Cover Story – Nomzamo Mbatha
Not only does she radiate beauty, confidence and grace, but Nomzamo Mbatha couples that with intelligence, sensitivity and resilience, too. This multifaceted actress is a self-made modern woman who always stays true to her roots…
It was on 12 March 2013 when I first came across the young, dimpled beauty named Nomzamo Mbatha during the launch of popular telenovela, Isibaya. She looked naïve and almost out of depth – she was about to be thrust into the limelight at the tender age of 22. It was her smile that caught my eye. I remember telling some of the Mzansi Magic managers on that day that I had just witnessed the birth of a star. Coincidentally, that star has followed her throughout her life.
MY GUIDING LIGHT
“I have always attracted neighbours and strangers alike who would randomly say: ‘iNkosi ikubeke ngane yami’ (God bless you, my child). I remember this one time while walking from the bus stop to school, and an old coloured lady stopped me and said: ‘My child I don’t know you, but something just told me to share with you that you are going to be something important. I may never see you again, but I will pray for you.’ These incidences have always made me aware that there’s a higher power walking with me, watching over me and protecting me. But, the one thing I knew I needed to lean on mostly was intuition and discernment as those two elements are key to living a full and authentic life from within. Over the years, I have come to protect my light; learnt to live in it with grace, and not be overt about basking in it. Yes, it is good to let it shine because I, too, have been inspired by others in how they live within their spiritual light,” Nomzamo shares.
MY SIBLINGS; MY LOVES
Having travelled around the globe with Nomzamo, what has constantly stood out is her ease when relating to older women. So much so that they naturally gravitate towards her, instantly nurturing and protecting her. Because of this, she has formed an army of “big sisters” so wide it spans from KwaMashu to New York City.
“I guess I must have been born an old soul, also helped along by having two older sisters Matu (who passed away when I was 18) and Wendy.
My cousin brother Mzwandile was always present, too. These three took me under their wings. Matu was my style queen; an elegant lady who took meticulous care of her body and presentation. On the other hand, Wendy was a tomboy who imparted her street-smart personality into me. Both their characters balanced me out. Their common trait was that they took no nonsense from anyone, and always pushed me to be assertive at a young age. Then there’s Mzwandile, who truly honours his role of loving, caring for, respecting and protecting me. He takes it so seriously to always watch over me, seeing himself somewhat as a dad. My brother Siboniso, who is the kindest and most gentlest soul, is my soft landing spot. Me gravitating towards older people, or vice versa, stems from the fact that I had never really had one primary caregiver. I’ve always had people showing up for me, and that’s why I show up for people. It has always taken a village to make things happen for me, especially after my dad’s passing. I still have his friends rally around me to ensure that I don’t go without. It’s the testament of how he was to people, and how he was with me,” the talented star shares.
DEALING WITH LOSS, AND GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
On 18 August 2015, an industry friend asked if I could meet with Nomzamo. He believed in her potential, and saw me a great fit to help harness that talent. Within hours of that conversation, I was seated across her – now, a more confident and assertive young woman. She was very clear that she wanted to be on the world’s stage in Hollywood. But, her first task was to go back to the University of Cape Town and complete her BCom Accounting Degree, which she was one course shy of. And, in 2017, she did just that.
“I went to varsity three years after losing my father; I had just started to come to grips with my loss. Then during my first year, Matu passed away. In second year, my grandmother also passed on. By the time I made it to third year, I was emotionally depleted by these losses of the people closest to me. Very anxious, I knew that I needed to make it work. But, at the same time, I recognised a deep yearning for change. Later that year, a friend, Sanda, convinced me to enter the MTV Base VJ Search and I did, jokingly – I surprisingly made it to Top 3. I didn’t get the opportunity, but I trusted God that something would turn up. Within no time, I was packing up to move to Johannesburg to start my journey as Thandeka on Isibaya .I initially viewed this role as a temporary means to make quick money. I would then go back to varsity to complete my outstanding course, graduate and work as an accountant to make big monies! But, acting was no way to make enough money to take care of my family, I thought. The bug, however, had caught me,” she recalls how she eventually broke into the acting scene. Since then, Nomzamo has gathered a lot of achievements under her belt.
