With just two months left before Masasa Mbangeni exits e.tv’s Scandal, the actress says it won’t be the last time viewers are seeing her on the small screen.
What started out as a supporting role for Mbangeni soon turned into one of the leading actors of the daily soapie. The Port Elizabeth-born actress has for the past five years been playing the role of Thembeka Shezi-Nyathi on the show.
From lying to her husband to killing a man on her wedding day, Mbangeni’s character has has been the centre of attention.
Mbangeni said the role had been an exhausting job. “Playing Thembeka is very demanding. You can’t give it half, you must give the role your all. But as stressful as it has been, it was incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Last year Mbangeni won a South African Film and Television Award (Safta) for her portrayal of the role.
“It has been a blessing playing Thembeka. I am going to miss this role,” she said.
Mbangeni said it was now time for her to explore various things within the arts.
Although the award-winning actress is leaving the show, her role won’t die.
“I might come back – who knows. Anything is possible.”
Mbangeni said she would be focusing on theatre work and school work.
“At this point I cannot say much because I haven’t signed a contract yet, but this is not the last time people will be seeing me,” she said.
In 2013, Mbangeni took some time off Scandal to focus on a theatre production of Athol Fugard’s Nongogo. Last year the group performed the production in Canada.
“I love theatre but being part of Scandal was demanding, I couldn’t explore things and I will finally get a chance to do that.”
Mbangeni said people should get ready to see Thembeka fall. “People will see her vulnerable. I want people to understand that whatever Thembeka did was for love and nothing else. She’s a woman in love and people do crazy things sometimes,” she said.
While her character is one the public love to hate, Mbangeni says she has been overwhelmed by the support the public has shown her.
“People treat me well. They just want to take pictures and hug me,” she said.
Mbangeni will make her exit in May.
Tempestuous Thembeka will soon be gone
What started out as a supporting role for Mbangeni soon turned into one of the leading actors of the daily soapie. The Port Elizabeth-born actress has for the past five years been playing the role of Thembeka Shezi-Nyathi on the show.
From lying to her husband to killing a man on her wedding day, Mbangeni’s character has has been the centre of attention.
Mbangeni said the role had been an exhausting job. “Playing Thembeka is very demanding. You can’t give it half, you must give the role your all. But as stressful as it has been, it was incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Last year Mbangeni won a South African Film and Television Award (Safta) for her portrayal of the role.
“It has been a blessing playing Thembeka. I am going to miss this role,” she said.
Mbangeni said it was now time for her to explore various things within the arts.
Although the award-winning actress is leaving the show, her role won’t die.
“I might come back – who knows. Anything is possible.”
Mbangeni said she would be focusing on theatre work and school work.
“At this point I cannot say much because I haven’t signed a contract yet, but this is not the last time people will be seeing me,” she said.
In 2013, Mbangeni took some time off Scandal to focus on a theatre production of Athol Fugard’s Nongogo. Last year the group performed the production in Canada.
“I love theatre but being part of Scandal was demanding, I couldn’t explore things and I will finally get a chance to do that.”
Mbangeni said people should get ready to see Thembeka fall. “People will see her vulnerable. I want people to understand that whatever Thembeka did was for love and nothing else. She’s a woman in love and people do crazy things sometimes,” she said.
While her character is one the public love to hate, Mbangeni says she has been overwhelmed by the support the public has shown her.
“People treat me well. They just want to take pictures and hug me,” she said.
Mbangeni will make her exit in May.
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