One on one with Skeem Saam’s Makgofe Moagi
Best known for her role as Charity Ramabu on the SABC drama series, Skeem Saam, Makgofe Moagi is more than just an actor, she also has a myriad of other talents.
POLOKWANE – Besides being an actor, Makgofe, who was born in Phalaborwa, is also a television presenter, businesswoman, model, actress and master of ceremonies.
She is currently the CEO of Panopadi Creations, a holistic turnkey event management company based in Polokwane and Johannesburg.
Makgofe is also known for hosting the SABC2 talk show Motswako in 2005 and acting in Muvhango as Palesa. She is also known as one of the suitcase models in the M-Net game show Deal or No Deal, in 2007. She played the role of Tumi in the first season of the SABC2 drama series 90 Plein Street (2007), and the role of Maphaseka in the second season in 2009.
BONUS had an exclusive interview with her regarding her role in the drama series Skeem Saam, her career and her other talents and endeavours.
Q. Who is Makgofe Moagi?
A. Makgofe is an ambitious, creative, eclectic individual; a lover of storytelling with substance, a sister, a daughter to an amazing mother, a mother to two great boys, a businesswoman, an actress, a television presenter, a motivational speaker and a philanthropist.
Q. When did you realise you wanted to be a professional actor?
A. I knew I could entertain from a young age. Coming from a family of entertainers, we used to put up various performances for the community, be it stage acting, singing, dancing or reciting a poem. The love of acting grew right through high school and it was after I had matriculated and I moved to Johannesburg that I decided to test the professional waters. The patience and persistence paid off because I was rejected a lot in most auditions, but because God was included in my plans, I succeeded.
Q. What is your advice to young people trying to get into the industry?
A. They must involve God in their lives, they must consult Him and pray for guidance because some are not meant to be in the industry as actors but they force to be
because they are competing with so-and-so. They must keep in mind there’s a lot of other careers in the industry. Go to varsity and study. I also understand that some people cannot afford to study further and it is important for them to find other skillful means to earn a living, learning photography for example.
Q. Tell us about your upbringing, did it have any influence on your acting?
A. Both of my parents were teachers and the power and liberation in education was drilled into us, but most importantly the knowledge that you can become anything you want to be. It influenced my acting because my siblings and I would be left in the library and told to travel the world through books which broadened my view about the world. I never studied acting but used my imagination and knowledge gained from reading those books – from novels, to historical and geographical books, to biographies and spiritually uplifting books.
Q. Tell us about your character, Charity Ramabu, what is she like?
A. Charity Ramabu is a mother of two boys. She is a dedicated professional and an extremely ambitious woman with a worldly view towards life. Though, she’s a tough cookie she had her fair share of bad love experiences – from marrying an abusive man to almost having her lobola by a psychotic stalker, to falling in love with a married man. She’s a die-hard romantic who believes in love and the qualities that the man should have were found in John Maputla.
Q. Apart from acting what else are you up to?
A. My television content producing company and family foundation are keeping me busy. I also travel around and have motivational talks at various schools and events. I still want to act in movies and feature films.
Q. What helps you prepare for your role?
A. Understanding the psychology of the character is important so I do research and ask a lot of questions so my performance can be in line with the story that needs to be told.
Q. Who are your acting influences and why?
A. I am influenced by many local and global actors for various reasons. Lydia Mogokoloshi, Terry Pheto, Nomzamo Mbatha, Pamela Nonvete, Siyabonga Twala, Connie Furgeson, Morgan Freeman, Kerry Washington, Alexander Skårsgard, Samuel L Jackson, Tom Cruise, Leonardo Di Caprio, Viola Davis and Gabriella Union to name a few.
Their dedication, professionalism and respect for the craft is such a big motivation.
Q. What do you think is the key to a successful actor’s career?
A. You need a tough skin for the constant rejections you’ll experience. The love for continuous learning and perfecting your craft and understanding that you are a vessel in portraying the character will go a long way to help you achieve your goals.
Q. What do you do to unwind?
A. This year has been hectic, both on the personal and business front, I couldn’t get to travel as much as I would have liked. I try to switch off through movies, music and to read as much as I can or play Xbox with the boys.
