ACTRESS Nelisiwe Sibiya said she never thought she would be be part of telenovela Umkhokha: The Curse.
She said she becomes emotional when she thinks about it because she faced so many obstacles on the day she auditioned for the show.
"Firstly, I was involved in a car accident while driving to the auditions in my brand new BMW. I remember crying and praying for the car to at least move so I can get to the auditions on time. By God's grace, the car moved and I was able to make it to the auditions venue," she said.
When she got to the audition room, she found Duma Ndlovu and other Umkhokha executives.
"Just when I was about to audition, Duma stopped me and asked me what I had under my weave. I told him I had plaited my hair, but had an afro and he said, 'just to brief you, Umkhokha is based on religion and the channel will definitely like to see you with natural hair, so we cannot audition you with that weave and make-up. Rather send a tape'," she said.
The former Durban Gen actress said she was hurt but understood. So she immediately went to a nearby salon and took off the weave and make-up.
"I was left with my afro. I was back at the audition within a few minutes and they were impressed. I got the role a few weeks later," she said.
Nelisiwe started shooting the telenovela in January 2023 and said she is honoured to be part of the show.
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She plays Nompendulo, a vivacious lawyer who would do anything to get what she wants.
But she does not know how long she will be part of the telenovela.
"I'm focusing my energy on delivering the absolute best and making my character grow bigger. I'm ready for all the challenges the character will bring," she said.
Sharing more about her journey as an actress, Nelisiwe said her career started as a backtrack singer for Lockdown and working in theatre with the likes of Mbongeni Ngema in Sarafina.
She is a recording artist, proud cultural advocate and owner of the production company, ArtsQueendom Production.
"I'm just a simple girl from the villages who is very grounded and wishes to bring our African pride from storytelling and indigenous music to the whole world."
Her plans for 2023 is to grow in acting and probably go back to music.
She also wishes to do a few movies and do well in her businesses.
Her manager, Leigh Matseke, said Nelisiwe is always keen to diversify her acting portfolio by taking on characters that will challenge her and grow her as an actress.
"She is a talented hard worker that is why I believe she has been afforded such opportunities," said Matseke.
