TSHEPO Matlala is a man on a mission.
He wants to take over Mzanis's comedic scene and be one of the country's most recognisable comedy stars.
The Thembisa-born actor, who stole hearts with his humour and sharp timing on the hit Showmax youth drama, Youngins, is riding a new wave of success after landing a role on Mzansi Magic's sitcom Bhelas.
According to Tshepo (27), comedy isn't something he stumbled into. It's something that has always lived inside him.
"I wouldn't say I grew up as a problematic kid, but I definitely had a very interesting personality. I was always funny without trying too hard. Even at school, during oral presentations, people would laugh, not because I was making jokes on purpose, but because of how I delivered things. I had a way of presenting myself that made people respond," he said.
It wasn't long before people around him began pushing him towards acting.
"There were voices around me that kept saying, ‘You're funny, why don't you try acting?' At first, I didn't take it seriously. I thought, maybe it's just something people say. But the more I heard it, the more it stayed with me, and eventually I started asking myself why I wasn't giving it a real chance.
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"At primary school, we used to do festivals and struggle plays like Sarafina!. At that time, I didn't really understand why we were doing these things, but I loved being on stage. I didn't know yet that this was something I could turn into a career, I just knew it made me feel alive," the actor said.
Tshepo said a turning point came in matric, when an English teacher challenged him to think seriously about his future.
"She sat me down and asked me what I wanted to do after school. I told her I wanted to do mechanical work because I hated science, but she was brutally honest. She said, 'You've been sneaking with school lately, but you have something special with acting. Why don't you pursue that?' That conversation changed everything for me," he said.
Now starring in Bhelas, Tshepo said comedy is his strongest weapon, and he's not afraid to own it.
"With Bhelas, I wasn't worried about being typecast. I see comedy as a brand I'm building. People warned me about being boxed, but I see it differently. I'm building a legacy, just like actors who are known for a specific strength but still remain versatile," he said.
The show features actors such as Obakeng Makube, Mamodibe Ramodibe, Sello Ramolahloane and Rainy Nthangeni.
"Bhelas is centred on a call centre, and that's what makes it fresh. Many people receive calls from call centres every day, but they've never seen what that world looks like. When people watch the show, they recognise the characters immediately. They say, ‘This is our life'. That relatability is powerful," he said.
Looking ahead, Tshepo said he's focused on longevity, not hype.
"This acting thing is not about fame for me. I want to leave a mark. I want people to look back at my work and say, 'This guy loved his craft, and he took it seriously'. That's what matters to me," the actor said.
