacts and relied on the goodwill of kind colleagues to secure interviews. Our chief sub-editor Ernest Moloi told me about Moore’s then upcoming show and gave me her number, suggesting that I interview her.
I recall the interview was quite delightful: we had a long and interesting chat and it was quite evident that she was passionate about the arts.
At the time of our interview, it had been
a few months since I had lost my mother and I was still feeling blue on account of grief. Moore was quite sympathetic and took me through a brief counselling session on dealing with loss. It was then that I found out that she worked as a counsellor as her day job. It is perhaps this warm and motherly aura that made her likeable one could open up to her freely without fear of being judged or having details of their life turned into gossip fodder - she understood life with all its ups and downs, and had a the essence of a refined and classy human being. This quality probably also helped in her acting because she was a sterling performer who got into character with admirable ease. She once played a drunkard so well and she joked about how some people thought she was a booze guzzling lunatic in real life until they got to know her! In her prime, Moore was part of MEDU art ensemble where she worked with SA’s Mongane Serote
and in Baranodi Performing arts group with the likes of President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who she described as a fine actor. She said that her big break into acting was as a teenager when she was approached to act in a stage production called Walk the road by a group of South Africans. Before then, she had acted at school and church,and always dreamt of being an actress. Moore was also a good singer who also dabbled in music and worked on an album with Calvin Kaluza. She took several young creatives under her wing and she always reminded them to work hard. As she said in our interview: “If you work hard enough, you will one day enjoy the fruits of your labour. Always be confident and give your best, and don’t allow other people to derail you from your dreams.” Moore’s unwavering contribution to the arts is applaudable, and she will be missed by her family, friends and arts industry colleagues. May her beautiful soul rest in peace!