Horizon Deep has new star rising
TO FIND a person who has it all - beauty, an education and a good career - yet remains grounded is a rare occurrence in show business.
rarity:
Kgomotso Christopher
When you are used to dealing with human beings with inflated egos you, as a journalist, brace yourself for anything when you are to interview a "celebrity".
This reminds me of my recent interview with a Generations actress, whose name I won't mention, who descended on me like a ton of bricks for calling her on her "family number".
To be honest, I expected similar or worse treatment from Kgomotso Christopher, the newbie in Isidingo.
Can you blame me? The woman has it all. She is stunningly beautiful, with a lofty education and talent to match.
Sitting in an interview with her in the Isidingo dressing room I kept on pinching myself in disbelief that a human being so fine-looking can be so nice.
With her orderly hairdo and sweetly serious expression you can't help but be drawn to the actress who plays Katlego Sibeko, wife of shrewd businessman Jefferson Sibeko, played by Vusi Kunene.
How does she keep herself grounded with all the attention from the media?
Perhaps her humility sprang from her childhood. She tells Sowetan that growing up in Thembisa she was so petite that other children used to mock her.
"This made me shy. Though I took part in beauty pageants and won I still did not believe I was pretty. This taught me to stay true to myself.
"For me this is who I am. Being like this comes naturally. I was raised in a community where people respected one another not for what they had but for who they were. I have never seen myself as better than any other person," says the 32-year-old mother of two.
Growing up Christopher dreamt of being an academic, but destiny had other plans.
She enrolled as a drama student at the National School of the Arts in Braamfontein "just to pass the time". This was where her love for acting began to take hold of her. After acting "discovered her", it was not long before her creative intuition led her to take a leap of faith, and take her first job, a role in e.tv's Backstage.
This was followed by a role in series called 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls as Nox. Other TV appearances include Madam & Eve and Moferefere Lenyalong.
She has acted in a handful of stage plays.
"Though I wanted to be an actress I still wanted to have a degree. I decided to enrol at UCT and studied social science. After getting my post-graduate degree I was offered a bursary to study for a Master's in Fine Arts at Columbia University in New York," she says.
While in the US she met her husband, Calvin Christopher, a corporate lawyer.
After she came back to South Africa she had a short stint at Wits as a lecturer until she landed a plum role in Isidingo.
"This was more than I dreamt of or ever imagined. I have always seen Isidingo as a prime product. It has been a huge learning curve for me. Sharing the screen with good actors like Vusi Kunene has been an honour. What I love about the show is its big storyline, and huge cast."
She says working daily with what has become an extended family has allowed her to discover and develop her natural acting ability, creating a character with whom the audience associates and sympathises.
With her success snowballing, how does Christopher balance family life and work? In her limited spare time she enjoys spending time with her two children playing, she says.
nevus
iyhoooooooooooooooooooooo this woman wa mpolaya eish body ya ge damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnReport Abuse
queenZumambekimalema
MaMiyaHai shame she can act i remember her on 4play
baothong cc... she played a lead role (Noxi) the beautiful house wife with a cheating husband(Jet Novuka)
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THANDY
I hope young girls who thinks sleeping with rich businessman is the answer are reading this .Im so proud of u girl and less i love the way you keep yourself in shape !!!! I used to watch foreplay because of u.WHAT A FINE & GOOD ACTRESS!Report Abuse
nevus
her cheek bone,her eyes,her mouth and oohhh!!! her body,her slim thighs and buttocks to die for.she is perfectReport Abuse
sakhomba
two children with that body?haai jealous down nana your anatomy is talented sure case.Report Abuse