‘Never lose yourself in a relationship because of a man' - Zenande Mfenyana on playing Thumeka
Her portrayal of such a complex character has resonated with female viewers, who can't help but sympathise with her situation.
She's no stranger to playing captivating characters that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Her previous roles include Noluntu Memela on Generations and Goodness Mabuza on The Queen.
Now, she takes on the striking role of Thumeka on Inimba.
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Talented South African actress Zenande Mfenyana has captured the hearts of many as Thumeka in Inimba.
Thumeka's love for Hlathi knows no bounds, and she will stop at nothing to hold onto him.
In the show, her world falls apart when her partner for 20 years abruptly decides to leave her and go back to his first wife (Zoleka), who also happens to be Thumeka's cousin.
To regain his love, Thumeka goes to unimaginable measures to alter her appearance and wardrobe to look like her husband's first wife.
The realisation that her actions are in vain causes her to unravel, and her desperation leads her to attempt to take her own life.
Speaking to Drum, Zenande reveals the impact, lessons and challenges the role has taught her.
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She says that in a way, she could resonate with Thumeka as she, too, has abandoned herself in relationships.
'I can fully relate to what Thumeka is doing for Hlathi. Completely immersing yourself in love and forgetting yourself, forgetting your own identity and being lost in someone else's identity, that's the craziest thing I've ever done. And when you walk out of that relationship, you don't even know yourself anymore, because you've always been this person's person, and you've always seen yourself as this person's person, you don't even recognise yourself when the relationship is over,' she tells us.
'You should never lose yourself in a relationship all because of a man.'
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She says when preparing for the role, she had to see Thumeka through the lens of all women.
'This is a story of so many women. And so, for me, having to remove the judgment from the character, that's first and foremost. I need to play her authentically, and for me to be able to resonate with the part of her, I need to strip away the judgment. And it starts with preparation, as we get the script way in advance.'
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'Her story is a representation of how women get immersed in a relationship and lose themselves. You forget your hobbies. You forget what interests you. I don't even remember Thumeka pursuing something that she likes - it's always been about Hlathi. Even now that she's walked away. It challenges one to do some self-introspection and ask themselves, before I get into a relationship, who am I? Am I going to compromise who I am for the sake of this relationship? Because should this not work out, or should it end, who am I outside of this?' she highlights.
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Zenande believes that women can learn from Thumeka's character.
'When love goes wrong, when the relationship goes wrong, you can still be you. You can still find yourself outside of that because people have free will to walk away from you at any given point, but you need to know you will still be you even without a man or anyone else.'
She believes that the acting industry should spend more time seeking talent rather than relevance and that actors should harness their skills instead of seeking fame.
'I think more than anything, sometimes talent is discarded. Not discarded in the sense that people don't see it, but just that they want a quick fix. They don't take the time anymore to go and nurture their talents. I've been in the industry for 18 years i and I still have an acting coach.'
' You learn so much from being part of acting workshops. So, it's going the extra mile for me because there was a point when I was out of work for so long. And I was like, God, if this is not for me anymore, if you don't want me in the acting industry anymore, then take it away. Take the longing to want to act away from me and let me pursue something else. And Thumeka arrived at a time when I was just so desperate to hear from God. And I always say to myself when people criticise your work, don't let it get to your heart, and when they compliment your work, don't let it go to your head, and it always works for me.'
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Like many people who are in the public eye, Zenande has had her fair share of harsh criticism from the public.
' The most common misconception about me is that I'm rude, but I'm not. I've learned to grow a thick skin, because if you don't have a thick skin, you'll just deteriorate and you'll end up hanging yourself. Because people sit behind their phones and computer screens, and they say anything and everything about you. You say one little thing, and they blow it out of proportion, and it becomes this whole thing.'
'For as long as I have God by my side, nothing else matters. He's the author and finisher of my story, and no one else but him. I pray a lot about these things, and especially my peace, and I detach myself from anything that'll cost me my peace. I've learned to be very self-aware. If someone does or says something negative, I just block, I don't even reply anymore, because I think my thing in the past was to reply as I felt the need to defend myself, and now, I don't do that anymore.'
She says that anyone who is currently facing difficult times should always remember that they can rise again.
'You can rise again. And you will rise again. Nothing can keep you down. If God is not finished with your story, no one else, I mean absolutely no one, can determine your future. Your present, and your future are in God's hands.'
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