I’m tired of good girl roles – Zinhle
Isibaya star fans love to hate is also new mom
Isibaya vixen Zinhle Mabena is one of the most wicked women on television thanks to her portrayal of the devious Queen Sihle on the soapie.
She is regal, beautiful and sinister.
In a game-changing moment, fans of the Mzansi Magic show were recently left devastated after Sihle orchestrated her husband, Chief Zweli’s (Andile Gumbi) shocking death. Sihle is also not above using black magic to get her way.
Last year, she had viewers clutching their pearls, after she conspired with sorcerer Sunday Nkabinde (Zakhele Msibi) to poison the Queen Mother Qondi (Jessica Nkosi) through the use of body cream.
Her odious antics to seize the Bhubesini chieftaincy give serious competition to Cersei Lannister’s dreadful attempts to win the Iron Throne in hit TV drama Game of Thrones.
We love to hate Sihle, but the woman behind this brilliantly terrific – yet terrifying – character is nothing but a sweetheart in real life.
“When some people first meet me they think I’m actually like Sihle, but once we get into a conversation they get quite a surprise because I’m nothing like her,” Mabena said.
“I’m being compared to TV icons like Ntsiki from Generations. At first it was a challenge because I didn’t know how I should tackle it, considering that I’m nothing like that in real life.
“But we are telling stories, breaking boundaries and it’s so much fun as an actress.
“I have always wanted to move away from playing nice girls because that’s what I’ve always played.”
It comes as a surprise when the East Rand-born beauty drops a bombshell that she has never had any formal acting training.
Mabena, the last-born of three children from a middle-class family in Dawn Park, Boksburg, was studying marketing management at the University of Johannesburg before she hit it big as an actor.
Aside from Isibaya, Mabena has also acted in local dramas like Mtunzini.com, Intersexions and Jozi H.
She also played Zindzi Mandela in the 2011 biopic Winnie Mandela, opposite Hollywood stars Jennifer Hudson and Terrance Howard.
“Everything that I have learned, it’s self taught. I also credit a lot of it to the crew and fellow actors that I’ve worked with. I listened. I’ve been thinking of taking acting classes. I want to push myself beyond limits,” she shared.
“I have always been a great mimic. I just borrow a lot from other people’s experiences and my own. I also believe that great actors are not made by the book.”
If there is one thing Mabena has in common with her onscreen persona it’s that they are both new moms.
While the 25-year-old actress was off-screen during Sihle’s prison stay, Mabena welcomed her now eight-
‘ ‘ We are telling stories and breaking boundaries, it’s much fun
month-old daughter. Although she refuses to divulge details around her romantic life, she confirms that she’s a married woman.
“Juggling work and motherhood is tricky, but
I have a supportive family and husband.
Yes, I’m married but that’s all I’m going to say. When it comes to my personal life I prefer to keep everything private.
“Motherhood is hard work, but I love it so much. I have never experienced this kind of love. It has taught me a lot about myself, especially when it comes to things that I thought I could never do,” she said.