Social media is a breeding ground for both opportunity and ignorance.
The latter tends to dominate timelines and trending topics but every so often, a person can harness the purer side of it and promote artistic expression.
This is what actor Gugulethu Xofa has been doing on TikTok.
She is best known for her role in BET’s soap opera Redemption. That aired a few years ago and since then she has been looking for ways to make it back into the limelight.
"So far, I have been pushing my brand Masgebengu from Queen G, ensuring people don’t forget about it. So, pushing clips from TikTok and Facebook,” she says explaining her skit-styled drama clips which people seem to gravitate towards.
Gugu recalls a clip of hers from 2017 where a character she played chased her lover with a gun and people likened her to Queen Latifah. The scene went viral and this is what led her to taking social media more seriously.
Gugu has recently selected as a brand ambassador for Rand Water alongside some veteran actors which she says has been a good experience.
She is particularly excited about her latest project, a feature film scheduled to be on our small screens soon.
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“I have been shooting something that is coming soon, a movie. The trailer is out for Isabanyana and is also on YouTube. I have been working with Eutopia Films and it has been great, working with a few people from Yizo Yizo like Chester, better known as Earnest Msibi.
“We’re all from Zola and that’s why we are working together. It can be hard; This industry can shut you out, but we are doing this out of our own pockets, and it has happened. It is a very nice movie, a comedy from Zola and we will be on your screens soon.”
The 41-year-old has found things challenging ever since the advent of Covid-19.
“I am grateful and humble. It has been rough since Covid. I buried almost my entire family, but we must keep moving on,” she says optimistically.
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She has also recently moved from Zola to Orange Farm.
Gugu says she decided to downgrade and get an RDP in Orange Farm.
“The people have been so welcoming, and I am so happy. It is such a nice place to be and it's great because there are a lot of people from Soweto here.”
She has been in the industry for a while now but is somehow always on the periphery. Despite that, her desire for on-screen and stage glory has never waned.
“I have been acting since I was 15. I started in primary school, and I have been doing it ever since. I am still trying to push to the top and I won’t stop till I get way up there in the sky. A whole 25 years in the industry and one day I want to be on the telenovelas in the kasi, working under Mandla M and the likes of that. I hope and I pray that one day my talents will be recognized.”
She believes this avenue of the arts is crucial as it can be the perfect teaching aid.
“The youth doesn’t like learning that much and the best way to get through them is social media and TV. Acting is the perfect tool. Self-expression is key. When reality strikes, the best way to make sense of it is through acting. Acting is for the most part, reality.”
She has always admired the work of actors like Linda Sebezo and a few international artisans.
“I love mam Linda Sebezo. She is my favourite. I am glad because I once shared a scene with her a few years ago. It was in Rented Family, yho bra, it was a dream. Internationally it’s Denzel Washington, I love him. It would be great to meet him. That man means business. I also love Queen Latifah.”
