Television star Zenande Mfenyana does not want to believe that she is better than anyone.
Nor does she think that appearing on television every day makes her different.
"The fact that we work in different fields does not make us different from each other. I don't think that I'm better. The way I see it, we all need each other," she says.
The talkative and witty actress, who gained national fame as Noluntu on Generations, says she wants to hone her craft and become a better actress.
"I really don't have time to be a diva. I want to focus on myself and [my] career. I did not come to Johannesburg to play, I am here to work and make my parents proud."
Born in Kagiso on the West Rand, Mfenyana grew up between Gauteng and Eastern Cape. She currently stars on e.tv telenovela Ashes to Ashes.
She portrays Reba, a role she landed after being fired from Generations with 15 other actors.
Her character started small, much like Noluntu's, and promises to be exciting as the storyline progresses. Mfenyana says sparks are still going to fly in the telenovela. Reba moves to Joburg after her mother dies to live with her "aunt" Mandlakazi (played by Nambitha Mpumlwana), who turns out to be her biological mother.
"Reba just discovered that Mandlakazi has lied for many years; it will take a long time for her to acknowledge her as her mother," she says.
Mfenyana defines Reba as a humble person who stands her ground and always brings balance to the story. "One thing I respect about her is that she does not tolerate any nonsense."
She believes that portraying Reba is as challenging as playing Noluntu in Generations.
Both character traits are different but in Ashes to Ashes she still plays Mpumlwana's daughter, just like in Generations.
However, she reveals that it does not feel like they acted together in Generations.
"It is like I am meeting a new person. Nambitha has brought a lot of elements to Mandlakazi, to a point that it does not feel like I portrayed a role of her daughter in Generations." She says Reba's is a character with a lot of issues and it constantly requires her to keep herself in check.
Mfenyana started acting at a young age in school plays. She then studied acting at the University of Pretoria. Recently, she established her own foundation in which she works with young girls.
bambalelep@sowetan.co.za
I've no time to be a diva, says Zenande
Television star Zenande Mfenyana does not want to believe that she is better than anyone.
Nor does she think that appearing on television every day makes her different.
"The fact that we work in different fields does not make us different from each other. I don't think that I'm better. The way I see it, we all need each other," she says.
The talkative and witty actress, who gained national fame as Noluntu on Generations, says she wants to hone her craft and become a better actress.
"I really don't have time to be a diva. I want to focus on myself and [my] career. I did not come to Johannesburg to play, I am here to work and make my parents proud."
Born in Kagiso on the West Rand, Mfenyana grew up between Gauteng and Eastern Cape. She currently stars on e.tv telenovela Ashes to Ashes.
She portrays Reba, a role she landed after being fired from Generations with 15 other actors.
Her character started small, much like Noluntu's, and promises to be exciting as the storyline progresses. Mfenyana says sparks are still going to fly in the telenovela. Reba moves to Joburg after her mother dies to live with her "aunt" Mandlakazi (played by Nambitha Mpumlwana), who turns out to be her biological mother.
"Reba just discovered that Mandlakazi has lied for many years; it will take a long time for her to acknowledge her as her mother," she says.
Mfenyana defines Reba as a humble person who stands her ground and always brings balance to the story. "One thing I respect about her is that she does not tolerate any nonsense."
She believes that portraying Reba is as challenging as playing Noluntu in Generations.
Both character traits are different but in Ashes to Ashes she still plays Mpumlwana's daughter, just like in Generations.
However, she reveals that it does not feel like they acted together in Generations.
"It is like I am meeting a new person. Nambitha has brought a lot of elements to Mandlakazi, to a point that it does not feel like I portrayed a role of her daughter in Generations." She says Reba's is a character with a lot of issues and it constantly requires her to keep herself in check.
Mfenyana started acting at a young age in school plays. She then studied acting at the University of Pretoria. Recently, she established her own foundation in which she works with young girls.
bambalelep@sowetan.co.za
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