Mokoatle-Cele traces Lupita’s footsteps
Shuga, AFTER years of self-doubt and low selfesteem, Mohau Mokoatle-Cele has made a breakthrough.
The actress from Soweto, who now lives in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, scooped a coveted major lead in the international television series that gave the world Hollywood star Lupita Nyong ’ o.
Before the movie that earned her an Oscar, Nyong ’ o played the role of ambitious go-getter Ayira alongside South African Tumisho Masha. So, could the 23-year-old Mokoatle-Cele be the next Nyong ’ o?
After landing on Saturday following a busy six-week shooting schedule in Lagos, Nigeria, Mokoatle-Cele gushes: “I pray it takes me far. It ’ s a good start and I think it can open doors. I loved how the director allowed us to interpret the role and I performed as best as I could.”
the soapie known for its sexually charged scenes, is watched by some 550million viewers worldwide on MTV.
As an edutainment format show, it deals with social ills such as domestic violence, HIV/Aids and alcohol abuse. But even after the shoot and rubbing shoulders with African acting royalty, Mokoatle-Cele says it hasn ’ t sunk in yet because she never knew how big her co-stars were.
Mokoatle-Cele shares the spotlight with the continent ’ s most sought-after talent such as Ghanaian actor Chris Attoh, Mr Nigeria Emmanuel Ikubese, Kenyan star Nick Mutuma and British actress Dorcas Shola Fapson.
She plays the role of South African Bongi, who is 16 years old and a teacher ’ s pet.
Mokoatle-Cele says her first role was in the Afda (a film, TV and performance school based in Joburg) short film flighted on SABC1 when she was 12.
But her heart belonged to the stage more than the small screen. So off she went to Wits University to study dramatic arts. It was only in her third year that the TV bug bit and she dealt with her personal insecurities.
“You always think you ’ re not good or articulate enough, so while the passion is there, the insecurities cloud that. It wasn ’ t until I got to a place where I read Bible scriptures to affirm myself, especially the verse from Philippians, ‘ I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength ’, that my confidence grew.
“I had to remind myself that I have been given everything by God and that I ’ m good enough. I may not look like Beyoncé, but I ’ m good enough, And when you know that it will show,” she says. “If I didn ’ t get my breakthrough last year, I would still be caged by those insecurities.”
Mokoatle-Cele says she went for auditions in Joburg and a few days later she was asked for her passport and instantly knew that she had bagged the role. She made the trip a few months after tying the knot with her pastor husband. “He encouraged me to go. He is supportive.”
She said shooting in Nigeria was nervewracking. “It was my first time in Nigeria and I was scared. I thought about the danger of Boko Haram. But it was completely different when I got there.”
Much as she loved being in West Africa, Mokoatle-Cele says she missed South African food. “Everything is peppery, so I had lots of KFC ... but I loved the jolof rice.”
She says the xenophobic attacks that broke out embarrassed her. “I was confused and I wanted to return because of how insecure I felt. But most people are God-conscious, some held my hands and said, ‘ let ’ s pray for South Africa before you leave ’.”