Thembi Seete plays Gladys in Mzansi Magic Telenovela Gomora
If there is one thing we are certain of, it's that entertainer, actress and business woman Thembi Seete is in a league of her own. She has been in the entertainment industry for years and she has now plan of slowing down.
GLAMOUR had a chat with the star recently.
You are one of the entertainment industry heavyweights who are always booked and busy, congratulations of Gomora how has that experience been?
Thank you so much! It has been an exciting ride so far and seeing how South African viewers have embraced and welcomed us in their homes has been truly rewarding. The experience has been exceptional as I get to work with talented industry veterans and of course the new talent we have introduced on the show.
Was there a reason why that role was particularly exciting for you?
As an actor and growing up in the streets of Soweto, I am inspired to take on challenging characters with nuances of my upbringing. There are many layers to my character Gladys and I am quite excited to unpack her struggles and mystique, which I am sure our viewers will appreciate.
What can people expect from Thembi People can definitely expect so much more coming up from me. Being in the industry for as long as I have been, it really is a blessing and privilege to still be able to remain current, to perform, to partner with brands – basically, do everything I have always dreamed of doing years later on a larger scale. I cannot wait for my supporters so see everything I have lined up, so excited.
You hosted your first virtual launch recently, can you share about the experience?
Yes I did, it was for Cremora and it has been so refreshing for me. Many of us grew up on the brand so for me to be working with them has been a nostalgic experience I have welcomed with open arms. I hosted Virtual launch for the new Nestlé Cremora Liquid Creamer in light of the current social distancing regulations, which was a totally new experience for me, I have never hosted anything where I have no audience – just me and the camera. It was also an interesting experience given that the creative and entertainment industry is moving more into virtual experiences and for a heritage brand to take the innovative leap and lead to launch an innovative addition to their offering and have me take center stage to help launch it was truly an honor.
How do you go about choosing the brands that you affiliate with?
For me, a brand has to resonate and align to who and what I am as an artist. For a brand like Nestlé Cremora, it was a natural fit as I am an avid tea and coffee drinker and I grew up drinking the brand. As a media personality, it is also important for me to showcase my range where my interests are concerned so I also partner with brands that promote a healthy lifestyle and fitness. It is important to know who you are in order for what you are selling to be authentic to your audience.
What advice would you share with young people coming into the industry?
All that glitters, isn’t gold. You have to have a passion for what you are doing and of course thick skin to deal with the politics that come with it. Longevity is the key ingredient to surviving this cut-throat industry but I talent will always prevail! You need to be resilient, cancel the noise and let your talent do all the talking for you
Thembi with co-star Sana Mchunu on the hit show Gomora
How has COVID 19 affected you as a creative?
It has honestly not been the greatest adjustment and I am pretty sure many creatives share similar sentiments. I believe the creative industry has taken a huge knock from COVID-19 and all the other restrictions that came with it. The easing of the restrictions has at least allowed for productions to resume which we are grateful for as now creatives are able to at least get remuneration for their services to keep the lights on.
We can only hope for better solutions from those in leadership positions to combat this pandemic from a health point of view and also from a business point of view
