From sales to stardom
Durban actress shines
DURBANITES who knew actor, Neliswa Mbewu before we began seeing her face on television, remember her as the girl from New Germany who sold sausage rolls at high school.
A former pupil of Pinetown Girls’ High School, Mbewu, who recently landed a role on Generations: The Legacy, said raking in 150% profit from her sales as a pupil sparked her entrepreneurial spirit in her high school days.
Today, Mbewu, who is also featured on Mzansi Magic’s Ring Of Lies, Season 2 said it was this spirit that pushed her to pay no attention to her former boss three years ago, when he told her to never attempt to start her own business or follow her dreams as it would all crash.
Fast track to now: Mbewu, in between shooting episodes for the soapies in which she acts, runs her own corporate and catering company and also freelances as a business developer when it comes to fleet maintenance.
The 33-year-old, who was born in KwaNdengezi, near Pinetown, said when she landed her first TV role in Muvhango in 2013, she had no idea how opportunities would come flooding in after that.
As early as 7, she was already stealing the limelight at home and leaving her family in stitches as she imitated people while wearing props given to her by her paternal grandmother.
“She would give me a doek and her jersey and say – act for me – and the genuine laughter that came from her told me that I had something special. I was never a shy child, I used to mimic a lot of church congregants when I got home,” said Mbewu.
She was brought up in an environment where her parents were very involved church members.
“My father and my mom provided for us.
“We didn’t have everything we might have wanted like luxury things, but my parents gave us something beyond these things which was a decent education, shelter and the best meals. But most of all it was the foundation of Christ,” she said.
Mbewu, who has no formal drama qualification, has always loved acting, scoring distinctions in drama during high school.
“After matriculating in 2003 I wanted to go and study drama, but was advised otherwise by my father who is also my role model.
“He advised me to study something that would put food on the table, something that I could always fall back on. So I went to studied in the field of marketing, a decision I don’t regret.”
She was also inspired by her mother who was trained by the late playwright Gibson Kente.
“She was born and bred in Soweto, so she trained with him (Kente) and she auditioned for Shaka Zulu back then but had to let go of her dream when she got married. So she used to help me with voice training and she wrote plays for our Sunday school and I acted in these.”
Mbewu added that while her parents were supportive, they were also strict in the way they raised her along with her three siblings.
“I have two older sisters and a younger brother.
“Being the middle child, I didn’t get the attention I wanted, so I chose to create my own.
“I chose to be different at every opportunity that I got. I made sure that my personality stood out and that’s how my personality developed.”
Mbewu said it was “never an easy journey” especially having the courage to pursue her dreams and leaving her 9-5 office job.
“Hard work, family support and most importantly knowing God has landed me where I am today,” she said.