Linda Sebezo is a buoyant force; rightfully so after bouncing back from her 2008 scandal that saw her spend three months as an inmate at the Johannesburg Prison, also known on the streets as Sun City.
More than 10 years after suffering that public humiliation, Sebezo now finds herself at the top of her game with her acting career that spans over four decades.
The veteran actor is a portrait of overcoming adversity having resurrected her legacy and staging a colossal professional comeback after that harrowing real-life tale. Sebezo has scooped multiple SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas) in the last five years.
At 55, she is booking nuanced roles as much as her younger counterparts – if not more.
“People have been asking how I do it because recently I was doing three productions a day,” Sebezo says.
“I was starting on Isibaya at 5.30am then at 11am I would move to eHostela and at 2pm I will finish at The Estate. These different characters... I did them all with the same energy.”
Sebezo does not take her blessings for granted, especially when she remembers her low point in 2008. According to reports, police had raided her Cleveland home in northern Johannesburg after receiving a tip-off and she was arrested allegedly in possession of mandrax valued at a street value of R5m.
She says she was released and cleared of any wrongdoing after spending three months in a prison with maximum security. While Sebezo was relieved that she was set free, the damage to her brand was done as she was a tabloid target.
“People obviously thought just because I’m from the township I’m a thug. But that is not me. I’m a loving and God-fearing person,” Sebezo says.
Sebezo blames it all on “being associated” with the wrong crowd. “Through being associated with people that were not my type I ended up in Sun City prison. I don’t know how it happened, but it was because of the people around me. I’m glad it happened because I learned from that experience,” Sebezo shares.
“I sacrificed everything that I loved and I couldn’t even explain why I was there. I was not a criminal and I did nothing wrong but I ended up there all in the name of love and I got burned badly.”
Sebezo maintains that giving up was never an option because she knew that she was innocent.
“It was a learning curve. I learned that you must respect life and never take it for granted,” says.
Sebenzo, from Rockville in Soweto, knew from a very young age that as the only child she was destined to be an entertainer. She was born into a family of artists – her father Ronnie was a singer and her aunt Nomazizi Molose acted in TV series Mama's Love.
“Acting is like when you are in a kitchen. One day feels like preparing oxtail, the next it’s mutton and then you start playing around with different salads. You do that because you enjoy cooking and you never get tired of it,” she says.
Renowned playwright Gibson Kente discovered her in 1978 at the age of 15. Sebezo went on to star in his popular plays Hungry Spoon, Ziyabheda, Wemame and She Fears The Night.
“I remember it was during the apartheid era we were doing The Hungry Spoon. After we performed we will be arrested and taken to holding cells,” Sebezo recounts.
“You were in this state of confusion and then the following day they will release you. But we were never discouraged and the following day we will do it all over again. We were doing what we love.”
Acting is like when you are in a kitchen. One day feels like preparing oxtail, the next it’s mutton and then you start playing around with different salads. You do that because you enjoy cooking and you never get tired of it
Over the years, Sebezo held many roles in countless TV shows such as Generations, 'Sgudi 'Snaysi, Hlala Kwabafileyo, Kwakhala Nyonini, Ashifa Shabba and Gaz'lam.
But her role as overbearing mother Sharon D in 2016 telenovela Greed & Desire was game-changing.
“I was there before Sharon D, but she changed my life,” Sebezo admits.
It not only won her nationwide popularity, but it earned Sebezo her first Safta. “I got my award after 36 years in the industry. It came after years of perseverance. That role made people notice my undeniable talent.
“That was my first time doing a telenovela and it was the first time I got a monthly salary because I was used to being a call actor getting the little that I received.”
From there she booked roles in It’s Complicated, Lockdown, eHostela and more recently feisty Lillian in Isibaya. She is sad to see the show conclude in April. “I remember when I first joined Isibaya I had 19 calls and that turned into four years. Because of the way I respect my job and craft the character just grew until the end,” Sebezo says.
Sebezo has already booked a lead role in new SABC telenovela The Estate that will replace Isidingo. “It’s a different character from anything I’ve played before. She’s a premier and the dialogue is very heavy, so you need to think like a politician,” she says.
Sebezo’s 22-year-old daughter, her only offspring, is following in her footsteps. She is currently studying television and radio.
Fact file: Linda Sebezo
Favourite actor: Menzi Ngubane
Favourite food: Tripe
Favourite musician: Letta Mbulu
Favourite song: Ain’t No Way to Treat a Lady
Favourite emoji: Victory hand
Top three movies on my playlist:
Escape from Alcatraz
The Devil Wears Prada
The Green Mile
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