Samkelo Ndlovu: Actress by day, teacher by night

ACTRESS Samkelo Ndlovu has discovered a pattern in her career.

She said that she has realised that people, especially women, don't relate to her when she plays soft roles.

Samkelo has starred on Rhythm City as Lerato, a villain who people loved to hate and most recently she was Minki, a crazy girlfriend on the Showmax series, Adulting.

She's also starred on shows such as Inkaba, Zone 14, and Sokhulu & Partners.

Samkelo (34) said people want to see her playing bold characters, otherwise they don't support her.

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"I always said over the years, every time I play a soft or timid girl, I hardly get any love. As soon as I play the strong girl, who stands her ground and stands her power, I get so much love and it's crazy because sometimes I play characters of very outrageous women who make decisions I would never make as Samkelo," she said.

The actress said she felt as though she talks better to women in South Africa when she plays those roles because they see themselves in her.

She believes that viewers, particularly women, seek representation that mirrors their own strength and resilience.

"When you look ekasi you see that everyone is stuck in survival mode. We don't have a space to stop and smell the flowers. And in dismantling patriarchy, we get to look at how feminine energy survives in those spaces. Spaces where we are forced to survive," she said.

Samkelo is not just passionate about acting, but about teaching as well. She teaches and coaches actors in her spare time.

"I started around 2020 just before Covid-19 hit. I think I've always had a calling for teaching and it's quite fulfilling to watch actors and thespians roll into themselves is amazing and I'm honoured to be part of it.

"It is private though. I have people coming to my house, and I do it in my garage. It's not open to everyone. I don't have a big classroom somewhere. But that is the plan, I hope to do that someday. I just do this to be part of nurturing the next generation of actors and doing my part for now," the actress said.

The actress also shared that she has also taught on set before.

"I have worked as a performance coach to help directors. This is because directors are often only interested in getting that shot, so I get called in as a performance coach, I speak to the actors and I make sure that they give us what the director wants," Samkelo said.