Rising star says, ‘Reading is the reason I’m able to express myself freely’
“As actors, we become too comfortable because we don’t make use of our creativity by not branching out into other aspects of the industry,” she said.
Like so many adolescent girls in high school, Cleopatra Simelane (31), had her share of insecurities. The latest addition to the cast of popular South African daytime soap, Isidingo, admits to battling with the English language and having a low self-esteem as a result.
The vivacious TV personality is portraying the role of constable Ntombi Dladla which is currently airing on our screens.
As a student at Sir John Adamson High School who moved to Winchester Hills after her aunt enrolled her at the prestigious institution, she recalled feeling overwhelmed that her peers were well-versed in the language.
The Mzimhlophe native remembered not fitting into her new surroundings and feeling intimidated by her classmates whose command of English rivalled her own.
The bubbly actress and fitness fanatic said, “I always sought validation from people intent on putting me down.”
Simelane described herself as an avid reader who loves learning new things and ideas. As an ardent reader, she fell in love with motivational author Bob Proctor.
His book, ‘You were born rich’, struck a chord deep within her and this altered her perception of herself and the potential she held to add value to the world.
She said, “The book made me understand the importance of self-belief in manifesting your dreams. If I didn’t believe that I could be successful, then I wouldn’t be. I read it every day to remind me that I need to look at myself in a positive light.”
“Don’t be surprised when people consider you to have no value because you see yourself that way.”
The stunning beauty believes that there are many pitfalls in the entertainment sector and places the blame squarely at the actors’ feet.
“As actors, we become too comfortable because we don’t make use of our creativity by not branching out into other aspects of the industry,” she said.
Not one to rest on her laurels, the energetic Simelane expressed her wish to venture into the directing and producing side of the industry.
“As an actor, I was never educated about the importance of public relations and branding, so I took all other roles for granted. I treated TV like any other 9 to 5 and didn’t realise that a lot of work goes into PR and branding,” she added as a warning to newcomers on the scene.
Judging by her energy and passion, Cleopatra Simelane is set to make her own mark on the entertainment industry. She confessed that she was not formally trained and advised aspirant actors to create their own content and upload these to social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Simelane admits that she received a number of opportunities through social media. Who knows, a producer may be browsing and come across your content one day, landing you the dream role you’ve been searching for?
Follow her on Instagram on @Kleeohpatrah, Twitter at #cleopatrasimelane and Cleopatra Simelane on Facebook.
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