“With all my success and achievements – from the endorsements to working with the United Nations Refugee Agency – I still felt that I had left something undone. I was also very cognisant of who my fan base was – mothers and their young girls. It didn’t
With all my success and achievements – from the endorsements to working with the United Nations Refugee Agency – I still felt that I had left something undone. I was also very cognisant of who my fan base was – mothers and their young girls. It didn’t feel quite right being their inspiration when I had dropped out of varsity. So, I went back.
feel quite right being their inspiration when I had dropped out of varsity. So, I went back. I remember coming off the stage at the BET Awards in 2017, buzzing with excitement and the international red carpet, but with only two hours to lap all the excitement in because I had to rush back to the hotel and attend a virtual class. That period of my life taught me so much about staying committed and disciplined. I am fortunate to have worked with a team that was accommodating. Every meeting, shoot or appearance revolved around my school schedule, no matter the time zone I was in. When I finally got capped, the beast was off my shoulders. I felt liberated and ready to take on the world. I was ready to make that all important move.”
TO MOVE OR NOT TO MOVE
Wherever Nomzamo finds herself, she is always a representation of her roots – C Section in KwaMashu and an ambassador of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. She always makes sure to represent South Africa in a passionate way. With every global space she occupies, she leaves a piece of her township, city and country behind.
“For two years, America for me was short visits of no more than a week for work trips. The first time I went there was when my management team gave me a surprise gift at the end of 2015 to usher the year 2016 in at P. Diddy’s world-famous New Year’s Eve party in Miami. That was really fun! I was overwhelmed by the culture, but in time got used to the US as I started making more trips. I used 2018 as the year of discovery – I had initially thought of moving to New York. In February, I went there to scope the school and hunt for an apartment. Later that year, while at the BET Experience in Los Angeles (LA), my management introduced me to Nick Roses of Pantheon Talent Agency. He signed me up as his talent. By August, I was back in LA for a month, taking meetings with casting directors, producers and getting the hang of the culture. It felt more at home than in New York, and I also liked the personal approach of the acting school. Those few weeks turned into a wealth of knowledge and an eye-opener to how much more there was to the industry. Coming back home in September, I continued with my acting and dialect classes virtually, in-between all my other commitments – Isibaya, travelling to refugee camps with the UN, representing South Africa as a Global Citizen host plus speaking engagements around the globe,” she shares.
“Then, during my visit in November, I started actively going out to auditions. I was introduced to the whole Hollywood culture of what I needed to get me going – an acting agent, business manager and entertainment lawyer. I am a firm believer that, ‘You never learn from your own mistakes, but learn from a fool’s mistakes.’ I am someone’s fool; someone out there is learning from my mistakes. I had to tap into my discipline of being a student of my craft, and the new environment. I then took the decision to move to the US at the beginning of 2019.”
ADJUSTING TO THE DEMANDS OF WORK
The downside of a career in personal brand management, working with one or two people at a time, is that you develop a strong connection and bond with your client. Nomzamo and I don’t call each other by name, it’s either dade or mntase. Her move to LA was bittersweet for me because I had lost one of the closest people to me. What used to be physical meetups filled with laughter, prayer and work now shifted to video calls, which felt strange in the beginning. But, that soon changed as we had to make adjustments and cater to the demand we had created around her.
“It really wasn’t an easy move. There was so much I was letting go of at the time…so much growing up to do, and so much I would be missing out on in both my professional and personal lives. I had to snap myself out of my FOMO space, and learn to be in the moment. I had to focus on the investment that I was undertaking getting into acting school, dialect coaching. All those elements I needed in order to build myself up for my craft. I was homesick, missing my family and friends, and just the way of life I had built up at home. Importantly, I missed my work. I missed having that instant response from your
“It really wasn’t an easy move. There was so much I was letting go of at the time…so much growing up to do, and so much I would be missing out on in both my professional and personal lives. I had to snap myself out of my FOMO space, and learn to be in the moment.
people. My team is very quick in adjusting and planning ahead. We mapped out the year. They had to engage all my partners, who thankfully came on board with the new change. I had to be selective on what I was coming back home for. But, I was fortunate enough to make it work. All my endorsement partners were accommodating, and I found myself extending my territory even more by getting to work in other parts of the world. Getting me back into the country is always a big operation as we have to plan and strategise so that my limited time is used to accommodate all my ventures.”
But, as the saying goes, things don’t always go according to plan, as Nomzamo soon found out. “Like all things, it doesn’t always run smooth. Last May, I remember flying from LA for a UNHCR meeting in Milan, and attending amfAR in Cannes. The plan was to fly out from Nice straight to New York as I had a two-day moderating and speaking schedule at the UN Headquarters. I needed the two days to re-adjust to the time zones and prepare, only to be told, ‘Ma’am, PUMA is requesting you to be in Johannesburg on Saturday. Your flight is already booked; you will connect from Munich and land at OR Tambo at 8:45am.’ What about New York? I asked. ‘Oh, that. You fly out later in the evening at 7:25pm to New York.’ I was floored, and my anxiety flared up. I quickly composed myself as I know that God will never give me a load that I wouldn’t be able to carry and execute well,” the actress shares.
