Not just a pretty face
One actress, two soapie starring roles – how is that even possible?
Hi tvplus! Is Phindi from Scandal! the same actress who plays Ayanda on Skeem Saam? And does that mean that Ayanda is leaving? – CASSIE, SOWETO
Well spotted, Cassie! Pretty Ncayiyana, who now has a double role, reveals, “It is exciting! I’m a fan of soapies. I watch Skeem Saam (2011- current), Scandal! (2005- current) and Rhythm City (2007- current) all the time. I love them. On Scandal! I love the Romeo (Hungani Ndlovu) and Lucas (Sello Maake Ka-Ncube) storyline.” And loving Scandal! doesn’t mean that she’s leaving Skeem. “It’s not like I’m finished with Skeem,” says Pretty. “When I auditioned for the role, I wasn’t shooting and I needed work. So I auditioned for Scandal! and I got the role. I am actually shooting with Skeem at the moment. And it worked out because I wasn’t working at Skeem for the first two months that I was working at Scandal! And now that I’m working on both, it’s not that hectic. I am on call [ie: not full-time cast] for both and they are able to share. I have an agency to make sure that there’s no clash.” Playing Scandal!’s Phindi is Pretty’s second soapie role. “It’s not that different,” she reveals. “But obviously playing a new character is scary – that was the thing that really kicked up my nerves. I was around new people and new stuff, but after a day or two I got used to it.”
NB! See more on p19 and 21.