Rosie’s in on the act
Almost a decade after playing intrepid journalist Tsego Motene in SABC1’s Generations, Rosie Motene returns to the soap world in Zabalaza: A New World.
TEN years ago, Rosie Motene exited soaps after making an indelible impression as intrepid journalist Tsego Motene on Generations.
While lots of time has since lapsed, her celebrity status hasn’t diminished one iota.
Not just a household face in South Africa, Motene is recognised on the African continent.
A philanthropic bastion, this social butterfly is a Jane of many trades, wearing the hats of actress (in TV, stage and film), TV presenter, producer, director and businesswoman.
When Tonight stole Motene away from shooting her scenes for the second season of Zabalaza: A New World, shown on Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu, she shared: “In terms of acting, my last TV film was The Other Woman. That was in 2009. In terms of a soap, Generations was the last. I resigned in 2004 and came back for a cameo the following year.”
Now she is back – and playing the matriarch in Zabalaza.
She recalled: “I have a Pan-African talent agency. And, in South Africa, I have been training and casting for production houses and networks. I believe in the laws of attraction. At the beginning of last year, I had to deal with a lot of personal issues. And I wanted to get into a nice juicy role and be on a soapie.”
And in a serendipitous turn of events, the producer gave her a call to audition for the role of Victoria, a wheeler and dealer in the mining and media industries and the mother of Victor, the creative director of Slick Vic Media.
She offered: “The past few years I have been focusing and honing my skills on the other side of the camera. Now, I’m getting back to something that is my second love. And I’m also working with a new cast. As someone who runs a casting agency, it is easy to sift out the talent who have that innate hunger and those who see acting as a stepping stone to fame. So it’s exciting working with these talented individuals like Bohang Moeko, who plays my son.”
Just to clear any confusion for fans, Zabalaza and Zabalaza: A New World, which starts on February 26, pair the two worlds – the former being in a township setting and the latter taking place in an urban landscape.
While the disciplines of acting are hard to forget, Motene did struggle to get her head around playing a mother to an adult son.
She explained: “I knew that was going to be challenging because I’m not a mother. So I looked at the business side of it. Although Victoria is a mother who looks out for her son and would even kill for him, she isn’t the type to be home baking cupcakes.”
Motene says workshopping her scenes with her on-screen son proved immensely beneficial.
“Together we worked on building their history,” she reveals. “As soon as we started shooting our scenes, we discovered different nuances. Victoria is feisty. And she is well connected to the underworld. There is a dark and dangerous side to her.”
While Victoria is a woman who wields much influence, it doesn’t make her unassailable by any means.
Not wanting to give away the plot for season two, she hinted: “We are meeting with the actors this week. But I will say that Gasta, played by Baby Cele, will be a force (for her) and Ray (Loyiso McDonald). He is the only person who has stood up to Victoria.”
The actress stressed: “We are not replacing anyone. People need to understand that the new series is a partnership with the old world; but with new stories, new directors and acting styles. So it’s more of a collaboration as opposed to a takeover.”
Aside from bringing her character to life, Motene has also been schooling her young co-stars on the drawbacks of fame.
She revealed: “I keep saying to Tessa Twala and Bohang and others: ‘It’s time to grow a thick skin. You have to believe in yourself and stand your ground. You will have haters, but you will also have a fan base.’”
Aside from imparting lessons from her life journey, Motene has also transformed from the person she used to be.
She noted: “In my personal capacity, I’m a lot more assertive. I have been on an amazing journey in the last two years of my life, where I got to know my biological family.”
And, now that she has “discovered” herself and is more whole, she plans to deliver a tour de force performance.
Motene teased: “I’m a pitbull in high heels (I stole that quote from publicist Farah Fortune). Victoria is a bit of Meryl Streep ( The Devil Wears Prada) and Joan Collins (Alexis Carrington, Dynasty). She is a powerhouse, very sophisticated and, if she has to crush a couple of balls for her son, she will.”
Phew, looks like Motene is making the mother of all comebacks.
Good on her!