Noxolo Dlamini (Ntombi)

GQ: How did you prepare for your character?

Noxolo Dlamini: The lockdown gave me more time to get to know her. I was nervous to start with but, as time went on, I realised all I needed to do was draw Ntombi from myself, not to create a new person who had nothing to do with me.

GQ: What characteristics do you share with Ntombi?

Nm: She starts as a people-pleaser, but as the show progresses, she says, screw that. Ntombi often sees people get what they want, but she’s not doing what she loves. She’s a lot like me, in the sense that I always play it safe, and I’m afraid to shine. Secondly, she loves dancing, and that re-ignited my love for it too. Lastly, Ntombi’s a bit of a fool, which comes from me because I’m the nuttiest person I know and don’t take myself seriously.

GQ: Why tell this story in Africa?

Nm: I think what’s important about it is learning to embrace our country and culture. Why seek inspiration from outside South Africa if there’s already gold here? Throughout the series, you see little pieces of ‘Africa, your time is now’, and I think it’s a beautiful reminder that it’s our time to shine without the influence of America and Europe.

GQ: Which scene or storyline did you find the hardest to act?

Nm: Ntombi has to cope with heavy emotions and, for a long time, I thought that was the kind of journey she was on, but when we shot scenes at ushaka Marine World in Durban, the storyline was lighter, which was a departure from everything she’d gone through. Conveying her newfound lightness was challenging. Also, I used to work at ushaka Marine World, so the experience was fun and nostalgic.

‘i realised All i Needed to do WAS draw Ntombi from myself, Not to create A NEW person’