Thandy Matlaila, better
known as Lindiwe in Tshisa, is no doubt one of SA’s growing talents having
graced our screens in productions like Tshisa, Jerusalema, Street of Manganung,
Gugu noAndile and most recently Mzansi Magic’s IsiPantsula. When the opportunity
presented itself to interview I was more than eager to do so. I certainly had
fun doing the interview, hope you enjoy reading it.
Sneh: Hi Thandy, thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview; I know you’re a busy lady. Let’s
get to it. Who is Thandy Matlaila today?
Thandy: Thandy to this day is still her
parent’s lil girl. They are my pride and joy. Outside of home, Thandy is an
aspiring entrepreneur who runs her own PR Firm and one of the growing talents
on Mzansi’s screens. I am a dancer/choreographer who is passionate about youth
related issues hence I take up the roles that I do.
Today
Thandy got a call from one of her former directors offering her to be a trainee
director because he saw the potential in me that I didn’t so I’m rather excited
about that.
Sneh: Tell
us a bit about your upbringing, were you a naughty child?
Thandy: I grew up in a tight-knit household where I was the only
child for 11 years. So you can imagine that my parents held on to me like gum,
ha haha, and you can imagine my trauma when my brother was born. I became
rebellious cause I figured he was there to take my place (yes we do go through
that as first-borns, people think it’s a fairytale). I wouldn’t say I was
naughty but I gave my parents the usual headache because I was very cheeky. If
I didn’t like or agree with something, it was hard to convince me otherwise.
Luckily I never gave my parents the headache of being a smoker, drinker or
sleeping out.
I’m
still very close to my parents, I see them every week and I talk to them all
the time…AND I live 5km away from home *hides*. My mom is one of my closest
friends.
Sneh: I
had issues about my height growing up. I love the fact that you have such a
presence and confidence about yourself, you hold the candle for all us short
people *laughs*.
Did you ever have any self image issues growing up?
Thandy: Never, I’ve always loved being
short; I’ve never had hang-ups about my height. In fact, I embraced it. I even
call my girls TLCs (Tiny Lil Chicks, ha haha). Whenever we had someone taller
joining us, we’d make fun of them and say they can’t get away with being
naughty because they will stand out.
The
only hand-ups I have are about my weight, not height. But I keep that under
control by training daily.
Sneh: You
went to boarding school, I hear they can be very mean. How was your experience
there?
Thandy: Oh yes, people in boarding school
can be mean. Luckily I never had issues of being bullied. People thought I was
a snob and stayed far away from me. I only became part of “the black crowd” in
my late grade 11. I never belonged to the popular crew because that’s not what
I was about. I never confirmed to any norms. Like with sports, I did gymnastics
as opposed to netball (every black kid played netball *yawns*). I took part in
musicals and cabarets.
We
had a new girl when I was in matric that my boarding housemates hated so they
put no-hair remover on her eyelashes in her sleep and when she woke up, she had
no eye-lashes. Other incidents would be “spoornetting”, that’s where someone throws
buckets of water on your bed in your sleep and runs off. Oh my these bring
memories; I wouldn’t trade my high school years for anything.
Sneh: *Laughs* Gosh that was mean. You studied film and music at
AFDA, did you always know you wanted to be in the entertainment industry?
Thandy: All I knew growing up was that I
wanted to be on stage and sing like Lebo Mathosa and be a Yo-TV presenter like
Mandisa and Sade so yes, I knew entertainment was my calling. I do have
interests outside of the industry though like Law and Accountancy.
Sneh: I think at some point almost
every girl wanted to be like Mandisa.
Was your family instrumental in your success?
Thandy: All the way, I’m where I am because
of my mother’s influence. After matric she sat me down and asked: Do you want
to be a layer at 40? I was like: NOT really. Then she asked, do you want to be
an entertainer at 40? And I was like “Hell yeah”. Her advice was simple: Then
you know what you have to do.
One
thing I will always respect about my parents is that they supported my dream
through it all, the instability, the fickleness etc… oh and at home, I’m simply
Thandy, my parent’s lil girl.
Sneh: What was your big break into the
industry? How was the experience?
