Actor feels the heat
ACTOR Patrick “Tebogo” Muzvondiwa is feeling the heat of Covid-19 effects after the industry was brought to a standstill.
Following the Covid-19 lockdowns, all entertainment and related activities were banned to curtail the spread of the pandemic.
Tebogo, who is a NAMA nominee, said he was hit hard by the pandemic:
“We have been hard hit by Covid-19 and everything has been stopped so we have nowhere to go.
“Before lockdown we used to do some activities which would allow us to earn a living, but now, it’s strictly indoors.
“As an artiste you need to do one or two things to balance the equation otherwise, it’s not a rosy road.
“Despite the difficult times, people must just stay safe to stay alive. Protect yourselves to protect others. Covid-19 is real,” he said.
Tebogo was nominated for Best Actor alongside Steven Chigorimbo and Eddie Sandifolo in 2018 NAMAs.
“I was nominated among the best although I did not win, but it was under the banner of NAMA for the award winning ZBC TV drama series KuChina.
“I was introduced into the industry by Antony Tongani, seven years ago and my first production was a short film called Narboth, and since then I never looked back.
“I have been featured in short films, Cousin Sister and World We Live In among others.
“Ronald Sigauke, producer for KuChina, gave me the role in 2018 as Tebogo,” added Tebogo.
His journey, started way back when he was in primary school playing traditional dance.
“It started at church. I used to do acting.
“It has not been an easy road, but my nomination was out of hard work, dedication, commitment and discipline.
Tebogo is also an MC and events coordinator.
THEMBINKOSI Mthembu is a living example that you should never give up on your dreams no matter how tough it is.
The 26-year-old actor is the breakout star of season three of The River which concludes tonight on 1Magic. Season 4, which starts on Monday, promises to be pivotal for his bad boy character Mabutho as he faces off against Lindiwe (Sindi Dlathu).
But before scoring the supporting role of Junior in TV drama The Republic less than two years ago, Mthembu was a struggling actor hungry for his breakthrough.
At the time he was renting a back room in Jabulani, Soweto.
“It was very hard because I was even afraid to ask for money from my parents as they were already looking after my daughter,” Mthembu recalls.
“I would ask for money for gym, rent and groceries. Sometime I’d lie and say I have booked something. Many times I wanted to pack my bags and go back home.”
Born in KwaNdengezi, northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mthembu relocated to Johannesburg in pursuit of his acting dreams in 2018. But a year-and-ahalf after relocating he had not landed a single acting gig.
Instead, he held part-time jobs like doing activations for Cell C and working as a bartender at Shakers Cocktail Bar in Maboneng — a stint that did not last more than two weeks.
Mthembu details how he was left with his last R50 before auditioning for The Republic.
“I had received the script and brief. I loved the role, but my confidence was very low. I only had R50 in my pockets. I had calculated that the money I had was not enough for a return trip to Randburg were the audition was held.
“I was hungry too, so I had the idea to just buy eggs, eat and continue going to the gym. But a friend pushed me to go for it and gave me the money I needed to get to the audition. Upon arrival I realised I was second to last and was very intimidated because they were over 100 people auditioning. But I received a callback and that was it.”
Producers of The Republic, Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, were impressed by Mthembu. So much so that in the final week of shooting it was mentioned to him that they planned to write a role for him in their other show, The River.
But it took months for the right moment to arrive to introduce his character, which tested the patience of the over-eager actor. Other shows had now noticed him and started headhunting him. Mthembu turned down the role of Dingane on The Queen, before Nkosinathi “Nay Maps” Maphalala was cast in it.
Mabutho was supposed to be a recurring role, but his popularity on the show triggered a permanent stay.
“I didn’t like my performance in the first two months, but the producers saw potential in me to grow and I’m grateful for that,” Mthembu confesses.
“I love that Mabutho is a Zulu man because I’m mostly comfortable acting in my home language – my English is not very good.
“My portrayal of the characters borrows from people I grew up around, like my father and I just combined all of it. I think one thing we have in common is the bad temper, but I’m not a violent person.”
This year Mthembu plans to take a course to improve his English. He is also eying a lead role in the upcoming Shaka Zulu remake and confirms that he has auditioned for the titular character. “I want to improve my English because I don’t want to be known as that actor that always plays in Zulu. I want to take on different roles that are going to challenge me,” Mthembu says.
The last born of three children, away from the camera an air of melancholy surrounds Mthembu. In the final year of his drama diploma at Durban University of Technology in 2017 he lost his sister to gender-based violence. According to Mthembu she was murdered by her boyfriend when she broke up with him.
“I’m not going to lie, my sister’s death f**ked me up,” Mthembu says.
“I started drinking a lot. I’m still struggling to come to terms with it. I get even angrier when people tell me that it was her time to go. How so, when her life was taken away by someone else?”
One source of joy is his two-yearold daughter Melokuhle, though his biggest wish is to be more present in her upbringing.
“Fatherhood is beautiful, but I haven’t found enough time to spend with my daughter.”
“I stay in a one-bedroom apartment, so there is no space for the two of us. Plus I’m always at work. I hope by the end of this year I can get a bigger place that can accommodate her and I will spend more time with her instead of visiting her occasionally.”
Mthembu is in a four-year romantic relationship but he says marriage is not on the cards yet as they are both still young.
His love for acting was born in Grade 10 while taking drama classes. Many thought he was destined to be a soccer star as he was very good at it but once he could memorise a script, his path was set. Factfile:ThembinkosiMthembu Favouritemovie:Legend Favouriteactor:TomHardy
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