The Standard belief has always been that; Johannesburg is where the money is and most careers are made, more especially in the Film and Television industry. Zinzi Ma-Nteyi Nsele shares her journey to Gomora with PondoLand Times.
Zinzi Ma-Nteyi Nsele from Bizana is a qualified actress, from Kwa-Khanyayo (Bizana) studied dramatic arts at the Durban University of Technology. She started playing smaller roles in TV soapies like Generations, The River, Isithembiso however her biggest role which solidified her career is being part of Gomora.
Zinzi says, her late father planted the idea of her becoming a news anchor because she grew up reading newspapers for her Dad, she says this was because of her ability to articulate and paint a clear picture of what she was reading. Zinzi says, as she grew older she knew, she wanted to be an actress though It was a bit complex to convince her mother whom had difficulties of understanding how one makes money out just being an actress.
Zinzi shares how the role she is playing is such an out of body experience for her, as it is a role of a teacher and her character’s name is Yoliswa Madikilzela.
“I felt like the role has been given to me by my ancestors, I know my parents would be so proud of me it’s so sad that they don’t get to see me leaving my dream” said Zinzi
Zinzi has so much love and respect for her home town Bizana, she says. She wants to get rid of the stigma that people from Bizana are illiterate and barbaric and also says she has seen so much raw and pure talent in Bizana that needs discovering.
On what advice would she give to people who are aspiring to be in the same industry as her this is what she had to say.
“I would advise people to take up the opportunity of going to auditions, because acting doesn’t necessarily require education, if you have the talent just go to audition and believe you have what it takes” said Zinzi
The actress says a lot of people believe that once you make it big it is because someone put you through. She says, that is never the case no one puts anyone through. She added that being in the industry is not for the faint hearted. Zinzi says it is a very tough industry you need to go to each and every audition and persevere when you don’t get a call back and try again until everything works out for you.
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