The Sunday News
Peter Matika Senior Leisure Reporter
IN 2012 she was just another small time model trying to make a breakthrough in a highly competitive acting industry in South Africa, yearning for a chance to be recognised as a star and all that drove her was just a dream.In that same year, after she managed to land a role as an extra on one of South Africa’s most followed soapies — Scandal, her fantasy became so close to reality.
The former Bulawayo model, Angela Thulie Sibanda (pictured), believes the sky is the limit, if one focuses energy on realising dreams through hardwork and dedication.
Recently, after her role was turned into a more noticeable one, Angie said her dream has become much more real and interesting.
She spoke to Sunday Leisure’s senior reporter Peter Matika (PM).
PM: From the last time we spoke to you, after you landed a role on e-TV’s Scandal, you mentioned that you were happy to have broken into an industry that you were not so familiar with and wanted to gain experience and popularity. Has there been any change, as you had mentioned that you had landed a role as a voiceless character?
Angie: Yes, my character now exists in a more visible manner, as it has a name, lines and actually has a story, a very interesting story if I may say.
PM: Quite an achievement for a “smalltime girl”. What’s the role of your character in the soapie?
Angie: It’s a supporting character to Gloria’s role, who works as my colleague and supervisor at Safe n Clean. My character is always at loggerheads with Gloria because she is a piece of work!
PM: Hmmm why do I sense traces of your character there . . . care to enlighten us?
Angie: Hahaha well you know me I don’t like people taking me for granted.
PM: What’s your character’s name?
Angie: I don’t know whether to call it funny or ironic but my character shares a name with me. So I am Angela both on and off the set.
PM: How very convenient for you. So how did you land the role, was it because of your charisma?
Angie: If it did they forgot to mention it (lol). In all honesty Scandal has been nurturing and grooming me since the beginning of 2012. The knowledge I have acquired including my raw skills is the charisma that has landed me the lines in the script.
PM: Okay so compare yourself and the character you play.
Angie: Ha ha ha well . . . so far we are alike, both a little too trusting but sure to blow up when crossed, Angela is a leader and never a follower and in that regard I can identify. In the current storyline Angela (the other one not me) is sold a fake Brazilian weave by Gloria and fake silicon to maintain it. So when the weave winds up looking like “steel wool”, Angela’s fury leads a pack of other ladies on a rampage in a wave of anger to demand refunds from Gloria. Angela is never afraid to speak her mind or stand up for herself and again I can identify.
PM: I’m glad I am not Gloria, lol. I can already picture you in your element, leading a pack of angry women! Gosh that’s just too much for my imagination. Anyway how often are you on set?
Angie: As often as the storyline involves my character.
PM: So is acting hard or it’s just a talent for you?
Angie: I wouldn’t say it’s hard but it’s a work of art. There is a lot of hard work and dedication and precision is a key factor every step of the way. Discipline is also a big factor in terms of keeping time, familiarising yourself with the script is essential too plus fitting into your character’s shoes.
PM: In other words this was easy for you seeing as the Angie you play resembles your natural character. Are there any compromising shots on set you have had to do or done?
Angie: Lol never. Well if you call wearing a wig compromising, I have a really huge afro, which I had to painfully comb for this current storyline . . . ouch!
PM: Hilarious, are there any other soapies or films interested in you or any that you have appeared on?
Angie: Yes, mostly as an extra. I have been on One Day Leader, Rhythm City and Inkaba.
PM: That’s quite a CV you have there. Apart from acting what do you do on your spare time or when you are not on set?
Angie: I work as a financial advisor and I am also furthering my studies in that field.
PM: Tell us a brief history of yourself, particularly the one of your life back in Zimbabwe.
Angie: I have always been involved in arts, mostly artistic shows such as Mthwakazi Arts Festival and Intwasa. I have also been in the modelling industry and took part in a number of pageants. I used to live in Hillside and went to St Columbu’s High School. I am not married and I am the middle child. I have two siblings. I am an outdoor person and I stand in awe of my heritage and culture.
PM: Any future plans?
Angie: An ideal future plan would be to have a production featuring our own youth based here. From the number of artistes I have seen perform here I can safely say that Zimbabwe has talent and in particular Bulawayo surely is the hub of entertainment. It would be awesome if we all get together to tell our stories through film.
PM: Thank you for your time and I wish you the best in the showbiz industry.
