While she is a veteran of the entertainment industry, Thembsie Matu’s character on Mzansi Magic drama series The Queen has seen viewers fall in love with her and roll on the floor with laughter, as well as earning her a DStv Mzansi Viewer’s Choice Awards nomination.
The actress, known for her bubbly character Petronella, an outspoken domestic worker, reacts with intense humility to the nod.
“I am really so humbled by people’s words and belief in this character. I am really hoping to take this award home for everyone,” she said.
Matu has been nominated in the favourite actress category.
She cut her teeth acting in 1987 in theatre and made her television debut in the Zulu drama Mama’s Love, by the late Gibson Kente, in 1995.
Since then, Matu has been in countless shows and advertisements where her humorous character always shines.
The Gauteng-born actress learnt her excellent command of Xhosa from her maternal family who lived in Ngcobo, near Mthatha.
Although Matu was born and raised in Johannesburg, she acknowledges her Eastern Cape roots and considers Xhosa her home language.
“Back at school, my report card always had remarks about my poor performance in the Zulu language until I started collecting material for self-study whenever the school staff threw out books while cleaning offices,” Matu said.
Petronella is a rural domestic worker who arrived in Johanesburg looking for her husband, Mjekejeke, and ended up working for the Mabuza family.
Outspoken, often handing out hilarious advice and constantly pestering Mjekejeke to earn them a better standard of living, Petronella has become a fan favourite whose absence is felt when so much as an episode airs without her appearing.
She and Petronella shared similar characteristics, resulting in her being allowed the freedom to add flavour to her script as she saw fit, Matu said.
“Petronella and I are similar in the sense that we both love people but I’m only as loud as her when I’m with my family and friends. When people see me in the streets, they always expect me to be like Petronella,” she chuckled.
The public’s reaction to the humorous characters she has played motivated Matu to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and her first experience was in Kimberley where she shared the stage with the likes of Celeste Ntuli, Jason Goliath and Mpho Pops recently.
“I’m not used to rehearsing comedy or being paid to speak, so when people asked me about my material I thought: ‘I don’t know what these people are talking about’. I thought I will just go on stage and tell my stories and I did.
“Other comedians gave me some pointers and advised that I speak for about five minutes and leave before the audience gets bored, but I ended up staying for 20 minutes and the people wanted more,” she said.
With more than 20 years on Mzansi’s television screens, Matu said she had been helped by advice received from Kente when she started acting.
“He taught me that discipline was most important in this career. It is also just as important to constantly work on your craft and not take it for granted.
“It never stops: you must always polish your craft and respect it."
The thespian advised upcoming actors to work hard and refuse to use their looks or sleep their way to the top.
“You will have a very tough career if you sleep your way into places because the minute you see someone who looks like you, you will be uncomfortable and insecure because you think he or she will steal the boss’s attention and use his or her looks the way you did.
“Trust and believe in your talent, whether you’re a man or woman. Anyone can get sex anywhere but no one can take your talent,” she said.
To vote for Matu, SMS 7A to 39201 or dial *120*33033#
Other Eastern Cape nominees are Port Elizabeth’s Siya Kolisi in the favourite sports personality category, Mthatha’s Black Coffee for favourite DJ and Mthatha’s Anele Mdoda in the favourite radio personality and favourite TV presenter categories.
The DStv Mzansi Viewer’s Choice Awards will be held in November in Johannesburg. More information at www.mzansimagic.dstv.com