People You Should Know: Thandy Matlaila

She has graced our screens for a while and presented kinds program “Knock Knock” on SABC3. Her first acting role was in a major South African movie. This pint sized multi talent Pedi woman was born in Baragwanath Hospital and grew up in Yeoville. Ladies and gentlemen enjoy getting to know Thandy Matlaila.

Tha Hustler - What was it like growing up in the city you must have missed out on playing in the township?

Thandy Matlaila - I loved growing up in the city but when you’re there and with protective parents like mine, you forget that there are other kinds of environments like the township. My 1st time in Alex was in Grade 7 when we were chosen to be part of the All Africa Games in 1999. It was totally new to me and my world.

TH - Growing up what did you want to become? Did you see yourself doing what you are doing now?

TM - Yes and no. I’ve always wanted to be in the entertainment industry (dancing and/or acting). Actually my first love, I wanted to be a YO-TV Presenter, but I guess that can’t happen if you don’t go to castings. LOL

PR was never my intention but once I got into it, I loved every minute. I feel it still keeps me in touch with the industry as I’ll never move away from the media industry


TH - You went to AFDA and you majored in dance, who influenced you to take this route?

TM - No one in particular, ever since I was a kid I loved dancing and when we moved to Bramley, I was exposed to street dancing. I have always done cabaret and theatre so I got my friends to teach me, though I was terrible at it but they were patient with me. My mother encouraged me after school to do what I’m passionate about. Actually, I was a music-major as stage got removed from our syllabus (which included Physical Performance)


TH -How much of an advantage or disadvantage is your height when it comes to casting or dancing?

TM - Ha ha ha, like really??? With dancing it’s an advantage being petite because you can achieve so much more (lifts etc). With castings it really depends on what you’re auditioning for.

Though I must say that with most shows that I’ve worked on; Tshisa & Jerusalema in particular, most of my scenes I had to stand on a box so that I could be “equivalent” to my co-workers. I guess that’s why most people think I’m much taller in real life. LOL

I’ve never seen my height as a disadvantage though, I love it.

TH - How did you land the Tshisa role and what was it like on set?

TM- Like in most cases, I went to the casting. Originally I auditioned for Precious, after I got a call back, I read the script and fell in love with Lindiwe. I asked the casting director if I could read for Lindiwe instead and I nailed it.

The 1st season was fantastic. Everybody was like a family, I created some great friendships. I’m still friends with most of the actors and I keep in touch with everyone.

The second was a bit tense. There were too many technicalities. I guess we were comfortable with working with the first season set and it became difficult for most people to adjust to the new faces.

TH - Describe your role in Jerusalema? As cast and crew after seeing the movie, what level of expectations did you or the guys expect to reach?

TM - Jerusalema was my first acting role. I wasn’t sure what to expect so I guess I can say I had no expectations. I had fun working with Mzwandile Ngubeni, Jafta Mamabolo and Motlatse. When I wasn’t on call, I’d come to set to see how Bubu Mazibuko carried OUR role (She played the older version of Nomsa) and how Rapulane also did the same for Lucky. For me it was more of research and character analysis and I learnt a lot from them and how the 2 actors sharing a role need to understand each other and the character.

I was highly impressed with the final product, two years later after it was shot. With the silence for that long, I never imagined it to achieve what it achieved.


TH - Who are some of the great actors you have worked with in you career?

TM - Innocent Masuku and Jafta Mamabolo are the 2 of the most talented actors I’ve worked very close with. I’ve also worked with Bubu Mazibuko, Rapulane Seiphemo and Thomas Gumede.

TH - Given a bad role on TV, would you do it for the love of being on the screen and the ching or would you turn it down?

TM - What is a bad role? Bad character or the role is just unsuitable? If you mean the character is a bad person, yes I would take the role as it’s challenging my acting abilities. If the character has a negative effect on the society, I wouldn’t take it. There are lots of things I take into consideration though; the person’s bad, do they somehow along the line repent or are they just bad from start to end? There needs to be character development.

