The new, saucy Netflix show Fatal Seduction starring Kgomotso Christopher has finally arrived. Shot in the Mother City, Fatal Seduction is a story about, passion, desire and deceit. Leading lady Kgomotso spoke to BONA to answer a few questions about the show.
What about Fatal Seduction interested you to be a part of the show?
Well, first of all, it’s on Netflix; Netflix being one of the fastest-growing content producers and platforms. It’s the first time I’m doing a Netflix show. It’s been a career goal of mine to be a part of a show that’s on a global platform.
I found that the story was also something that Netflix Africa had certainly not done before, and that really interested me. I always like to look out for work that stretches me, that shows me in a different light when I make choices in terms of scripts and stories.
Can you tell us about your character?
What I can say on the biographical side, Nandi Mahlati is a professor of law and she’s a lecturer at [the University of Cape Town (UCT)]. She definitely comes across as someone who is very straight-laced, which she is, someone who is very academic, which she is, and someone very intellectual, which she is.
She’s a family woman, she’s a mother, and she’s married to a very prominent judge, Judge Mahlati, played by Thapelo Mokoena. I think what viewers will start to unpack when we see them is that there are so many more layers to her than just being the perfect academic, the perfect mom, the perfect professor. I think it’s going to be quite exciting and intriguing. I think for a lot of characters on our show, everything isn’t what it seems.
Nandi went to UCT, you went to UCT too. Your character is a wife and mother, and so are you. Do relate to your character in any way?
I actually really do! I would say that this is the character that’s actually the closest to my biographical life in the sense that I also went to UCT. I was also a part of UCT’s law department. It was quite interesting for me to go back to my alma mater to shoot something that’s relatable to my field of studies.
Which three words best describe your character?
Measured, truth-seeker and compassionate.
What was it like working with your female co-stars?
It was fantastic! I’ve never worked with all my cast members [before] but its a brilliant and stellar cast of artists’ work that you’ve seen. It felt as if we all knew each other because we know each other’s work.
So it was an absolute pleasure, on and offscreen. We supported each other. It was a long five months away from our families. All of us are Johannesburg-based. Obviously the content of the show and the body of work that it is is quite huge. We needed to rely on each other, the whole cast, not just the female cast members.
Us girlies were little besties. We called each other besties actually! [giggles] We had loads of fun.
Because Fatal Seduction is very sensual, how do you prepare yourself for intimate scenes with your co-stars?
It’s a very new thing in South Africa about having intimacy coordinators and intimacy coaches. [We had] professionally-trained intimacy coaches. We were very fortunate to work with them because that is the standard requirement for such scenes working on a Netflix show.
Just like any stunt on a movie… you have a stunt coordinator, and these people are now intimacy coordinators because intimacies are in fact stunts in themselves. And so we prepare them by preparing any stunt like any fight scene – we choreograph the scene. Beyond the physical aspect of choreography, we get emotional and psychological support from the intimacy coaches who break down the scene for us.
How supportive was your husband Calvin when it came to you playing Nandi?
Extremely supportive! Extremely supportive as he has been throughout my career. When I met my husband, yes I was in law school, but I was already working as an actor. Me being in the industry is a huge part of him saying, “Your dreams are valid. Your craft is important.”
He understands that it is my work. He also understands my dream. This is my first international project for an international company. So he’s always known that I dreamt of that. Of course, the content of the show will always make people ask that question, but he’s very secure in our union. He’s always supported my work.
Finally, why should people watch Fatal Seduction?
I would say, “Why not?”
I would also say the types of people who will watch and be excited about Fatal Seduction [will see] some of their favourite actors in South Africa. I’m not saying anything about me [ giggles]. We’re coming from some of the biggest local shows, and a lot of our viewers are excited to see all of us in one place.
The story for me is a thriller, a murder mystery. It touches on so many themes… most people will start talking about. It touches on gender-based violence, relationships, and how we tell and don’t tell truths in relationships. It touches on so many relatable human-experienced topics.
In all the different characters, someone will find a story they relate to. The story is also intergenerational. So for me, I think its something that has a takeaway for everyone in this country.
Catch Fatal Seduction on Netflix today!
Also see: Netflix releases official trailer for Fatal Seduction
