TV favourite
During a recent media junket, Kedibone Modise and Mpho Rantao got to chat to Gugu Gumede, who spoke candidly about her rise to stardom
STRUTTING her stuff in a yellow dress and studded sandals, Gugu Gumede says: “You’ll have to excuse my appearance, I didn’t iron my dress.” Her apology was unnecessary – she looked stunning.
At the media junket, Gumede, surrounded by her Uzalo co-stars, spoke about her role as Ma Mlambo.
First, she took us back to where her journey in the show started. “When I was called and told there were auditions, I actually auditioned for one of the roles for older people; I think it was for Manzuza or Ma Ngcobo, one or the other,” she recalls.
However, her audition resonated so well with the panel that they felt she needed a tailor-made character.
She adds: “Around that time, my mother got sick and I focused on taking care of her. During that time, I had changed numbers and when I gave bab’ Duma (Uzalo creator Duma Ndlovu ) a call, I remember him saying, ‘Gugu, where have you been? I have sent search parties looking for you.’ ”
Of course, all ended well as she has become a fan favourite with viewers. Uzalo has been running on SABC1 for two years.
The actress admits: “I really was not expecting Uzalo to be as popular as it turned out. A lot of people love watching the characters and the drama that unfolds.”
While her foray into a main role was unusual, she is fast establishing her prowess as an actor.
She reveals: “I was a call actor. But my role in Uzalo has grown and fans have fallen in love with Ma Mlambo. She’s a character that resonates with them.”
As for why she loves slipping into the skin of this character, she notes: “I have known characters like her. She’s a churchgoer and a key member of the community. She’s warm.”
At the same time, the character attracts drama.
The conversation then shifted to Gumede’s passion for storytelling in a
South African context, and the importance of keeping entertainment on television proudly home grown.
She points out: “Let’s tell more, let’s do more, let’s show more. We have so much potential in this country. There is no reason why a country as robust and as diverse as ours should not be telling more stories. I feel like sometimes we’re stuck in a specific era and tell stories from that era, which is amazing, but we need to tell more stories from this era.”
Such sentiments are shared by the commissioning heads of pay TV and free-to-air platforms, which explains the proliferation of original, local content on our screens.
On the small screen or on stage, Gumede’s passion is as plain as day.
When she isn’t learning lines, she’s involved with her church.
“I am very connected to my spiritual side, I am a Christian, and anyone who knows me knows how much I love to serve in the church. I’m also a businesswoman.”
Talented she may be, but singing isn’t on her list of talents.
She laughs: “I couldn’t sing to save my life, honey.”
Fortunately, she doesn’t have to.
Uzalo airs on SABC1 at 8.30pm on weekdays.