Steamy new South African series, Fatal Seduction, launches today on Netflix.
Created by Steven Pillemer and produced by Ochre Moving Pictures, this thriller tells a dark, intriguing tale of passion and desire.
The talented, phenomenal cast includes leading ladies Kgomotso Christoper, Lunathi Mampofu, Ngele Ramulondi, and Frances Sholto-Douglas.
The story unfolds when married professor Nandi (played by Christopher) spends a weekend away with her best friend Brenda (played by Mampofu) and meets alluring tempter Jacob (played by Prince Grootboom) who also happens to be an attractive younger man.
The two begin a passionate love affair as Jacob ignites Nandi’s deepest desires. Secrets soon start to creep to the surface, causing Brenda, along with Nandi’s daughter Zinhle (played by Ramulondi) and her best friend, Laura (played by Sholto-Douglas) to get caught up in the web of lies and deceit.
Intimacy and chemistry form a big part of the story, and the cast was fortunate to work with intimacy coach, Kate Lush, to help bring the magic to life on screen.
Here, the ladies of Fatal Seduction sit down exclusively with GLAMOUR SA to chat about their characters and experience of the show.
KGOMOTSO CHRISTOPHER
How did you feel when you were first approached to be on Fatal Seduction?
It was quite exciting to see a project of its nature. I’m always so happy to be in projects that push the envelope and push boundaries, and I thought Fatal Seduction was one of those. Seeing the script, and then to see it actually performed, and seeing the whole product, yeah, I'm very happy with it and I'm glad it turned out to be exactly what I thought it would be: a very exciting show, a well-written story, something that pushes the envelope.
How do you resonate with your character? Are there any differences that you've had to overcome or similarities that you honed in on?
Differences? Oh, my goodness, It’s an interesting one, because she comes off initially, as someone who would be quite similar in prototype - you know, she's very intellectual, I'm very intellectual and academic. She's a mom, she's a wife, that's me. So those are similarities that are striking at first, but I think when you peel away her layers, you discover things that for me, I feel are quite different to me. For instance, she's is a lecturer of GBV and she knows what she's teaching about as it’s something that she actually encounters in her own life directly. So I would say there's quite a difference between myself and the character.
Chemistry and intimacy is a big part of the series. How did you navigate this to make it feel natural and believable on screen?
First of all, I think when you have the right cast, which we do, there’s chemistry. I’ve never worked with any of them before but we are artists who really take our work seriously. We take our art form seriously, which means when we come on to set, we have prepared. We opened ourselves up to the project, to being vulnerable, and to tell the story in the best way that we could as actors. And I think that really made it very easy to create chemistry.
How did you prepare yourself for these intimate scenes?
We were very fortunate to have intimacy coaches. Intimacy coaches are pretty much people who create the ‘stunts’, as we call them. They help you to rehearse the stunts, and more than that, help us with the different types of intimacy that we would need for each scene. So ironically, a lot of the preparation was quite physical. It was like doing a physical stunt. If it’ s a stunt where you are riding a bike or driving a car, for example, you've got to practice it. So the biggest aspect of preparation was definitely the intimacy coaching. And once we’d done the coaching, and we rehearsed, and choreographed, we would leave it and just be in the moment in that scene to start telling the story.
How, if anything, did this role challenge you as an actress or make you grow?
I would say the sensual stuff. This type of content is not something we typically see on African screens. I had to grow a lot - and acting is about being brave. You always have to be courageous, whatever role you're taking, because as an actor, you've got to step out of yourself and step into a different character, and find a way to connect to a character, whatever their journey is. So the sensuality and intimacy aspect of the show really stretched me. And yes, we have to be brave as artists, but we had to be a lot braver to really embrace the sensual aspect of this project and really do it authentically and be comfortable with it.
Is there anything you would change about your character and her story?
Nothing because ultimately we wouldn't be telling her story. Nandi and her journey and the roller coaster that she goes through, every aspect of it, is an important part of who she is. So to take away from the story will take away from the character or diminish her in some way.
What does desire mean to you?
Desire is the want of things, whatever that may be.
Why do you think that danger and risk is so tempting and alluring?
I think it’s curiosity. And it's human nature.
What do you think viewers will enjoy most about this series?
It's it's a very unpredictable series. It's a very unpredictable story, with very unpredictable characters. And so I would say for the viewers, they're going to enjoy a lot of surprises and plot twists, and also a lot of surprises in how they judge the characters initially, and all the dimensions and layers to them that unfold.
What did you gain or learn from this experience?
I think coming back to what I said originally, as artists, we have to be very brave. As a performer, I really learned that every single role that I take, I can always find a challenge and I can always push a boundary. With this character in particular, it’s nothing like I've ever done before. More than anything, it really taught me to be brave in my work and be courageous in in my storytelling as an artist.
LUNATHI MAMPOFU & KATE LUSH
How did you feel when you were first approached to be on Fatal Seduction?
