LAWYER TAKES TO BEING A HOOKER WELL, ON TV
KENEILWE Matidze has finalised her transition, but little did she know that she’d end up playing a prostitute.
Matidze, 32, holds an LLB degree from Wits University and later became an associate and senior associate at Webber Wentzel law firm, operating in the Dispute Resolution Practice Group.
“Practising is not easy, it’s like writing an exam every day. But I enjoyed the media law work – Sowetan was one of my clients, actually,” she says.
In her work she dealt with dispute resolution, defamation and privacy law, advertising law, constitutional and administrative law, general litigation, general commercial law and labour law.
But even though she had been practising, she was already doing a bit of acting since her days at Wits.
“My bosses were supportive. They allowed me to shoot once in a while. But it’s when I was promoted to senior associate that I felt I had to decide what I wanted to do because the next level after that is being partner, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to follow my acting career if I’m on that level.”
So she decided to quit and focus on her acting full-time, but she confesses that her mother was not at total ease when she heard that Matidze had left a job she obviously was doing well in.
“Like all parents, stability and security for their children is important and I think she was a little sceptical when I left my job.”
“She had seen that I was making some money from acting because even when I was studying, I was able to buy my own school books from money I made from those little acting jobs. But she’s always known that I want to do this.”
She has settled in the role of Nandipha Ndhlovu on e.tv’s telenovela
“I love playing Nandipha. It’s made me realise how the girls who do this kind of work are actually human beings and that you should never judge someone by what they do,” Matidze says.
I speak to her on the phone while she waits for her name to be called on set as she shoots the telenovela.
Her character is a carefree, secretive, loving and protective 28-year-old woman whose tough upbringing forced her into the life she lives. But although she is a prostitute she still has her pride and maintains boundaries she will not allow anyone to overstep. Her character is originally from Zimbabwe and her father left when she was born and her mother died just before she reached her teen years.
Matidze says she watched a whole lot of documentaries on prostitution to help her prepare for the role.
She admits that, coming into the role, she was nervous about shooting sex scenes around a crew largely dominated by men. “I thought being undressed would be difficult, but I must say I haven’t any problems shooting any scenes. I’ve actually enjoyed it, but this is especially because I work with people who are quite respectful of me and my space, ” she says.
Matidze is a great role model for young women with all the hats she wears. Being an actress is not even half of the things she does.
Her first TV role came in 2002 where she played the role of a troublesome teenager in
Following that, she presented
a children’s exercise television show which was broadcast on SABC2.
Matidze then landed roles in popular local dramas and
Her recent work includes
and
“Practising is
not easy, it s like writing an exam every day