Thandy: For most people out there, my “big
break” came with Tshisa, but for me, it was Jerusalema. I shot that film before
Tshisa, it only aired 2 years later, after Tshisa got me “recognition”.
Speaking of Jerusalema, I had the best time of my life, sharing a role with
Bubu Mazibuko (Thuli on Gazlam’) was a dream come true, I’ve always admired her
work, I still do. I played the younger version of her.
Sneh: What is the weirdest encounter
you’ve had with a fan? And the best?
The
weirdest is when people get to friendly or insist they know you cause you went
to school together, grew up in the same neighborhood or what ever other
hallucination it may be. Only for them to realize that they know you from TV
and they get all shy, I always find that to be funny.
The best would be when they don’t refer to me by my
character names and use my real name, it shows they pay attention and actually
read the credits. Ha haha.
Sneh: I’m
sure you have guys professing their undying love and affection for you, how do
you handle that?
Thandy: Firstly I try not to get myself in
such situations, and when they do, I just say it like it is “I’m not interested
and I’m not looking”.
Sneh: Lol,
feisty! Speaking of guys, is there a prince charming in your life, if you don’t
mind me asking?
Thandy: Could be *smiles*
Ok ok, yes there is but
that’s a part of my life I never lay out.
Sneh: How did you guys meet?
Thandy: We met at the gym. *Hides*
Sneh: Does he mind all the attention
you get?
Thandy: Not at
all. He’s very supportive of what I do. Sometimes he even encourages me to go
out alone because I tend to shy away from the spotlight when I’m not working.
Sneh: Tell us about some of your greatest
achievements, both personally and professionally?
Thandy: I’m an
accomplished SA Gymnast. I’m a self-taught publicist though I started studying
PR last year. I have been doing it since 2009 and passion and perseverance are
what got me this far in my career.
Sneh: You
are one of SA’s multi-talented and lovable personalities. You’re also a
choreographer, how did that come about?
Thandy: I’ve
always loved dance. I grew up with friends who were very competitive and for
you to be “in”, you had to either had to know how to sing or dance, bonus if
you could do both, LOL. During talent shows at school, I always made sure I was
in the group that WOULD WIN. Don’t settle for 2nd best, that was my motto back then.
Sneh: Lol,
no doubt this is a long interview but you surely can’t deny your fans a chance
to get a bit of insight on Thandy Matlaila *smiles*.
Thandy: I
wouldn’t dream of it, that’s why I took my time and made sure I’m free of
distractions while answering this.
Sneh: Tell us about the new drama
you’re starring in, IsiPanstula.
Thandy: IsiPantsula
is SA’s 1st dance series so I’m
really excited about how it will be received. It’s a typical love story (aren’t
they all, LOL). Ok no, seriously, IsiPantsula is about a young man Vusi, who
used to be a pantsula king but traded it in because of the negative connotations
aligned with the genre. He falls in love with Nothemba whom he grew up with and
in order to win her heart, he needs to win the hearts of the orphans she takes
care of. To cut a long story short, he teaches and mentors the kids in dance in
order for them to keep and save the house they live in.
Sneh: Give us a bit of insight on the
character you play, Nothemba.
Thandy: Nothemba
is the childminder of 4 teenage orphans. After her mother passes on, she
decides to look after abonded children in the home. She works at the clinic and
has a heart of gold, very protective and strict when it comes to the kids. She
falls in love with Vusi but doesn’t know how to get out of her obligations to
her gangster ex boyfriend Xolani as he’s been paying the house-installments on
her behalf. You need to watch to know more J
Sneh: I definitely will. Are there any
similarities between you and Nothemba?
Thandy: Actually,
Nothemba is not a dancer; in fact she hates the hobby saying it’s dangerous.
Thandy (me) did the choreography for the series though her character doesn’t do
any dancing.
All
we have in common is our giving nature and always putting those we care about
before ourselves, which at times can be fatal.
Sneh: Not
only are you the leading lady but you’re the choreographer as well for
IsiPantsula. Surely it’s a lot of work but also a great achievement?
