Ziqubu reaches for the skies
FILM STAR TRIES OUT SOAPIES
THISHIWE Ziqubu plays Skies, a criminal superwoman in the local film Hard to Get.
Skies is a naughty and wild chick who lives on the edge and knows no boundaries.
Ziqubu has made the character of Skies lively and fascinating to watch.
Ziqubu is also an accomplished writer and director.
Her convincing portrayal of Skies has not only scored her a South Africa Film and Television Award (Safta) nomination but has also landed Ziqubu her first big role in a local soapie.
She currently plays Nox on e.tv ’ s Rhythm City.
Ziqubu ’ s name is not familiar to many television viewers because she is more established in movies than soapies.
The actress from Ladysmith, in KwaZulu-Natal, admits that she prefers films and dramas to television soapies.
“In movies, I enjoy the freedom of exploring the characters that I play.
“I also have enough time to research and understand the character, ” she explains.
“Unlike in soapies, you get the script two days before the actual shoot. That does not allow you to give it your best shot.”
Ziqubu ’ s versatility does not surprise given the fact that she did an intensive Acting for Film course at the Los Angeles campus of the New York Film Academy.
She was asked to audition for the role of Nox in Rhythm City after impressing in Hard to Get.
“I am excited because this is something different. I enjoy playing different characters,” Ziqubu says
As a writer, getting a role in the soapie means Ziqubu has had to temporarily trade her notebook and pen for a position in front of the camera.
The tall and dark beauty says her character Nox is gorgeous, fun, sexy, strong and self-confident person.
She was introduced to Rhythm City audiences as Bash ’ s scam partner – a character almost similar to Skies in Hard to Get.
“She is an instant hit with the men, regaling them with weird and wonderful stories of her past experiences, ” Ziqubu says.
Before Rhythm City, she had a cameo role in Tempy Pushas. She will also appear in the films Man on the Ground and Tell Me Sweet Something, which will be shown shortly.
She recently had a part in another local film called While You Went Looking.
Ziqubu has also written and directed three independent short films – Out Of Luck, Subdued and Between the Lines.
The latter premiered at the 2011 Durban International Film Festival.