While some fans are still hung up on Queen, her long-time alter ego on SABC1’s Generations, renowned actress Sophie Ndaba proves she’s more than capable of playing vain, highty-tighty girls.
Bubbly Sophie was recently cast alongside talented thespians such as Gugu Zulu and Khanyi Mbau in a local big-screen movie, She is King. Sophie plays a mother in a musical that highlights the trials and tribulations of young Khanyisile (played by Gugu) who wants to make it in musical theatre.
“I play a mom to this amazing girl who sings,” Sophie says. “It’s quite a good but sad story about a mother and daughter who get denied a chance to share a life together.”
Directed by Gershwin Kgamedi, the movie also features hotshots such as Isidingo’s Aubrey Poo and Khabonina Qubeka. The movie also boasts the music talents of the award-winning producer and writer Vusi Khumalo. Vusi is the movie’s music director.
Sophie was precast to play Gugu’s mom and it’s just as well. Her experience as a mother came in handy for the role, she says. “Being a mother, the tears that came out were so genuine because I just thought of losing my child and not getting a chance to be a mom. That’s how I prepared for the role.”
The role is a complete departure from her previous gigs and, in what was probably a first, Sophie didn’t audition for the role. “I was called, honey!” she chuckles. “I was precast by Nicola Rauch, who is the producer of the film. She called me and said, ‘This role is perfect for you, are you interested?’ I said, ‘Yes, honey, I’d love to play a mom to a grown-up girl’. So it was prefect! Because it moved away from the Queen-kind-of character. it was just a simple woman who’s just an artist and a performer herself. So it was totally different.”
Related links...
Sophie's major body transformation
Why we still love Sophie Ndaba