Thandy: Yes in
deed, I was super psyched when they told me. The team I worked with was
amazing. Nolo (the guy who plays Vusi) is a great friend of mine and we used to
dance together back in tertiary so that made things a whole lot easier for me
cause he knows my dance styles and what I’m capable of. Kheso (from The
Teddybears) also assisted, he used to teach me dance back in the days so I
called upon his assistance to get me in tip-top shape. It just goes to show how
demanding dance is, if you don’t do it everyday you can’t call yourself a
dancer as trends change so fast. I have made a deal with myself that as of
August I’m going back to dance “full-time” if there’s such a thing.
Sneh: You’ve
acted on Tshisa, Intersexions II, Streets Of Mangaung, Jerusalema, only to name
a few. How has your journey been in the industry?
Thandy: Mixed
emotions really. There are days when I know deep down that this is all I want
to do, and there are days when you ask yourself if this is all worth it. That’s
when you feel your talent is being overlooked because of popularity etc. I
didn’t get into this industry because I wanted to be known and be popular, I
did it because I’m passionate about telling great stories and there’s the
thrill of being somebody else. I must say, I think actors (who do their
research of course) are one of the most intelligent people. Surely if you’ve
played a doctor, lawyer, cop, psychologist etc, you have SOME knowledge of that
profession. It’s studying indirectly.
Sneh: True,
there’s nothing more devastating than an actor who fails to connect with their
character. Out of all the people you worked with, who did you enjoy acting with
the most? Why?
Thandy: Oh my, I’ve had my moments with everyone hey, let’s see.
Innocent Masuku (Baksteen on Tshisa) is hilarious; he knows how to get a
performance out of anyone. Then there is Miza Modibedi & Luzuko Nteleko
whom I worked with on 2 productions. I think it had more to do with the fact
that we were/are friends. There is no dull moment with them and I can’t wait to
work with them again.
Oh no wait, there’s
Lerato Mvelase (Katlego on Home Affaira), how could I forget her. She played my
l over on Intersexions 2;
PRICELESS, SPEECHLESS. That woman is talented.
Sneh: You’re
the sole owner of a PR and events company, Aptitude Consulting, tell us a bit
about your business, how did you get started?
Thandy: It’s
PR, mainly for events and artists. On my books I have Chris Mapane, MphoMaboi,
Leroy Gopal and DJ Speedsta. I’m happy with them and I don’t want to take on
anyone else as I believe each artist deserves individual attention. Artists’
needs are different from that of an event. I have also shifted focus to
sponsorship management.
How
I started: Jacky and Laurent Cresteil. They were my mentors and I respect them
highly for all the skill they instilled
in me. They own The Inspiration Room. Jacky taught me
all I know today. She met me at Arts Alive when I was helping a friend of mine.
That’s exactly what I was doing, helping out, not knowing that just getting the
word out for my friend’s event could be a career. She asked to have lunch with
me so that I could do the same for her events and I guess the rest is history.
Sneh: Do you have any business woman
that you look up to?
Thandy: My
mother. When she was at the peak of her career (she was an HR Manager at a huge
corporate entity) she quit her job to start her business. It never made sense
to any of us as the country at that time was undergoing recession. Because of
her perseverance, dedication and skill, she made it an she runs a successful
recruitment agency, Ubuzwe Talent Solutions. I look up to her and always turn
to her for advice.
Sneh: She
sounds like an amazing woman. Are there any other initiatives you involved in
you’d like to tell us about?
Thandy: Hmmmm,
not at the moment hey, I’d like to keep it hish-hush but I will be working
behind the scenes on a movie for the very 1st time. I will reveal shortly as to what I will be
doing. Watch this space.
Sneh: Do
you have advice you can offer to young people out there looking to break into
the industry?
Thandy: You
need to know why you’re in this industry. If it’s to become famous and known,
you might want to reconsider and want to stick to commercials. But if you want
to tell real stories and touch people’s lives, then school yourself as much as
you can about the industry.
And
I live by 1 statement: Z3= Zazi Zithande Zithembe (Know yourself, Love Yourself
and Trust Yourself).
Sneh: Z3,
I like that. Once again thank you for opportunity to do this interview, I had a
lot of fun. Any last words?
Thandy: Oh yes, my mom told me this this morning,
I’m a BAD Girl: Blessed And Delivered.
You can follow Thandy
Matlaila on Twitter @Thandyy and on Mzansi Magic’s IsiPantsula every Wednesday
at 9:30pm
