Celebrity – Thembisa Mdoda
Safta-winning TV host, actress, and radio presenter Thembisa Mdoda, 36, on the lessons learnt from presenting Not A Diva and being good at ticking off goals!
I agreed to do Not A Diva because the show is based on women smashing their fears. I knew I wouldn’t be the same afterwards – God has been consistent in blessing me with special projects. Not A Diva takes a positive stand on television, which is very important to me. Also, the show is new and fresh. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something so innovative? To prepare myself for the shoots and dealing with our female celebrity contestants, I research each guest and the activities they’ll be tackling. I then do a lot of soul-searching until I find a place where I can relate to the guest. I also had to be physically and mentally prepared before we shot the first episode. So, I went on a plant-based diet, quit alcohol completely and maintained a spiritual routine. There are so many powerful lessons that the audience can take away from Not A Diva. The first being that, it’s easy to say you can’t do something if you haven’t done it before. We are stronger than we think. My advice is, get out of your own way and do something that scares you. I don’t consider myself a success. When I do, you’ll be the first to know [chuckles]. My career progression in the past three years has made me realise that I now want to make moves as a boss. I also want to create more, which is why I’m excited about all my projects that are currently in the works. I maximise my productivity and well-being by praying. I pray a lot – it helps me push through my worst times. When I’m driving, I pray. When I’m talking, I pray. I also find that when I’m in my spiritual element, I’m nicer to myself and others around me. Also, training with the love of my life every morning puts me in an amazing mood. We spend a lot of time together and plan our days ahead. But he’s always teasing me for being slow [chuckles].
I literally cry about everything. Hhe wethu, I cry every day! I cry when I ask God for parking at a busy mall, and a car suddenly reverses out of a parking bay. The last time I remember crying was on Mother’s Day. I witnessed the joy on my seven-year-old kids’ faces and wished my mother was there to experience it with me. My superpower is being a mom. Motherhood has been incredibly fulfilling, even with the immense pressure that comes from loving Lonwabo and Lonwabile so much, and wanting the utmost best for them. All I want is for them to look up to me and see me live life fully.
I feel mommy-guilt the most when I’m not there to help my kids with their homework. It’s difficult because it’s something that I still struggle with. But I am able to juggle a hectic work schedule and two children through the strong support structure of my family. My life partner is another secret ingredient – he helps me manage the demands that come with being a single mother.
My spirit animal is How To Get Away With Murder’s Annalise Keating. She’s strong, yet vulnerable. She can be sweet, but goes to the ends of the earth for the ones she loves. She’s a piece of Viola Davis. Basically, people tend to think they can mess with me because I’m kind. That’s a mistake they should never make.
I will never let anyone destroy another woman. Growing up in a family of mainly girls, my sisters set that precedent for me. They make me feel like I’m enough, even when I’m not excelling. I have no reason to envy other people, because I’m happy and content. There’s absolutely nothing that keeps me up at night. I sleep very well. This could be because what I know now is that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. My mental health is intact, thanks to the genuine and pure love I receive from my children, God, and my partner. I am learning to trust myself more.
I achieve everything I set out to do. If we were to meet again a year from now, reflecting on what the year’s been like for me, we’d be celebrating a lot because I’d have genuinely ticked off all the boxes for my goals. I treat every single project as the most significant in my career.
The legacy I’d like to leave behind is one of resilience and pure artistry. Hence the question I’d most like to know the answer to is: What is taking so long with the signing of the #PerformersProtectionAmendmentBill? I’d like to get an answer from the President of South Africa. We urgently need to prioritise the rights of actors.