The new Netflix series Fatal Seduction has taken the world by storm! So far, the show has been placed in the top 10 trending shows in South Africa, ranked the number one Netflix series in 35 countries and number three in the world. Adding to the show’s success is the brilliant crew and cast, including rising stars Ngele Ramulondi (Zinhle Mahlati) and Frances Sholto-Douglas (Laura Goldman).
The two budding actresses spoke to BONA about their individual journeys into acting, what it was like working with each other, and more!
Both Ngele and Frances took an interest in acting from an early age. Says Ngele, “Since I was small, my parents always used to talk about how in Grade 1, I stood up in front of the whole class and I was like, ‘I wanna be a star!’ I think that was just the glitz and glam of it. But my earliest memory of actually understanding that there’s this thing called acting was watching my mom watch shows like Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Ngele admits that although she was not allowed to watch these shows as a child, she would still sneakily peek behind the walls to see just exactly what she wasn’t allowed to watch. “Seeing my mom’s reaction to these people that were on the screen and the emotions that they made her feel, something in me just wanted to – at some point – have someone shout at the screen because my character took someone’s man! I just knew that this was something I wanted to do.”
Regarding Frances’ journey into acting, she notes that she felt called to put her energy into making art, storytelling and making people laugh. “From a very young age, I just wanted to get up on a stage and be a part of film projects because films were always what was most exciting to me. I tried to kind of rationalise as I got older. I said [to myself], ‘Why don’t I just become a lawyer or a scientist?’ because I’m interested in science and all these things that seem a lot more practical, but then I always came back to acting.”
Ngele also appreciates the prominent black actors who came before her for paving the way. “They made it feel like it wasn’t impossible. I knew that the dream was tangible and I was able to do it because I could see faces that looked like mine on screen.”
BONA asked a series of questions about Ngele’s character Zinhle and Frances’ character Laura. Here is what both actresses had to say.
What made you audition for the role of Zinhle?
There are so many things about her that I really resonate with. Reading the slide I got for my audition the first time, I remember reading about her falling in love with a person over the phone that she hadn’t met. I just resonated with the idea of having a connection with someone that was purely emotional. What really drew me to Zinhle was that she was someone who really wanted to connect with someone else.
What drew you to audition for the role of Laura?
I actually begged to audition. I wasn’t originally asked to audition by the casting director [giggles], but I felt that I was perfect for it. Laura is a hopeless romantic and she really cares about people. She’s enigmatic in a really exciting way to me and I felt a call to play her, and I also felt it was right in terms of me being right for the job. I don’t usually feel that way, so when I do… I know I have to fight for it.
Which three words would you use to describe Zinhle?
I would say, “A hopeless romantic.”
Which three words would you use to describe Laura?
I’m going to say logical, and then I always found these two things conflicting but interesting to say, so I’m going to say laidback and neurotic.
What was it like working with Frances?
We met when I was still in Cape Town and we were signed under the same agency. We knew each other like that and we also had mutual friends who studied together. So we knew of each other as well. Outside of knowing her before this, I realised that having a good team partner is so important – one who isn’t only concerned about their character but the story as well. We knew our characters so well.
I think the main thing we were both trying to do was to tell the most honest and genuine story of these two best friends and what a complicated friendship can look like. It was really refreshing to know that I didn’t have to carry the story alone or I should let it go and let Frances do all the work. It really felt like teamwork. I think what’s on-screen resonates with how we are in real life as well.
What was it like working with Ngele?
It was great. We clicked quickly. We actually knew each other before but we weren’t friends. We just had mutual friends. When we saw each other on the project, we were both excited. We kind of have a similar approach to acting and communicating, so I think it just worked out really well. I didn’t really work with anyone else. I was mostly paired with Ngele throughout. So she was my one-and-only acting buddy for most of the time I was on set.
Catch Ngele Ramulondi and Frances Sholto-Douglas on Fatal Seduction, now streaming on Netflix.
Also see: Lunathi Mampofu felt “blessed” working with Fatal Seduction cast
