Nkosinathi Maphalala, who is famously known as Nay Maps, is a rare breed in the acting industry, appearing in three TV shows and a film at the same time.
The 32-year-old appears in recurring supporting and bigger roles that have a huge influence on the storylines.
Maphalala features in Muvhango on SABC2 as Tshireletso, in Umkhokha on Mzansi Magic as Siphamandla, and he acts as Zenzele in e.tv soapie Imbewu. He also appears in the comedy film Little Big Mouth, a Netflix film that premiered on October 22. Two other films that he shot will be released next year.
The actor, who was first introduced to viewers as Mxolisi in Uzalo, credits all the good happenings to his open-mindedness and looking to learn every day. Juggling many roles is not a child’s play, but he manages because of discipline, passion and love he has for acting.
“I am so grateful to everything happening right now. My mentor once said, ‘Nay, you will go far because you have a teachable spirit and you are able to take direction’. I try to apply that to my life holistically. No matter what I am going through or what character I am playing it is important to allow myself to learn. Life teaches you that you can never know it all not matter how old or young you are,” he says.
Trying to pin Maphalala down for an interview in the past few months has been a serious mission because he was shooting even on weekends and at night at times. He has been flying to Durban a lot for Imbewu and Umkhokha. Sometimes he shoots in two different locations in one day, spending the first six hours on one set and moving to a different set in the afternoon.
“When I get home at night I still have to go through the lines of all the roles that I am playing because preparation is key. I try to keep a healthy diet. I always have my blender and ingredients with me and make smoothies. I start the day with a prayer, bit of exercise and drink a lot of water. On cases where I have to switch sets, I have to get into another character immediately when I leave the other set.”
It is all about putting yourself out there and give your best at all times. I don’t want to lie, things that have been happening in my career humble me. People might be seeing things happening now but they don’t know my journey, where I started.
Despite auditioning for years without landing any roles, Maphalala never doubted his abilities, even when casting directors told him that he did not have what it takes to be a TV actor.
He knew that his time to shine would come... and that time is now. He did not even have to audition for some of the roles he landed. People who thought he was not talented enough to make it as a TV actor are now willing to work with him.
“It is all about putting yourself out there and give your best at all times. I don’t want to lie, things that have been happening in my career humble me. People might be seeing things happening now but they don’t know my journey, where I started. They don’t understand that after what you have been through you reap the fruits. For me, God has made it happen. I am grateful that now I do get people requesting me to take a role and sometimes go through auditions.”
Some of his multiple roles have taken him out of his comfort zone because of the subject he deals with: the Muvhango character deals with gender-based violence while his roles in Umkhokha and Imbewu tackle different family dynamics.
“I play Siphamandla in Umkhokha, a son of a great church leader. He got mixed up with the wrong people because he was running away from his father who was grooming him to be a leader. After being arrested, his father died and he started reflecting on his life. He realised that he never had time to know his father well and he only understands now that his father was strict to him because he saw himself in him,” Maphalala explains.
He regards the Muvhango character as the most challenging one because Tshireletso is an abuser and manipulator.
“With Tshireletso people saw that I can speak Setswana and the Pretoria lingo. He is abusive and a narcissist who has been hiding his true character. I find it hard to act the role because I have never laid my hand on a woman.
"It is totally outside who I am. With the Imbewu role, Zenzele is just a guy who wants to avenge his father’s death. In the comedy film, I play a very lighthearted role of a guy who does not take anything in life serious.”
Away from his hectic acting schedule, Maphalala enjoys walking on the beach, visiting his family or composing his own music that he is planning to release soon.
As much as he enjoys acting, Maphalala wanted to be a football star. He dreamt of playing for English Premiership giants Manchester United. He played for Pretoria team Arcadia Shepherds for a few years before he studied information technology. His break came through a presenting job in lifestyle show Hashtag, which aired on the now-defunct ANN7 channel.
Fact File of Nkosinathi Maphalala
Favourite music: Amapiano
Favourite artists: DJ Maphorisa and Kabza de Small
Favourite TV show: Umkhokha
Favourite actors: Siyabonga Twala and Sibonile Ngubane
Favourite food: Ujeqe (steamed bread) and any stew
Favourite holiday destination: Zanzibar
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