Lunathi: I was very excited to be honest with you. It was a long road coming. I was busy shooting something at that time and there were a lot of back and forth of whether I could shoot Fatal Seduction or not, so for the opportunity to finally arise and for it to come to fruition, I was super stoked and excited. Also, the genre itself, the storyline and the seductiveness, is what really excited me about the show.
Chemistry and intimacy is a big part of the series. How do you navigate this to make things look natural and believable on screen?
Kate: When we intimacy coordinate, we use a professional process to kind of deconstruct the elements of the intimate moments. So what's the energy in that moment? Where's the breath in that moment? What's the physicality in that moment? Is it eye contact, no eye contact? Is one person driving it and the other person, maybe their mind has gone elsewhere? So by creating a space with the actors that is based in open communication, and really exploring their personal boundaries, their boundaries for themselves and boundaries relative to each other, then you can move it into the creation of those intimate moments. And actually, that chemistry then reads because you've got two actors who trust each other, two actors who understand their characters, and two actors who are who are being really brave in pushing themselves to tell this dramatic story within all of the sensuality that exists within Fatal Seduction.
How did you prepare yourself for these intimate scenes?
Lunathi: Honestly, I had to get out of my head, and actually, Fatal Seduction is the first show that I've ever thought I'd take it that far. And again, it's because of the story. It's because of the cast, and the crew, having an intimacy coach, and all of those things that made everything so much easier than it could have been. It allowed me to open up myself as an artist, as an actress, and to be able to play with the character and everything else that had to go on.
What does desire mean to you?
Lunathi: Heat, sex, and lust
Kate: Longing, passion and the forbidden
What do you think viewers will enjoy most about the series?
Lunathi: I think people will really enjoy " id="link-32c3565fce61d1a7d521c2adad9243eb">Fatal Seduction because of the different layers of the characters. I think it's something that is not really expected because of what people have seen in the trailer. But there's so much depth. There's so much depth to the story. There's so much depth in terms of just everything aesthetically, the way that it's shot. The drama. There’s so much to enjoy.
Kate: This production is going to an international audience, so people can look forward to seeing Cape Town looking beautiful, the backdrops and the properties and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and these incredible South African actors with unique talents just owning taking their sexuality and taking it into the space really bravely, all the while telling this incredible story. People will think they’re popping in for the for the sex, but there'll stay for the story. And then they'll get the next layer and they next layer, and they're never going to look at these actors again.
Lunathi: I honestly believe for South Africa and the people that do know the actors, none of us have been seen in the same light that we are playing right now. Everyone is completely different from what they are known to do. And there's also such exciting energy with some of the characters that people haven't seen before or aren’t as known as the others. There's so much beauty and depth in their performances. So it's really something for South Africa to look forward to.
What did each of you gain or learn from this experience?
Kate: To work with an ensemble cast for such a period of time over so many scenes, I definitely became a better intimacy coordinator. When you come back day in day out, re-meeting these characters, looking at the nuances and the specifics, evaluating different ways to tell the story, I think I'm a better coordinator as a result of my experience on this show.
Lunathi: I just learned so much - first and foremost that there is such a thing called an intimacy coordinator and a department that helps people with these things. there's a lot of fear and worry that came to our minds when we were starting to shoot this because we weren't sure what was gonna happen and how it was gonna happen. And that alone lifted such a huge load off our shoulders, knowing that we are comfortable with every single thing that we're doing. But I also learned that things are not always as they seem. And that's literally the tagline for the whole production.
NGELE RAMULONDI
How did you feel when you were first approached to be on Fatal Seduction?
I was excited! I resonated with my character, Zinhle, so much and I really wanted to be the one to portray her. I remember reading my audition slides thinking “I know this girl like the back of my hand!” Her mannerisms and the idea of who she could be came so easily to me. I left that audition room feeling like, this character is mine. And an excruciating two month wait later, that was confirmed. So yeah, I was just so excited cause it felt right.
How do you resonate with your character? Are there any differences that you had to overcome or similarities that you honed in on?
I think Zinhle, like any other person in the world, just wants to love and be loved. She did teach me a few lessons, mainly being to care about what you think of yourself first, and what everyone else thinks last. Zinhle’s personality is something else. She never seeks anyone’s validation. She doesn’t sacrifice parts of who she is to be someone else and that really made me reevaluate the way I looked at the world.
Chemistry and intimacy is a big part of the series. How did you navigate this to make it feel natural and believable on screen?
I was really blessed to be part of such an amazing cast. It felt like family from day one, so that part was already there. What was left was just to put in the work. We had great intimacy coaches that guided us through intimacy in the scenes. And the rest of the chemistry was all in the text, the way each character connects to the other. So I just played on the small clues I found in the script.
How did your role challenge you as an actress?
