Beyond her looks, Thandekile Maseko is a very strong character. The South African born sexy and trendy thespian wants to be a known actress in Nollywood. She called it quits with South African Airways as a cabin crew two years ago. She embarked on a journey into the world of make believe, as she found a reliable ally in a Nigerian company that has signed her on, Trophies and Classics Entertainment. The new outfit is an agency for actors and they would manage her career and those of other upcoming talents. Thando, as she is fondly called spoke with ORUKPE NELSON recently on life as a single mom, career and other sundry issues…

What’s your impression of Nollywood?

Wow! I think this is one country where stars are celebrated. To be an actress in Nigeria is something very big. Whereas in my country, there are just so many of them; it’s not as if we are not recognized but not like here. Here, they support African movies. They support actors. They celebrate them. They go out of their way to make them feel important. So the whole experience has been amazing.

What attracted you into the make believe world?

Two years ago, I was walking down the road with a friend of mine, and we saw a group of people having an audition. Immediately I approached the place, the producer was like; you are the one we’ve been looking for. At first, I was stunned because I just wanted to go and have a look at what they were doing. But I was auditioned and that was how it all started.

Two years down the line; how has it been?

I have just finished shooting a 56- episode drama series. It is called the Lincoln Clan. It was done by Total Recall Production. It’s a Nigerian company. They came to South Africa to shoot the series. It took them two months to complete it. That isn’t there first project that I will be working on. I worked with them last year September as well. We shot The Dragon. Both the Lincoln Clan and The Dragon, I played the lead roles. Dragon was a 26-episode series. And it’s airing very soon. I think in August but I’m not sure which channel yet.

What were you doing before you delved into acting?

Well, I was a cabin crew with South African Airways. I used to do local flight. This is like my third trip to Nigeria on a holiday basis. The longest I have stayed was actually three months. Nigeria is beautiful. The people are great. They are so nice even when they don’t know you. Immediately you tell them that you are a foreigner; they just go the extra-mile to make you feel comfortable. So Nigeria has been great.

What made you leave your lucrative cabin crew job for acting?

What made me go into acting really was, I just wanted to do something different. I was tired of being a cabin crew. It’s not as good as it looks. Doing the same thing over and over again was just tiring. I did the job for two and half years and in that two and half years, my dear, I did the same thing every day. I was tired of saying chicken or fish. So when the opportunity came for a change, I was very excited. I am happy in what I do now. Not that I wasn’t happy as a cabin crew. I was doing it to get my pay. But this I love doing. It’s a passion. It makes me happy.

Before now; did it ever cross your mind you would one day be an actress?

I would be lying if I say so. It just happened within a twinkle of an eye. Actually, I’d gone to visit my friend, as she was walking me down, she saw these people doing auditioning and she was like let’s go and see what they are doing. And when I got there, they were like, the whole day we’ve been waiting for you. The next thing the producer said, can you read lines and I replied, are they in English? And that was it. I got a role and the rest is history. Later, I got an agent. My agent goes out of his way to look for jobs for me. It’s been great.

What’s your experience in Nollywood in terms of getting roles?

My very first experience was with Total Recall Production, a Nigerian company. They told us that the story was supposed to be shot in Nigeria by Nigerians but because they just wanted to do something different, amazingly I played a lead role. I played alongside; oh! This guy is not going to be happy that I forgot his name. A known Nigerian actor, his name is Rikado Agbor. I played next to him as his wife. He was in South Africa. We shot it last year September and the response I think was impressive the way it came out, so they came back again in February and we shot the 26 episode.

Beside these ones, have you done any other one?

Yes, but South African, Nigerian movies, let me put it that way. We call it Sollywood. We have Sollywood in South Africa. It’s Nigerian and South African production. We have so many Nigerians in South Africa doing great work production wise. It’s been amazing working with them.

Do you have any plan of relocating to Nigeria?

If the opportunity comes, definitely I will grab it with both hands. I don’t see South Africa only as home. I see where I am welcomed as my home. I have been very welcomed in Nigeria and I see it as home. It’s still Africa. I don’t see Nigerians; I don’t see South Africa and only see Africans. So definitely it wouldn’t be a problem for me to cross over to Nigeria. There is a plan in place already as I have a manager now in Nigeria. He is really trying very hard to see a way he can help me break into Nollywood. I have a manager in South Africa but I felt coming into Nigeria and to be able to make a mark, I have to have a manager here in Nigeria. I am not familiar with the terrain so I think it’s better when you have someone who knows the industry. In Nigeria, I am managed by Segun Arinze’s Trophies and Classics Entertainment. As an Agency for actors, they manage their careers and those of upcoming talents in areas of perception, management, talent grooming, scouting for jobs, portfolio creation, media and publicity, archives management, investment and financial guidance and brand endorsement opportunities.

