PORTRAYING the villain in local soapies, dramas and films can confine actors to a limited scope of roles.

Local industry lacks the ability to offer actors a myriad roles to play, being typecast as the baddie can limit an actor's career.

Some actors over the years have confined to the role of a gangster or thug, just like Israel Makoe.

Ronnie Nyakale played the gun-totting character called Papa Action so well in Yizo Yizo, but now most of his work is about rehashing the same character for different stories.

However, Vusi Kunene says playing the villain excites him.

Kunene has played a variety of villains, most notably as Jack Mabaso in Generations, and is currently staring as controversial chief Bhekifa Ntshangase in Mzansi Magic's Isibaya.

Veteran actors like Patrick Ndlovu, who plays the shoddy funeral parlour boss Sizwe Moloi in Zone 14, relies on manipulating his henchmen to do his dirty work.

For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays