Skeem Saam's Mogau Keebine speaks on marriage, motherhood, and acting woes
She is nothing like the woman she plays onscreen.
Her current storyline on Skeem Saam where she portrays the role of Mapitsi Maputla, is that of a cheating wife, who is having an affair with her colleague, a fellow radio jock, and it this storyline that has sparked a robust debate on social media about women who cheat on their husbands.
Unlike her character, seasoned actress Mogau Keebine is happily married, she's just had a baby, and she's gearing to step into season fourteen of the show, which joined since its inception.
She exclusively tells Drum all about what being on the show means to her, the demands of being a new mother, a wife, the upsets of being a female in showbiz, and upskilling herself.
For the past thirteen years, she's lit up the screen with her magical acting skills, but acting wasn't her first choice, she wanted to become a director, but for some reason she was thrust into the acting scene, and she's loving every minute of it.
'Initially, I wanted to follow in my godfather's footsteps who is former judge, but my drama teacher encouraged me when he told me that I had an interesting way of looking at things, so I changed direction. I wanted to venture into directing, but the acting bug bit me and I haven't looked back since,' she recalls.
Having been part of the show since its debut in 2011, Mogau finds that, while being involved for an extended period can occasionally feel monotonous, it has always been a true honor.
'It's been amazing being on the show for the past thirteen seasons, it's my safe place and I absolutely love playing Mapitsi. I've forgotten to know and learn so much from her, and obviously it's amazing to be a part of the show that's not just entertaining, but informative, and educational. I'm honoured to still be a part of such big and impactful show such as Skeem Saam,' she says.
Some of the show's ardent viewers have been divided over her current story-line as a cheating wife, who instead of addressing her marital woes, opts for the arms of another man.
'I've been getting such mixed reviews from both men and women. Some men I meet in person or on social media are angry and they tell me that this is not the Mapitsi we know while most women are like, girl get yours, have fun and do what makes you happy,' she chuckles.
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Her stance on cheating is very clear, she's dead set against it and opposes it in the strongest terms.
'I don't condone cheating of anyone, men or women in any kind of way, whether it's emotional or physical. I honestly feel like it's such an immature and disrespectful thing to do. There are better ways of resolving issues than to fall into the arms of someone else, no matter masculine they are,' she quips.
While her onscreen marriage seems to be in shambles, Mogau is a gone girl, who is off the market. 'I've been married for a couple of years now, and I'm very happily married. I just hope we won't one day have to deal with the drama that Mapitsi is dealing with,' the star says she giggles.
Being a woman in showbiz is not as favourable as it is for men, and this she knows first hand.
'Women are subjected to unfair treatment, especially when they are pregnant, they have to take maternity leave, which means taking a financial break. I recently had a baby, and fortunately I was able to shoot or work until one month before giving birth. I then had to go on maternity leave and there are implications with that. Men don't have to go through the same challenges. It's difficult in this industry where your looks are so linked to your work,' she explains.
Read more | EXCLUSIVE | 'It feels like spiritual rebirth' – Gogo Skhotheni gets baptised on 33rd birthday
The recent spate of actors and some sports personalities sharing their struggles on social media has been a stark reminder of just brutal the industry really is, as it remains unregulated meaning that actors don't accrue benefits such as medical aids and pension funds.
'I wish we could have benefits such as medical aids, pension funds, so that if someone needs medical attention, they can easily get access to medical care. It's sad that we don't have such benefits. I'm upskilling myself in other spheres of the industry such as directing and producing, it's sad that some people can't,' she concludes.
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