“People also kept on asking if I were still acting on Isibaya. In all of these trips, I still had to fulfil my contract to Bomb Shelter, and the film company was very
accommodating to this change in my life. Every time I came in, I also needed to notify the company so I could quickly be written into the schedule for that period. It is unheard of that brands are this understanding to the fact that you move out of the territory you are signed for. But, everyone believed in me.”
COMING 2 AMERICA
If there ever was a true life “Coming to America” story, Nomzamo’s journey to being cast on this movie would be a true testament. Coming to America is a classic romcom movie starring Eddie Murphy as an African prince who voyages to America to find true love. When Nomzamo shared that she had been cast in the sequel, I was really excited.
“The call came on my grandmother’s birthday on 27 July last year. I had had one of the longest days. I had been working from early morning as host at the Carling Black Label Cup at FNB Stadium, and within hours of leaving the stadium, the call came through. It was a very surreal moment. When you have been holding on to a dream and hope, and it finally comes to pass, you don’t react in the way it had played out in your head. I asked, ‘Where is my contract?’ In that moment, I felt that I couldn’t celebrate until all the paperwork was signed off. That Sunday, I moved around in a daze. I thought I had enough time because my return flight was already scheduled for the coming weekend. But, my US attorney Barry Littman called that afternoon to say I had to be in the US no later than 4pm on Tuesday. This meant that I had to get a flight out the next day. Everything was a sprint – rushing my mother to fly down to Joburg as I could not go without seeing her because I didn’t know when I would come back home. I have so much gratitude for the whole process, though. It literally took a village to get me into the audition process and on set in Atlanta. That, alone, was an out-of-body experience! It had hit me that this was my world, truth and reality. I took every day as if I were in school – I was there to learn and give of myself on that journey, too. I was very conscious in cutting out social media to stay and live in the moment, and ensure that the experience was pure.”
WHERE TO, FROM HERE
When I look into Nomzamo’s hourglass, I see nothing but blessings and more wealth. She has cleverly laid her table, that is about legacy.
“The Lighthouse Foundation continues to be my main focus. We have made huge strides this year – with the support of Hollywood Bets, we have afforded underprivileged students the opportunity to further their education by raising R1,5 million. With COVID-19, we raised a further R1,5 million to support those in need, and heeded the President’s call to contribute to the solidarity fund. We have been working closely with Johnson & Johnson in providing care packs and support to underprivileged hospitals for new moms. We have also been providing food packs. We are now in engagements to acquire land where we will build Lighthouse Centres around the country for the youth, which will be education and extramural-focused,” she shares on her busy schedule and future plans. “My work with the UNHCR continues, as we soldier on to ensure that education is prioritised, and woman empowerment is at the forefront in the camps. I’m also working with the US Embassy and USAid and Pepfar on HIV/Aids awareness in encouraging people to seek help in all forms of being affected. My focus with this space has always been motivated by the growing number of child-headed homes as well as those headed by the elderly.”
On top of all this, Nomzamo is also growing her production company. “Ground Six Productions is growing in leaps and bounds, as we have secured big scripts and are expanding in the film and TV space. We are currently in development for my documentary – a glimpse into how this madness of my life is put together. I have partnered with Bomb Shelter, and we have won a pitch for a book called Shades by Marguerite Poland, that we’re turning into a TV series. I hopped on board and assisted with the pitch to funders. We are also in pre-production stage for Shaka iLembe, which is huge in itself. It’s a good feeling for me to see how my relationship with Bomb Shelter has evolved from being the girl it discovered to play Thandeka on Isibaya , to now being its production partner. These are not small projects. They are big and can be intimidating. Then, there’s also Hotel Hillbrow that I am executive-producing with Film & Vinyl, which has been an exciting period. So, we are all waiting for COVID -19 to give us reprieve so we can start shooting.
“I’m also part of a legacy project. It is pushing me into unchartered spaces, and will take everyone by surprise because it is huge as far as its global aspect and the people involved! I appreciate that its builders are not boxing me as just a pretty face, but someone of great mind and worth sitting at the table. It’s going to be huge, and not just for SA, but for the continent, too. Yes, I am a global citizen that loves to travel the world and my work affords me that. But, that should never be just about posing for pictures with global stars to post on Instagram. I’m cementing myself and building my legacy within those spaces.”
The Lighthouse Foundation continues to be my main focus. We have made huge strides this year – with the support of Hollywood Bets, we have afforded underprivileged students the opportunity to further their education by raising R1,5 million. With COVID -19, we raised a further R1,5 million to support those in need and heeded the President’s call to contribute to the solidarity fund.