Glen Gabela
What’s going on in your favourite actor’s head?
Glen Gabela started his TV life playing a teenage Shaka in locally made miniseries Shaka Zulu (1986). These days, Glen has traded in his loin cloth and leopard-skin belt for maroon old-man cardigans as he portrays devoted man of the cloth Pastor Mdletshe (2017- current) in soapie Uzalo (2015- current). He also played a pivotal role behind the scenes in the smash drama series Tjovitjo (2017- current) as he was one of the acting veterans brought in to help cross-train the hand-picked cast of Pantsula dancers in their new acting discipline. Glen has had a long, long love affair with TV – and not just onscreen… What you acted was out the first with TV friends? show Mhla Laduma: When The Lightning Strikes (the 1985 SABC drama series). Who was your first TV crush? Sylvia Mashinini – and we actually had a real fling while working together. Never happened again! What did you do when an “adult” moment came on while you were watching TV with family? I excused myself and pretended that I wanted to go prepare a cup of coffee. What item/product have you wanted ever since you saw it on TV? The steam gadget you use instead of a regular iron to iron clothes. Whose TV wardrobe do you want? Definitely some of Pastor Mdletshe’s outfits! Whose TV house would you love to live in? Qhabanga’s home (Siyabonga Shibe in Uzalo). What show are you fanatical about now? Local reality show Tropika Island Of Treasure (2008- current). If you worked behind the scenes, which job would you want and why? Directing, because it fulfils me. What is one of your favourite plot twists from a show? Where the hero is vulnerable and in the moment of them overcoming that threat, they save other’s vulnerable souls. Which character is your favourite hero and why? Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford in the 1981- current action adventure film franchise). I love action adventure where the hero is put to the ultimate test. What is your nightmare scenario while filming? Any romantic scenes, simply because I believe in not cheating viewers, so I do things for real. With all the reboots happening, which series would you like to reboot and be part of? Action thriller Prison Break (the 2005-2009 show that got a season 5 reboot in 2017). If you could play any character on any show, who would it be and why? Pastor Mdletshe, because of the potential range that I can still bring into the character. What are you currently bingewatching? The animated Ice Age film franchise (2002- current). Which show and episode made you cry most recently? My own, Uzalo – the MaNzuza (Leleti Khumalo) and Smangele (Sihle Ndaba) funeral scene [on Friday 16 February] in the church when Hlengiwe Mhlaba was singing. Which show made you want to be an actor? The old gladiator films set in the ancient Greek and Roman times, like Hercules. Your favourite TV or movie icon is? Scrat the crazy sabre-toothed squirrel from Ice Age! [Laughs]
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