Pulling no punches on and off screen
FROM Broadway to Backstage to Zabalaza to My Perfect Family and now Uzalo, it is safe to say Baby Cele is one of South Africa’s industry icons.
Tonight sat down with the veteran actress, who has captured the hearts of South African and international fans over the years, and some of you might find it hard to believe that Cele will be turning 50 in a few years.
“The cameras are not doing justice to you, you look amazing,” we said simultaneously. “Thank you… you’re making me shy,” says Cele in a lowpitched voice.
It’s even more difficult to imagine Cele as Gabisile, the fierce, outspoken, aggressive and stubborn character she portrays on Mzansi’s number one soapie, Uzalo.
When asked what her first reaction was when she read the script for her character Gabisile, Cele explains: “I’ve never liked characters that shout, but we all know Gabisiles out there, so I had to think of people I know, like my sister, but my daughter also helped a lot with preparing for the character.”
Cele adds that she had to think of Empire actress Taraji P Henson’s character, Cookie Lyon, when she tried to compare Gabisile to an extroverted character, but as “a South African version with a bit of kasi flavour”.
Cele also explained that playing this extroverted character sometimes becomes emotionally and physically draining.
“She’s hectic… sometimes I wanted to ask the director to tone her down, but again I don’t know where the writer is going with the story line so I just let her be. Many viewers resonate with Gabisile and that’s what persuades me to bring out the best of her”. On what to expect, Cele says Gabisile’s past is catching up with her and of course more drama. Chatting to Cele about her journey in television and theatre, she reflects on when the acting bug first bit her, and reveals that initially she wanted to pursue a career in singing. Three decades ago, Cele was a cast member of the stage musical Sarafina – she performed at Broadway for two years, and toured all over the world.
“I joined Sarafina as a singer not an actor. I wanted to be a singer like Brenda Fassie but the acting bug bit me and I fell in love with it.” Cele said she was grateful to Mbongeni Ngema for giving her the opportunity to act at the age of 16.
“I met Mbongeni Ngema while he was driving down the road next to my house; I didn’t even have to audition for the part (in Sarafina)”.
As an icon with a wealth of experience in the industry, Cele has fallen in love with directing and producing after being given the opportunity to direct on the SABC1 sitcom My Perfect Family, where she played the starring role of Portia Nkosi.
She continued developing her new skill when she joined Inkaba in 2012, and also on Zabalaza, the drama series where she played Gasta for three years.
“I would like to direct my own feature film in the near future and get into producing as well.
“I’ve recently started writing and to be honest, I didn’t think I had it in me, but again thanks to Bongi Ndaba, the head writer of Uzalo for giving me the opportunity while mentoring me as well.” Watch Uzalo on SABC1 weekdays at 8.30pm.