Any recent work?

A couple of weeks ago, I came for Tinsel audition. I actually arrived on the day of the audition and I was the last person that they auditioned that day. And I actually stayed for like a week and within that week that was when we were planning how I will come back for the AMAAs. It was nice. I even forget sometimes that I am not home. I am having fun! I am loving every moment of it.

Any role in Tinsel?

I haven’t heard from them yet. But it’s looking good. It’s looking promising. People say because I’m a South African, I might have an edge. I think Tinsel has grown beyond being a Nigerian story. They are really going out to capture other countries and other cultures. So being a South African, I think it will add more to that story. I am hoping and praying that they do give me a role. I just want to show Africa what stuff I am made of.

How was it like growing up?

I am South African by birth. I grew up in a town called New Castle. In South Africa, we speak a lot of Africans. African is like Pidgin English. It was from African school that I went into high school just when South Africa gained independence. So we were the first group that started going to a white school. My High School life was hard. It was really very challenging. From there, I went to the university and studied Dermatology.  I have never practised it though, because it’s not my first love. Even though I was trained for it; I don’t think it’s something I want to do.

How ready are you with the competition in Nollywood?

Oh my God! I am ready because I’m gonna be me. I’m gonna be myself. I don’t want to be anybody. I don’t want to imitate anybody. I just want to be Thando. I just want to be known for who I am. While growing in the industry, I wanna pick the good in everybody and channel it in a way that will help me.

Who are your role models in Nollywood?   

I love Mercy Johnson. I’ve followed her career. I’ve watched a lot of her movies. I find her very versatile. She can play any role. I mean she is amazing. From the girl next door, to the girl in the village, to a mother, anything that you give her, that woman is just amazing. She’s talented. She goes out of her way to interpret her roles. She loves what she does. And I am really inspired by her.

I like Ini Edo too. There is something about her that I just like. I can’t pin-point what it is exactly. I don’t know her in person but when she plays her role, I like the way she carries her role.

Have you been sexually harassed for a movie role?

You know when you are desperate, people see it. People see it when you show desperation. It’s not every audition that you want to go to. It’s not every opportunity that comes that you need to take. You need to look at what you are getting yourself into and the kind of people you are going to be working with as an actor. You need to use wisdom in such places. I have never had an experience where I am harassed by a director or he comes with a story. It depends on the way I present myself to them that will not even give them the room to think of crossing the line with me. So I think it depends on how you present yourself.

But you cannot shy away from the fact that you are heavily endowed in certain places…  

A certain director actually said to me one day, can I ask you something after the audition. And I said ok fine! He said, it’s outside of work and I said it’s okay. Then he said, does everyone in your country have the same hips like you? I heard that in your country, all the girls have your kind of figure. I replied him and said not all the girls have hips like me. I understood where the whole conservation was going. Even though I’m sure he meant it as a joke but the way you now answer the question that will tell him to push further or to stop. So when people try to bring those issues out, how do you address them?

How do you answer? You need to stand your ground as a woman so that they know that there is so more to you than your hips and all. In trying to stand my ground, I try to answer such question without being rude and cheap.

Are you married?

I’m not married but I have a son. I have a nine-year old son. Mostly in all my interviews, I do tell people, I am a mother. I have a son. I don’t hide my son from people because I am a proud mum. I am not ashamed of the fact that I am a mum. I think I took responsibility for my action. I had my son when I was still in the university, then I had to drop out of the university for a year to bring up my son before I could go back to school. So I never hide him from the media even though I don’t expose him to all but I don’t hide the fact that I do have a child to people.

Do you still believe in love? Are you giving marriage a chance?  

I do believe in love definitely and I will get married, that is definite. In the near future, I want to get married, settle down and have more children. Even though my past experiences, I have been heartbroken just like every other person but that does not mean, I would now say all men are the same. I do believe that there are still some good ones out there. Even, I have got one in Nigeria.