TH - Would you play a role that required you to do a nude scene?

TM - Yes I would, with caution and question marks. It would have to be scrutinised for relevance though. Would the scene achieve greater things, if not then no.

TH - What your favourite South African TV drama or series and why?

TM- I love Rhythm City. It’s fresh, relevant and the actors are great.

I also love City Ses’La and 4Play:Sex Tips 4 Girls, need I say more. LOL

TH - What props would you give the film and TV industry? Advice on what they are lacking?

TM - We as actors lack depth and understanding for our roles and we don’t do enough research.

as for the industry in general, we must start moving away from old tales (Apartheid era etc), and start writing what is relevant to the people that are here. Tell tales that people can relate to. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be educated about our past but we’ve overdone that. And document it, don’t waste 2 hours of film. “I guess I might get into trouble for this”



TH - Owning a dance company, what goes into running it successfully? How do you keep dancers motivated when there isn’t work?

TM - I’ve not gotten the recipe as yet but I guess you need to be passionate about what you do. That passion and perseverance is what will keep you going when times get hard and you just want to quit. Good relationship with clients is also a bonus.

I’ve got a personal relationship with all my dancers and at times, that becomes problematic as they can’t differentiate work and play. I do this though because it makes it easier for them to open up to me and trust my judgement towards their careers

TH - How did the PR job come about and has that overtaken your acting career?

TM - Currently it has taken over as I’ve not been acting for over a year; though I’m currently doing my Science Show which I’ve been doing since 2008. I love PR, you are exposed to every kind in the industry. And it’s amazing how awfully “nice” people are to you when they need favours done. It’s just beyond my comprehension.

With PR, I was helping out a friend (Kedibone Mulaudzi) with an event last year because I wasn’t busy and had time to kill. I had also just completed my events course so it was a great way to put my skills to the test. We were doing the Comedy Nine Nine and Jacky, who was doing the PR for the whole Arts Alive campaign spotted me. The rest is history I suppose. She owns The Inspiration Room the PR company I currently work for.

TH - Between dancing, acting, presenting and being a PR diva, what would you pick as your favourite?

TM - They all have their perks, and I wouldn’t choose. For a period of time I’d choose the one that’s relevant at the stage but I’d never give any of them up completely.

TH - What would you consider your greatest achievement thus far?

TM - My relationship with God and my family. In this industry, it’s so hard to strike a balance between these as you sometimes feel compelled to do certain things so that you remain relevant to the industry. You need to be aware of your self-worth.

TH - What are your biggest disappointments?

TM - I don’t have any. Whatever I haven’t achieved now I can still work towards it. I’m just grateful for everything that I’ve been granted and I don’t take it lightly. And everyday I’m given another chance to achieve greater things; most people don’t even wake up to do what they love.

TH - What would you change about the world?

TM - I know most would say crime and poverty but I’d have to say I wish that everybody loved themselves and those around them unconditionally. If you have unconditional love, you share with others and you respect them. With this in place, they’d be no crime and no poverty because we’d all look out for each other

TH - If your house was on fire and there was one thing in your life that you could save what or who would you pick?

Who? That’s quite a tricky one because I’m very close to my family. I’d have to say my mother because she’d deal better with the trauma and she’d help me to deal with it better. I would’ve like to say my little brother because he’s got a long life ahead of him but I’m not sure how much of it he’s be able to cope with, with no family close by.

TH - Who was your biggest crush at high school, given the opportunity to date them would you?

TM - Longwe (Chicco Twala’s son), I used to think he’s the hottest thing ever. No I wouldn’t date him, I’m happy with my partner.

Everybody else I had a crush on I dated. LOL

TH - If you came across a genie and got granted 3 wishes, what would you wish for?

TM - Patience from and for God: Sometimes we become impatient with God because we believe He’s not hearing our prayers.

Dinner date with Ne-Yo so I can ask him all the questions I have for him regarding his song-writing skills...And the fact that I can get him to serenade me with his voice.

My last one would be to have 3 more wishes.

My photo albums maybe, they would be the only memories I have left.