Riding the acting wave: Get to know up and coming actor Sbu Shongwe
Having recently played a role alongside A-list actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Shongwe's acting career is well on its way.
Sandtonite, actor and producer Sbu Shongwe is breaking into the acting industry very quickly. Having recently played a role alongside A-list actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, Shongwe’s acting career is well on its way.
“I recently did a film called Loving Thokoza by Black Brain Pictures in which I played the lead’s boyfriend. It’s doing extremely well. It was the most-watched film on Showmax earlier this year, so that’s exciting” he said.
Loving where he is headed, Shongwe said that he is thrilled about the journey ahead. “It took a few smaller roles to get the experience, but confidently I approached some people and well the rest is history. I’m fully in it now.”
Starting out as a production assistant (PA), Shongwe discovered his talents when he was asked to host an impromptu sports insert on the show he was producing.
“While producing the show, they needed a sports guy to give a small snippet of a sports diary and well thrown into the deep end, I ended up on TV with a sports slot.”
Adding that he knew what it took to be on the screen, Shongwe started liking it and started looking at other avenues. By 2019 he had his own NBA podcast at a popular online radio station in Sandton.
Originally from the inner city of Joburg, Shongwe mentioned that one of the biggest lessons he learnt in the industry was to just be himself. “I think a lot of people when they just start out, they try to almost mimic certain people.
“So I learnt to just be authentic and stay true to myself, I believed in my talent. It sounds cliché but it’s the biggest favour you’ll ever do for yourself in the industry.”
And doing just that, Shongwe also has a strong sense of tradition and heritage.
“I’m a mix between Swati and Zulu but I was brought up more on the Zulu side. I grew up in a family that celebrates tradition and heritage so coming from Mpumalanga, my roots are very important. When you are in touch with your roots and tradition it’s very easy to always draw from that.”
Something he holds very dear is to celebrate his heritage this Thursday.
For the future, he said that we can look forward to more of his films.
“I’m looking to shoot very soon. I want to keep challenging myself and step out of my comfort zone. Watch this space.”
