Actress Ontiretse Radipabe says landing an acting role on eTV’s The Black Door was the validation she has been looking for years.
Radipabe, 18, says achieving this feat is the beginning to a greater dream for her.
We sat down with her to get to know her better.
Is this your first acting role?
It’s my first acting role, yes, but it is not my first time being on TV. I had my short stint on YoTV Land as one of the children on the bus with Malume but due to my constant moving around, I had to forsake that dream for a little while.
Although it was an amazing experience, I remember how I was closed off to people because of my own past. I would be mean for no reason because I feared that I would be judged. It took a lot for me to get to where I am now. Very confident and proud of who I am.
How did you land the gig on The Black Door?
After my time on YoTV, I definitely knew that being on screen was my calling. I remember meeting up with [actor] Bongani Maseko and another lady named Happy, and asking them for pointers on how I can land my first acting gig.
They promised to scout something for me. A call came through from ausi Happy that I should expect a life-changing call in February and it did. She just took a chance on me.
Tell us about your character as Martha?
Martha is Rebecca Mahlangu’s housekeeper, who is better known as Mam’ Rebs portrayed by seasoned actress Linda Sebenzo. When Martha is not tending to her cleaning duties, she is Mam’ Rebs’ right-hand woman who keeps an eye on what going on in her house when she isn't around. Martha also keeps an eye on Rebecca's daughter, Boniswa, who has a substance abuse problem.
How was your upbringing while living with dwarfism?
People used to make fun of me a lot. When I’d be walking in the streets, you’d find people laughing, and mostly that treatment would come from the elders. Some would even call each other to come look at me, making my life really difficult.
But I remember one day looking at myself in the mirror and reminding myself that ‘I will never allow people to destroy my life or stop me from achieving my dream’. I grew up under a lot of scrutiny with a lot of opinions about what I can or can’t do.
Why acting?
Why not acting? I am really living my dream regardless of how I was created by God. Living with dwarfism brought a lot of opinions upon my life but I know that I am made for the camera. I feel free because I can be anything I want to be.
Why did you move a lot and where did you live?
I lived in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, with my mother for some time before moving to Mpumalanga’s Balfour and then Limpopo where I did my grade 8 until this year when I had to move back to Joburg for acting. I moved a lot because my parents used to fight a lot at that time and I am told that they didn’t want me to get affected by their quarrels.
What did you want to be when you grew up? Has that dream changed?
I wanted to be a doctor. Even though I am pursuing my dream in acting, I will still study towards this passion of mine. I am still in grade 10, so I still have a long way to go.
What do you hope that your journey teaches the next child?
I want any child that sees me to know that people will forever talk but what’s important is how you view yourself. The dream lies within you. And for everyone else watching my story unfold, I want them to know that never judge a book by its cover.
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