LIMPOPO – It is always said that the entertainment industry is not easy to get into, but that talent can go a long way.
Phophi Ratlabala is fast becoming the star she deserves to be.
Khuzwayo, as she is known on the Sepedi soap opera Skeem Saam, holds a B.Com degree from the University of Johannesburg and an honours degree from Unisa, Pgdip, and an MBA from the University of Pretoria.
She auditioned for the role of Khuzwayo in 2014 and has been playing it ever since.
“I became an actor many moons ago at the Hoërskool Louis Trichardt when I partook in the ATKV Tienertoneel. It is an acting festival where young people showcase their talents and are celebrated for it. My love for drama was cultivated when I received various awards as a young actress. When I got to Johannesburg for my tertiary studies, I auditioned for a part in Acting Workshops hosted by Duma Ndlovu, the creator of Muvhango, where I was introduced to theatre as well. It was not long until I landed my first role as Seani on Muvhango. Two years later, I joined Skeem Saam as Cindy Khuzwayo. I have recently shot a movie called Musangwe that is showing now on Showmax,” said Ratlabala.
She said the journey has been both very humbling and exciting.
“Watching the dreams I have had since childhood unfold, has been unbelievable. I am enjoying every minute of using this talent that God gave me and being appreciated and acknowledged for it. I have always been an entertainer. Growing up I was that young girl with a big personality and an extrovert. I have always enjoyed activities that put me in the spotlight and knew I was born to be in entertainment. When I joined the drama club in my high school, I knew I had found my greatest love,” she said.
She told CV that acting has always been a calling.
“Even when the odds seemed stacked against me, I kept the dream of acting alive. It is not easy to break into the industry, and it took quite a lot of time and dedication to make it, but I never thought of giving up because I had a dream,” she said.
She further said she would love to develop Limpopo and its people to also be great players in the film and TV industry.
“A lot of the shooting happens in Gauteng and other provinces, so my dream is to see people from my province among the industry players. I believe we have a lot of talent that just needs investment, infrastructure, and opportunity to elevate it,” she explains.
Acting, she said, is simply a representation of real life.
“My main duty as an actor is to be believed by the viewers. For them to see a part of themselves in me. The entertainment aspect is also present, but believability lies at the foundation of all great acting. Acting for me is a career. So, it has always been important for me to separate it from my private life. When I am home, I am not the character that I play, I am Phophi, a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a sister. When I step into the studio that is when I get into character and wear the role that I am playing.”
She encourages other young aspiring actors saying that all things are possible.
“The dreams that are in your heart have been planted there by God because He has plans to bring them to fruition. Do not give up. I am a fierce advocate for education and agree with Nelson Mandela’s quote, that education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Go out there and learn. Education will not only open your mind but it will also open doors of opportunities,” she advised.
