SCANDAL! actress Nomvelo Makhanya, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, says even though she did not grow up in a wealthy family, that did not stop her from following her dreams. Nomvelo, who landed her first TV role with e.tv’s Scandal! in 2012, says her being in the industry at such a young age has been both overwhelming and exciting.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT
“If I was told five years ago that I would be acting on one of South Africa’s big TV shows, I wouldn’t have believed it,” says Nomvelo, who plays the character of Lindiwe. She says she took acting as a hobby until she enrolled at the National Arts School in Johannesburg. “When I auditioned for Scandal! I was not ready. On that day I had a lot of school work and I was uncertain if I would crack it. I didn’t want to do it but my friends managed to convince me. Little did I know that I would get the part,” she says. Nomvelo says she is happy with where she is with her life and acting career. “I wouldn’t have wished for a better opportunity than to be part of the Scandal! family. I am truly blessed because I am exposed to some of the best actors in the country who also mentor and give me positive feedback,” she tells Move!. The young actress took a gap year after she matriculated in 2014 because she was not sure what she wanted to study. She shares that she is hoping to enrol at university to study psychology.
HER CHARACTER
On the burning issue of matriculants cheating in their exams, the role played by Nomvelo on Scandal! is on the firing line for cheating. “Lindiwe is only 16 and she still has a lot to learn. I don’t condone cheating of any sort but I understand where Lindiwe is coming from, considering the pressure that she is getting from her family,” she says. “One thing that I would say I have in common with the character is that we are both go-getters and she stands up for what she believes in.”
LOSING HER AUNT
It was last year when Nomvelo lost her aunt, who raised her alongside her biological mother. “My aunt was always there for me when I needed something. Even when there were family conflicts, she would be the voice of reason in the matters. We had a mother and daughter relationship,” says the eldest of three siblings. Besides her heartbreak, Nomvelo has done very well for herself. She recently bought her first car. “Buying my first car was a big step for me. I hope my peers can learn from me because if one puts their mind on something, they can achieve it,” she says.
