Celebrity – Talitha Ndima
Outspoken actress, Talitha Ndima, 35, talks us through the ups and downs of her 10-year acting career, and how she tackled her first-ever presenting gig on Marry Me Now SA
I’M AN EASTERN CAPE GIRL AT HEART
“I was born in Port Elizabeth and my parents still live there. I’m a middle child with two siblings – an older sister and younger brother. I took a gap year after matric and it’s then that my interest in media was ignited, which is odd becase I’d always wanted to be an accountant. To keep busy, I waitressed and read the news at the local community radio station called CBFM. I went on to study public relations at P.E Technikon (now Nelson Mandela University), and later drama at AFDA. Yes, I was in varsity for seven years straight [chuckles]!”
ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDES ESCAPISM
“The intrigue with the entertainment industry and why I choose to stay in it is the sense of escapism it affords society. We often take for granted the importance of tuning out, and that’s what TV provides. Art is a reflection of society and vice versa. My only qualm is the lack of diversity in the storylines provided on TV.”
MARRY ME NOW ISN’T AT ALL LIKE OUR PERFECT WEDDING
“It’s a completely different concept. It’s not about the wedding day, but rather the build-up. We need a show like this to open up a conversation about what we’ve decided to hold on to in our cultures. Culture changes over the ages. I’ve found that sometimes money, unfortunately, overrides traditional values. During filming, I was awakened to so many other wedding traditions. I don’t really see what marriage does for a relationship. I do want to be with someone, but the partnership should allow the other person freedom to leave when they no longer want to be in it. If you want a party to introduce our families then, great! But I don’t see the purpose of marriage.”
IGAZI WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ACTING GIGS
The cast was amazing and, as a result, we’re still in an Igazi Whatsapp group that we simply refuse to leave. It’s been two years now since the show, but we speak regularly and hook up when we can. My stand on witchcraft is that if you believe in it, then it will affect you. Regrettably, there won’t be a third season, which makes me a little sad.”
YOU ARE AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST JOB
“I didn’t do any acting in 2018. Marry Me Now was the only ‘in front of the camera’ gig that I got. I walked out of a show like Igazi thinking okay, ‘we did the most and the show was popular, so surely something will come up.’ But nothing did. People still remember the character and show, but it doesn’t translate into work. Popularity doesn’t always guarantee work and that’s the harsh reality I’m learning. Previously, I’d have a month or two in between, but never this long. Luckily, I’m also a voice-over artist and that pays the rent, buys groceries and keeps the lights on.”
E.TV’S SCANDAL! IS MY FAVOURITE SOAPIE!
“I aspire to be on the show one day. There’s a certain realness in the way the script is written and I love how relatable it is. My favourite character on the show is Dintle played by Mapaseka Koetle-Nyokong — she’s so cute, yet so evil.”
I DREAM OF SHARING A SCENE WITH MASASA MBANGENI
“I’ve already ticked off Vatiswa Ndara and Nomhle Nkonyeni on my list of actors I wanted to work with — we were on Igazi together. Now, I’m just left with the talented Masasa.”
I’VE GROWN A TOUGH SKIN
“Not getting any work messed me up mentally. I doubted myself as an actress and often asked: Am I good enough? Why am I not getting any work? Should I change careers? Then I got Marry Me Now, which I’m grateful for, and when that was done, work still didn’t line up. At some point, I even thought of going back home to PE. People don’t speak out about this and the need to keep up a happy and shiny façade to the world can be exhausting. It’s not always fun and rosy. Out of my class at AFDA, only two or three graduates are thriving. We’re at the bottom of the food chain as performers. We’re the ones who have to beg and borrow to stay alive. I’m so proud of myself for doing everything with integrity and bringing my best to each gig.”
I’M DIABETIC
“I have to inject myself with insulin four times a day. Both sets of grandparents have diabetes and I was diagnosed three years ago. I found out I had type 1 – which means my pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin – when I suddenly lost a lot weight, craved sugar, woke up constantly thirsty and always tired. It’s one of the craziest battles I’ve ever had to fight and it’s also my biggest commitment to staying alive.”
I DON’T BELIEVE IN MYSELF ENOUGH
“I’m bad at taking compliments and cringe when someone talks about my work. There’s this self-doubt embedded in me that rears its ugly head from time to time.” •