Nompilo Gwala: Playing the mistress
It's a widow's worst nightmare. Her dead husband's mistress shows up at his funeral claiming to be the love of his life.
TV WIDOW. Kgomotso Christopher says playing Katlego Sibeko is still thrilling. Picture: Supplied.
A few weeks later the mistress finds out she is pregnant. If the mistress can prove that the husband impregnated her, the unborn child will inherit the husband’s entire fortune, leaving the widow (who is known for loving the finer things in life) with nothing.
This is the gripping Isidingo storyline that is causing a stir among the soap’s fans. Raising the age-old conversation about mistresses and toy boys – or “side chicks” and “side dishes” in today’s language.
“Stories on television usually reflect on our society,” says Nompilo Gwala, who plays Amu – the late Jefferson Sibeko’s mistress. “Side chicks are a reality of life.” Gwala made her acting debut on Mzansi Magic’s Inkaba, where she played the sweet Nothando Khumalo. She has since landed leading roles on Isidingo and on the Mzansi Magic drama series Saints and Sinners. In both roles, Gwala plays the side chick.
“I’ve always been fascinated with women who get into relationships with married men. We are very quick to judge mistresses, yet we never take the time to try to understand their stories.”
As an actress, Gwala works hard to do her characters justice, but that is not to say she agrees with them.
ON SCREEN. Nompilo Gwala plays a mistress on both of her television roles. Picture: Supplied.
“Sometimes I really don’t understand some of the things my characters do, but I try to identify with their emotions. I’m very different from my characters because I believe marriage is sacred and should always be respected.”
Kgomotso Christopher, who plays the late Jefferson Sibeko’s widow, agrees but says infidelity has become an unspoken social norm.
“As a society, we want to believe we don’t stand for infidelity, but we actually do. Very often when people cheat we make excuses for them and we don’t leave. By staying in the relationship, we condone infidelity.”
Christopher’s character Katlego Sibeko is no saint though. After finding out her husband was having an affair, she felt she was entitled to one too.
Living with her late husband’s pregnant mistress, she will stop at nothing to make the mistress and her unborn baby disappear.
“I think mistresses get the short end of the stick,” says Christopher. “A lot of the time, they get attacked and judged more harshly than the men. If your husband cheats on you, your problem should be with your husband, not with the mistress.”
Even though she is only acting the part of a mistress, Gwala knows exactly what Christopher is talking about.
“People always tell me how much they hate my character,” she says with a laugh. “But at least I know they’re watching.”
Playing a mistress on a family soap won’t make her the most adored character on television, but it is definitely challenging her in all the right ways.
“When I was on Inkaba, I was afraid I would be typcast as the nice girl. I’m loving these roles because they’re controversial and they push me to work harder on my talent.
“I haven’t been acting for very long but I’ve already worked with veterans, such as John Kani, Nthati Moshesh and Kgomotso Christopher. It’s a huge blessing for me.”
On her relationship with Christopher, Gwala says: “Our characters are very mean to each other, but the minute the director yells ‘cut!’ we burst out laughing. We have so much fun on set.”
Info:
> Nompilo Gwala used to be a model and became an actress by chance.
> She starred in an Arabic film titled My Wife and My Wife, which was filmed in Egypt.
> The only time she has ever been star struck was when she met the late Nelson Mandela, when she was 17 years old.
> Isidingo airs on SABC3, weekdays at 7.30pm
> Saints and Sinners airs on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) on Sundays at 8.00pm
> For more Isidingo info go to sabc3.co.za
