Generations’ Queen is Isidingo’s ‘Kris Jenner’

A year after Generations, Sophie Ndaba’s back. First seen in High Rollers, she’ll now be on Isidingo. Debashine Thangevelo reports

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A year after Generations, Sophie Ndaba has returned to TV. First seen in High Rollers, she will now be on Isidingo in a Kris Jenner-esque role. Debashine Thangevelo reports

 

SEASONED actress and businesswoman, Sophie Ndaba, is back on TV. Not too long ago, she had a short stint on SABC3’s High Rollers in which she played Harriet, an affluent woman (with her quirks), who moves into Kings Casino.

And now, Ndaba has been headhunted for the part of Nkadimeng, an overbearing mother of two: Lerato and Kamohelo.

However, her arrival coincides with Lerato’s upcoming wedding.

In a chat with Tonight, she confirms: “I’m on my way to Isidingo to shoot scenes.

“You know, all these shows, it’s just for me to keep myself in the industry and remind myself that I really love this. When I go for shows I don’t really push for a permanent role, just to be a part of it. Remember, it’s not Generations, where you start from the beginning and really want to be a part of it. These ones already have their set characters and stories. And you can always go and come back. That’s what I like about other shows.”

Ndaba points out: “Should I eventually have my own show, where it’s all about me (one day soon), then I will focus on it with the same passion that I did with Generations for many, many years.”

Of course, that is not to say that her performance with this short stint is diluted in any way – she remains a consummate professional and gets into the skin of the character.

What does annoy her are the constant comparisons to her Generations’ Queen Moroka glamour-puss character.

“I always think that people identify a lot with a particular character in a soap. And once you derail from it, they take time to adjust. They forget I’m an actor. South Africans are so loyal. Nkadimeng is a mother, like a lot of single mothers trying to make ends meet, and wants the best for their daughters. That’s what she is all about. And she is a hard-working woman.”

On being approached for this part, which is loosely moulded on Kris Jenner of Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s fame, Ndaba offers: “Well, I thought, ‘fabulous!’. In my real life (not Queen’s life), I’m the Kris Jenner of my family. She’s single. I’m very single. And I also strive to put my children in the best spot. My one daughter runs most of my top projects and has successfully done it for the past five years.

“When I look at Kris, I see a powerful woman going out there and saying: ‘I will get a lot of criticism for this and that. It doesn’t matter. I know I’m genuine.’”

And her three kids, Shallon (adopted at the age of four after Ndaba’s sister died), Rudo and Lwandle, share their mother’s business acumen – something she is most proud of.

For this role Ndaba was consulted on the hair and wardrobe of her character.

As for her character’s polished look, she reveals: “At the end of the day, people are quite stuck on the Queen character. I want them to understand there is a lot of Queen in a lot of women out there. Now every three out of five black South African working women have manicures, pedicures and eyelashes. For people to say: ‘She looks a little bit like Queen’, is not correct.”

When the actress went in to a brief before shooting she met Tema Sebopedi, who plays her daughter. And, after giving her the full assessment, she found it easy to envision her as her onscreen daughter. Both characters fit the bill like a glove.

By the way, aside from Ndaba looking fabulously hot, she is dressed in body-hugging attire, enhancing her sizeable cleavage.

Oh, and she brings a fair share of drama to the wedding preparations.

She laughs: “Nkadimeng loves her daughters and wants the best for them. When she drops by, they have to take a deep breath because they know their lives are going to be a living hell.”

Aside from her distribution wholesaler business, corporate engagements, and long- running wedding planning company, Ndaba is branching into producing.

“With the SABC’s 90 percent local content drive, we are part of their internal programme. I will be pitching a few shows,” she enthuses.

 

• Isidingo airs on, SABC3, weekdays at 7pm.