BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
From being the queen of kwaito as a member of Boom Shaka in the 90s, to presenting popular TV shows such as SABC 1 dance show Jika Majika, and making her name as an acclaimed actress in Yizo Yizo, Gaz’lam, Zone 14 and Gomora, Thembi Seete has proven that she can do it all.
This time, the SAFTA nominee is set to appear in the new season of Showmax’s hit drama series Adulting, playing the role of Portia, a middle-aged, rich housewife who is at her sexual peak. Adulting Season 2 premieres on Showmax on 4 December, with new episodes every Monday.
How would you describe the character that you’re playing in Adulting?
Portia is a housewife, who has a home and a family that she loves very much. But as we know, as women, being spoiled is not enough. You still want care, love and someone to come back home to you and say, ‘I missed you’. That’s the part that’s lacking in her life.
Her husband gets into a whole lot of things, and does no good. This gets to a point where Portia feels like ‘I’m a woman and I also have needs.’ And this is when she decides, ‘I’m gonna take control of my life, my happiness and my needs.’ She goes out there to look for what’s missing in her life and she gets it. The best thing is, she’s paying for it and enjoying it at the same time.
What was most challenging about bringing this character to life?
My intimate scenes have never been this intimate. It really felt like it was my first time acting and that’s the beauty about acting. You can’t really say you’re comfortable with it because acting introduces you to different characters and different personalities. The things you get to do are always different. So with this one, it came with a whole lot of things that really shook me a little bit and made me uncomfortable. But I also love being uncomfortable.
What did you think of Season 1 of Adulting?
I absolutely loved it. I just felt like it’s so current and speaks to what is happening in our country right now. This is what boys do and this is what they get up to after varsity. You look for a job, you get your first break, you make your first million and what do you do? You go buy a car, look for this woman, rent an apartment and go wild. The stories resonated with me. It’s a very interesting story that speaks to a lot of young people.
How is Portia different from the roles you’ve played before?
I’ve never played the rich, spoiled and glamorous lady. It’s always been township based and I would like to believe that Portia also has a township background because I kind of brought in that element as well. That’s the only part where I felt like this character is bringing something new.
What made you say yes to this role?
First of all, I’ve always wanted to work with Tshedza Pictures. I think they are exceptional storytellers. Also, there comes a point in life when you get tired of playing it safe. You sort of want to stretch yourself a bit and kind of surprise yourself. I love the element of surprising myself and not being too comfortable in the things that I do. I know a lot of people will be like, ‘Thembi seems like she’s very strict with herself and she’s a good role model.’ But, why are we so scared to talk about sex? Why are we scared to talk about intimacy?
I think this stems from our parents because they were never comfortable enough to talk to us about intimacy. But it’s something that should be handled with respect. These are the elements I thought about – to say ‘you know what, sex is not a bad thing. It’s what created all of us.’
Do you think you share some similarities with your character?
She’s sexy! She’s the bomb! She’s the liker of things! I just love her guts. When she sets her mind to something, she goes for it, wholeheartedly.
Why should people watch Adulting?
People should watch Adulting because they will see themselves reflected in a lot of characters and will hear themselves speak through the characters. You know when you relate to a story, it becomes more enjoyable. Also the fact that it’s not just about intimacy; it touches on real issues that we all go through. Aside from the fact that it’s got the most incredibly talented actors, it also boasts exceptional writing and production. Overall, the story comes together beautifully.
Image and source: Showmax
