rockville!
terry pheto joins the hot drama!
i
f dudu bogatsu looks a little different in this season of rockville (2013current), that’s because bonnie mbuli’s role has been recast with terry pheto. bonnie was too busy filming the second season of e.tv cop series traffic! (2014-current) in cape town, so producers connie and shona ferguson went in search of a big name to fill dudu’s expensive designer heels. and they don’t come much bigger than terry, who’s had roles in the oscar-winning film tsotsi (2005) as well as a 2011 guest stint as a doctor on soapie the bold and the beautiful (1987-current).
in rockville, terry’s going for glamour of a different kind as the wife of wheeling and dealing kingpin jb (shona ferguson). this season sees jb locked behind bars for murdering his father in the second season, leaving his pretty wife to cancel her manis, pedis and luncheons with her gal pals for business with the big boys.
welcome to rockville! how did your role come about? i was approached by the producers and it was a no-brainer when shona called. i’ve been a fan of the show since it began. tell us about your character. i’ve replaced bonnie mbuli as jb’s wife dudu, but to be honest, it doesn’t feel like i’m replacing anyone because this season we get to see a completely different side to the character. she’s far-removed from the pretty housewife and now she has to get her hands dirty.
how do you relate to her? as an actor, there’s always a bit of you in every character that you play, but you have to realise that it’s not always about you. she’s a woman who makes a plan and i’m the same.
so how do you differ from dudu? we have very different moral compasses and where she’s gullible, i’m wary of people and don’t let just anyone in. having said that, dudu can also be quite brutal [laughs].
what are you most looking forward to
viewers seeing in season 3? people will be surprised to see me move away from a typecast character. i’m now portraying a woman who can actually be in charge and take care of business. i think that the change in character will amaze audiences.
how did you find shooting with such a big,
diverse cast? it’s always a challenge, especially with a show that’s already been established with a tight-knit cast. but i’m glad to have joined the family and felt very welcomed by them. what was the best moment of filming this season with other new faces in the cast?
khanya mkangisa was amazing as a co-star. i had most of my scenes with her and mlangeni nawa, who plays her dad. i’ve been a fan of his work since his early acting days in ’90s drama hlala kwabafileyo. and shaleen surtie-richards was my source of strength throughout filming, always there for me, while working with hlomla dandala again after so long [they worked together on jacob’s cross in 2011] was good. nunu khumalo [riri in soul city], who took over minnie dlamini’s role as dudu and jb’s daughter nosipho, was also a pleasure to work with.
so does your new svelte frame have
anything to do with your role? i’ve been taking care of myself for the past two years as every woman should. it’s a personal choice that i’ve made and it makes me feel good both on and offscreen. where else can we expect to see you
in 2015? i’m currently working on a secret project that i can’t really say anything about right now. it’s a feature film that will be out in late 2015. we finished filming my other film ayanda and the mechanic in october – i produced it and it’s due for release early this year.
sport fans know her from her time on enca reporting sport news in 2009, as well as stints on supersport and hello doctor (both in 2013). now 31-year-old stacey holland has a cameo in local drama rockville’s (2013- current) third season as jb’s (shona ferguson) accountant…
how did you get the rockville role? i told my manager that i wanted to try acting. she was reluctant but spoke to [rockville cocreator and star] shona ferguson and he suggested a casting. the audition was horrible, in my opinion, but shona liked me and understood my career progression. it’s just a cameo role as an accountant. a lot of people don’t know that you’re from zimbabwe… i was born in zimbabwe, grew up in south africa and spent time in swaziland and belgium as well. i feel like i’m both, more south african, but definitely a bit of both countries. you’ve got your bcomm and honours in sport management and strategic management and you’re an actress. how do those two go together? [laughs] acting provides one with the ability to be whatever one wants, so it goes with anything. i come from a family that’s both academic and creative. my mom is an ex-model and accountant but a town planner by trade, my dad’s an entrepreneur and musician. these twists and turns add to my depth of experience. you started off reporting sport on enca in 2009 and now you’re in rockville – did you plan to go from sports to drama? i’ve only ever had success in mind. success follows passion and i’ve always known that i have to pursue what that inner voice tells me to, what i’m passionate about. how did you parents react to your move into the media world? my mom thought that i’d thrown a fortune spent on university down the drain. my dad was a little more supportive as he’s used to taking risks as an entrepreneur. where do you find time to model and mc too? if it’s important, you’ll make time; if not, you make excuses. nb! more on p29.