It challenged me mentally and pushed me outside of my comfort zone because here’s a girl who goes about the world with no control. She completely lets go of control in how she dresses, speaks and interacts so really her world is limitless. And I’ve always known and believed this, but to actually put it into practice was challenging because I had to learn to let go, not try to give everything meaning but to rather play in Zinhle’s world and let the meaning find me. Each director could have a new perspective of another part of Zinhle, so I had to put the research and background work aside, to be open to the infinite possibilities of who else she could be. Most times the things we just “do"or “think"or “feel” naturally hold more power than the things we try to do with the intention of having meaning. So I think the real challenge was finding the balance in me giving meaning to Zinhle and mindlessly being Zinhle.
If there is anything your could change about your character and her story, what would it be?
I would have to say her self worth. As much as Zinhle is so confident in her own skin, when it comes to love, she seeks that validation and connection in all the wrong places. But at the same time, I wouldn’t change that because it helps other young girls out there who fall prey to the similar situations. It helps them know that they’re not alone and that their naivety is not an invitation to be used by someone.
What does desire mean to you?
I know desire is meant to be a longing fo something, but I think it can also be fleeting. It only has as much power as you give it. Like a craving, you feel power in satisfying it, but sometimes power comes in overcoming it.
Why do you think danger and risk is so tempting and alluring (sometimes, women in particular?
I wouldn’t say particularly to women, I think people aren’t used to women and danger coexisting. It’s like only men can play with danger, so when they see women do it, it seems new or different to when a man does it. Where as, it's really the same thing, probably led by the same feeling of excitement or thrill. I think just the idea of the odds not being in your favour, can make the adrenalin of finding out tempting.
What do you think viewers will enjoy most about this series?
The twist and turns!! The plot is just mind bending.
What did gain or learn from this experience?
Yes! I learnt some pretty cool sword fighting stunt skills that i’ll definitely be taking into my future roles. I really want to explore the stunt world a bit more and see what physical skills I can lend my body to. I’d like to see myself in more roles like these! As intense as the story is, I had so much fun or this set.
FRANCES SHOLTO-DOUGLAS
How did you feel when you were first approached to be on Fatal Seduction?
I was instantly drawn to the role of Laura, and I was on the edge of my seat while reading the scripts for the series, so there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a part of Fatal Seduction. I’m glad I trusted my gut because the final product is better than what I ever could’ve imagined!
How do you resonate with your character? Are there any differences that you had to overcome or similarities that you honed in on?
Laura and I are somehow exactly the same and completely different. Obviously, I could talk about the character all day after having walked in her shoes. But, most powerfully, I connected to her feelings of unrequited love. I think most of us can empathize with the pain of having feelings for someone who may not feel the same way.
Honestly, the biggest challenges were in the contradictions that make her human. Laura is somehow laid-back and neurotic at the same time. She’s a caretaker and puts others before herself, but she could prioritize herself in an instant if she needs to. Challenges are a good thing, though. Having to work through the nuances of Laura let me get deeper into her mind - and now I’m head over heels in love with her and I hope the audience feels the same way.
Chemistry and intimacy is a big part of the series. How did you navigate this to make it feel natural and believable on screen?
Chemistry and intimacy can be tricky if it’s not handled with care. Luckily, on Fatal Seduction, we had the best intimacy coordinator in the world - Kate Lush. She made sure that we felt safe and comfortable with one another so that we could feel free in the moment on-screen and allow ourselves to feel the sexual and romantic chemistry she helped us build.
How did you prepare yourself for these intimate scenes?
My scenes weren’t as hot and heavy as Kgomotso’s or Lunathi’s scenes, for example. But I feel like I built a really strong foundation on this season of the show for intimacy scenes in the future.
How did your role challenge you as an actress?
Finding Laura’s physicality was my top priority when I began working on the character. Turning all of those nuances I spoke about earlier into mannerisms and ways of moving through the world was a massive and exciting challenge. I was out of my comfort zone in the best way.
If there is anything your could change about your character and her story, what would it be?
I’m not sure if I can answer this question without giving too much away. Binge watch the series on July 7th, and we can talk about it then. Trust me, we’ll have a lot to talk about!
What does desire mean to you?
For me, desire is all about being true to yourself, following your calling and validating all of your fantasies. We all have desires, but a lot of us don’t even know what they are because we’re so detached from what we really feel. Desire is what keeps us alive, what wakes us up in the morning. It’s also what makes life, romance, and sex fun and passionate.
Why do you think danger and risk is so tempting and alluring (particularly to women)?
Is danger tempting to women, or are dangerous people very good at manipulating women into being tempted by them? I think that Fatal Seduction explores this question in a fascinating way.
What do you think viewers will enjoy most about this series?
Oh, boy! There’s a lot that viewers will enjoy, for sure. I think the steamy sex scenes will definitely lure a lot of us in, but the plot will keep everyone coming back for more. There’s a truly unique story with many twists and turns behind the show’s sexy appearance.
What did gain or learn from this experience?
Where do I begin? I learned a great deal, as I always do from being on set and playing a new character. Laura has more masculinity in her approach to the world around her than I generally do. So, I think my biggest take away was embracing my masculinity as a woman. This project gave me the opportunity to do that in a fun, playful way. I also learned that face piercings look really good on me.
Watch Fatal Seduction on Netflix from 7 July.
