Skeem Saam
Weekdays SABC1 (*191) 18:30 Soapie
Skeem Saam’s Pretty (Lerato Marabe) has had a rollercoaster ride of a year. From choosing her boyfriend Lehasa (Cedric Fourie) over her family, to finding out that Lehasa is a murderer, she’s been through it all. “The one thing I love most about Pretty is how resilient she is,” explains the actress. “She knows how to stand up for herself, she knows her rights, and as a person I actually draw inspiration from this character!”
But at the same time, portraying Pretty has challenged Lerato. “She’s very different to me, so I’ve had to be conscious of not bringing myself into the character. When I get to the set, I’m Pretty. When they call ‘cut’, I’m Lerato,” she says. “It’s Pretty going through all of these trials and tribulations, not me.” To create her character’s personae, Lerato has used people she knows and their experiences in real life. “My older friends have gone through some of the things that Pretty is dealing with and by talking to them, I have been able to ‘design’ Pretty.”
While Pretty is an extrovert who goes the extra mile, Lerato is the opposite and an introvert. “I love that she’s able to be so outgoing and in people’s faces. That’s not me, so it’s an exciting challenge to play on the show. My biggest wish for my character in 2023 is that she treats herself more and stops always putting other people first. I want to see her graduate from varsity with her law degree, and just be herself. I also want to see her grow in her relationship with Lehasa. I wish that she realises how beautiful she is, inside and out.”