We were first introduced to Nomzamo when she was the runner up for the MTV Base VJ competition in 2012, since then, this Durban actress has been making waves in the acting industry. We sat down and had a chat with her about leaving Isibaya, staying humble and handling attention.
What have you been up to since you left Isibaya?
Since leaving Isibaya I have been trying to build up my resume. I just did a movie with Akin Omotoso, starring myself and Maps Maponyane. It is a Romantic Comedy, which is refreshing for both the viewers and the film industry in South Africa. It’s coming out in 2015 and I am sure it’s going to take the industry by storm. There are other things that are in the pipeline, which I cannot speak of right now. Overall, it has been such a good journey for me and I am lucky to have been able to find the time to do other things. I was also recently honoured to have featured in the MTV Music Awards. It’s things like this that make me happy and proud to know that other people recognise me as an entity and a brand of my own aside from my character on Isibaya.
How has the industry been for you since you started and how have you grown?
I have really grown since I started but then again, the industry is like being on a rollercoaster. You have good moments and bad moments but both have to be taken with a pinch of salt. You can never take anything too personally because you also need to understand that the newspapers are a business and people get paid to write stories, whether they drag my name in the mud while doing it or not, that’s their bread and butter.
How long did it take you to think like that or did you come into the industry with that mind-set?
I would say I came into the industry thinking like that because I have always been solid in my character. I have never been swayed by much because I know who I am, what I stand for and what I am here to do. Being in the industry has really been an eye-opener and has taught me exactly how far people can stretch you. There have been a lot of highs and beautiful moments and there have been moments where I have been crying myself to sleep thinking “but what they are writing about me isn’t true” (laughs).
How are you handling the attention, especially from your male fans?
The same way I have been handling it all my life – never really thinking much of it. I am flattered by it but I never let it get to my head because at the end of the day I am a woman and women have insecurities. So even if it’s ten thousand men or women who tell you “oh, you’re this, oh you’re that” it will never be a reality until you believe it yourself. It’s one of those things that I take within my stride and I definitely appreciate it, I wouldn’t have it any other way because nobody wants to be told “you’re ugly,” and you get people who use that word [ugly], and I hate that word. It’s just about being comfortable in my own skin and knowing that it’s an appreciation, especially because I am a woman, and women need to be appreciated.
What are the five things you cannot leave your house without?
- House keys obviously, that’s my number one.
- Tissues because my grandmother always used to tell me that you never know what you might need it for and a lady always needs to have tissues in her handbag.
- My phone
- My handbag
- My self-confidence.
How have you managed to stay so humble?
It’s because of where I come from. Growing up in KwaMashu I was surrounded by things that kept me grounded. If you think the world is real, growing up where I grew up will really show you the true meaning of reality. So coming to Joburg and meeting so many people and meeting people from all walks of life has not phased me or changed who I am, I am still the same Nomzamo that I was 10 years ago, just with a couple of growth points here and there. You owe it to yourself as a person to grow. But, I am very rooted in who I am.
Earlier you spoke about your self-confidence, where does yours come from?
It comes from the fact that my dad used to tell me that I was beautiful and that is the only voice that I have listened to and the only voice that has led me forward in my life. And my grandmother always used to say that it’s not about how you look but it’s about how beautiful you are on the inside. I can be comfortable wearing slippers or Uggs and leggings and a t-shirt and I walk around Sandton and do what I have to do because I am comfortable in my own skin. It’s not about my physical appearance it’s about the person that I am on the inside.
What is beauty to you?
Beauty to me is someone’s spirit in its most genuine, most authentic and in its most purest form. That is why you can look at a tree and fall in love with it. The tree hasn’t done anything for you to love it or admire it, it has simply grown.
What are your five beauty secrets?
Lots of sleep, your usual eight hours, which I don’t get. Nobody in my industry gets eight hours of sleep. In fact, nobody who is a hard worker gets in eight hours. Also water, I try to drink two litres of water every day. It’s a good cleanser. Find something for your skin that is not too harsh because sometimes it’s the simple things that work. There was a point in my life when I would just wash my face with aqueous cream. Also try to eat well and never stress.
How do you keep fit?
Pilates are a really good exercise. I have not been doing it as much because of my hectic schedule and travelling here and there, so much so that I carry a suitcase with me in my car. Pilates have really changed my life though and it’s really good for the mind too. I started doing them when I was in university. But my family in general have always been of muscular form and my mother was a netball coach.
I also try to eat right. Eating junk food and then going out to exercise is counter-productive. Your body can’t keep up with that because your body is not going to work towards building muscle and toning, it is just going to work towards breaking down the food that you ate, especially if you keep eating heavy things. It’s very important to always eat well and to drink lots of water. It is something we hear all the time and we think it’s a cliché but it always works.
What other things can we expect from you in 2014?
Some interesting things, more acting and other things that I am very excited about, which I cannot speak about but I know that a lot of people will celebrate in that victory.
First two pictures from Instagram
