Actor and businesswoman Palesa Madisakwane is an unforgettable face on SA TV. After two decades of roles in television drama productions and presenting stints, a career which started when she was 16, Madisakwane is plotting a major acting comeback.
The actor born in Rockville, Soweto, has acted in TV shows such as Generations: The Legacy, Ashes to Ashes, Gazlam and Isibaya, also explored her talents as a presenter and as news anchor and producer on ANN7.
In between the acting and hosting shows such as Gospel Gold, she also ventured into business by opening a bridal shop in Sandton that later closed.
The 46-year-old bounces back to acting after landing a role in The Estate that airs on SABC3. The mother of three portrays the role of Rethabile, which was meant to be a cameo but has since been extended by the writers.
In 2019 Madisakwane was involved in a car crash which left her with both physical and mental scars as her memory was affected.
SowetanLIVE caught up with the Soweto beauty with a dimpled chin and shy schoolgirl smile.
You start the year in style with a new role in The Estate
Yes, and I started shooting in November. I am grateful for this opportunity. Initially, it was supposed to be a small role but writers have extended it. They are developing the character further and to an exciting part. I am acting alongside one of the most respected stars, Aubrey Pooe.
Can you tell us about your character?
I play the role of Rethabile, a nursing sister who was fired from her job because someone framed her. She now lives in a shack, hustling for survival. While in the middle of depression and stress, her child dies in a car accident. The character forced me to relive what happened three years ago to me and my daughter. The whole experience helped psychologically and emotionally. It boosted my performance, character and exhibits genuine emotions in me.
Have you healed from the 2019 accident?
I have not healed yet because I am still scared to drive. I have suffered internal injuries, short memory, blackouts and mostly I suffer from headaches. It affects my work so much and my role in Isibaya was cut short because I was forgetting my lines due to memory loss. Then, I landed a presenting gig, and I had a blackout while interviewing someone. I had to push myself to work because I am a single mother and I need to work to survive.
In the past 26 years you were on and off the small screen, was it international?
I have been working for TV for a while presenting and acting since I was 16. Sometimes I’m away from TV because I want to focus on my businesses. But when tabloid newspapers wrote about my personal life, it depressed me. They really damaged my image and brand, it made me angry.
What is worse, I am bringing up teenagers who had to be ridiculed at school because of something that was written in the newspapers. If I am not on screen I focus on my company, do activations at schools and companies. I am also an independent producer and have started producing shows for Moja Love.
Have you always wanted to be in the performing arts industry?
I always knew that I belong to the arts and my parents even saw that in me when I was growing up. I was part of the youth clubs, doing drama, beauty pageants... I used to enter Miss Rockville and I would win the contests. When I was 16, I joined Lillian Dube’s casting agency. I was also part of Tu Nokwe’s Amajika because I loved singing and dancing.
Has your love for the arts spread to your kids?
I have noticed that my first born Bahumi and my last born are into the arts. I was nervous with Bahumi because she dropped out of doing law, not because she was struggling but she just wanted to do something different. I was nervous for her because this is a shrewd industry. The fact that she is Somizi Mhlongo’s daughter will also make headlines. I am glad she has just completed her studies in film producing.
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