Talented actress harvests strong critical acclaim

Masasa Mbangeni is up for Viewers Choice award, writers Nomazima Nkosi. [caption id="attachment_211910" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Masasa Mbangeni plays the character Celia in new e.tv series 'Harvest'[/caption]

Mention the name Masasa Mbangeni and one instantly associates it with words such as talented, leading lady and strong female character. And so it comes as no surprise that the starlet has received a best actress nomination for the inaugural DStv Mzansi Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

Mbangeni, from KwaMagxaki, has established herself as one of the top actresses in the country with nomination after nomination, and her latest role as Celia in e.tv’s Harvest, proves her star is shining brighter than ever.

Celia is one of three women who, after their husbands are murdered, are forced to take over their illegal business operations.

The award-winning actress said she was invited to audition for the role and was fortunate to have landed it. Mbangeni said Celia had started up a dagga business with her husband and friends. However, she discovers that her husband had been funding his gambling debts with funds from the business.

She said Celia was someone who was under constant pressure, and playing this character had been physically and emotionally draining.

The actress even took to social media to note some of the challenges of playing a role she had previously described as the role of a lifetime.

“I’ve never had a character do this to me before. It’s the first character who has got under my skin up to the point where I had to remove the make-up after work,” Mbangeni said.

“I’ve played certain characters before where I didn’t feel the need to ‘remove’ them, but with Celia I kept a ritual to ‘remove’ her, leave her there on set.”

Asked about the similarities between Celia and Thandeka from Scandal!, a character she played for five years and which shot her to prominence, Mbangeni said it was question viewers of both shows would have to answer for themselves but added that the proof’s in the pudding.

“There’s an incredible difference between the two in terms of dialogue and movement, among other things,” she said.

In the past year, since leaving Scandal!, Mbangeni has starred in Hard Copy, Thola and It’s Complicated.

She also worked with writer Zakes Mda and director John Kani on the play The Dying Screams of the Moon – a production she said she felt honoured to be part of.

“I’ve always been fortunate to do plays. I’ve been doing them for a while now,” Mbangeni said.

“Doing the Zakes stage production was quite refreshing and it’s so relevant working with such professionals. It was amazing to be part of it.

“I’ve been fortunate to move between the two worlds of television and theatre.”

Vying for the Viewers Choice best actress gong alongside fellow Harvest actress Vathiswa Ndara, Mbangeni said she was excited about the nomination.

“There are really amazing actresses – phenomenal actresses – and being there is an honour on its own,” she said.

The dialogue on Harvest, which airs at 9.30pm every Monday, is mainly in Xhosa. “It’s great. I celebrate the use of indigenous languages on screen,” Mbangeni said. “The broadcaster recognises there are 10 other languages South Africans speak.”

• Fellow Bay musician Amanda Black has also been nominated for the Viewers Choice Awards in the rising star category. Voting lines are open for both artists. For more information, visit www.mzansimag.dstv.com