Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Warren Masemola: The king of TV and his three Safta nominations

12/02/2018

12 February, 2018 - 06:02

If Warren Masemola wasn't already on the Mzansi actors' A-list, he would be now. He has been nominated in no fewer than three categories at this year's SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas): Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy (Ses'Top La), Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film (Vaya) and Best Actor in a TV Drama (Tjovitjo). by Phumlani S Langa

He deserves all three and says he considers the roles an absolute privilege to play.

The 34-year-old was born in Soshanguve and raised in Ga-Rankuwa. He lived with his grandparents, both of whom were blind. He admired them for how little they pitied themselves, a quality he took on board in his own life. He became fascinated by their use of gestures to communicate emotions. Both would serve him well in his career.

Masemola has appeared in over 20 shows, among them Intersexions, Scandal!, Heist and Ayeye.

In Joburg, he studied theatre at Afrofusion and contemporary dance at Moving Into Dance Mophatong. We weren't well off at home and so my sister encouraged me to do dancing as an escape, he explains. He attributes his versatility in roles to his multidisciplinary training.

My first stage show was in 2006, at the Dr John Kani Theatre and I was very excited when I got back a decade later, in 2016, to rehearse for When Swallows Cry. My passion for performance was revitalised, thanks to the playwright Mike van Graan for such a great script and director Lesedi Job for making us drink from the fountain of nuances.

Touchvision enables creative professionals to achieve stellar growth

Request a trial, book a demo or call us for a chat

Get New Film Business in 2018

Select your Membership

His TV breakthrough came in 2008, when he bagged the role of Lentswe on e.tv's Scandal!.

His peers hail him for his intensity and sincere approach to his art. For this chameleon of character, it is essential to stay focused. Actors can easily be distracted by the business that happens on set, then quickly forget the character's journey.

His star may be shining, but he remains concerned about the development of the industry: The country has potential. I believe something like an independent film fund will greatly assist productions like Tjovitjo. The hit show was originally intended to be a movie, but a lack of money meant it had to start on the small screen. He wishes the arts minister was more up to speed.

That way he will not have to embarrass the entire ministry by congratulating the entire' cast of a documentary like Miners Shot Down when accolades are received.

Masemola's first Safta win was for Ses'Top La, when he burst onto our screens in 2012 as the flaming Thokozani, AKA Thoko Chanel. The character was written specially for Masemola. Mandla N (of Gang of Instrumentals fame) is the mind behind film production company Black Brain Pictures, which bought us the comedy. He has nothing but praise for Masemola. [Thoko Chanel] came naturally because of our history going way back to when we were laaities.

www.channel24.co.za

Actors and Performance

Africa South Africa
LINK: http://www.filmcontact.com/news/south-africa/warren-masemola-king-tv-a...
See more stories from filmcontact

Africa Stories

18/04/2024

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa puts his plan to eliminate Khwezi in motion

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa puts his plan to eliminate Khwezi in motionDon't miss Thursday, 18 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem ...

18/04/2024

Prison Journalism: April's experiences of black boudoir

Prison Journalism: April's experiences of black boudoirThabo Mthembu was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2014 to 2019. Read Thabo's story by Tha...

18/04/2024

Prison Journalism: Can gangsterism and violence be reduced in prison?

Prison Journalism: Can gangsterism and violence be reduced in prison?Dean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor C...

18/04/2024

Software-making music: How DJs are doing it

Software making music: How DJs are doing itSoftware plays a big part in music production, recording, and performances. Here's what DJs are using, and how yo...

18/04/2024

Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele later blindsides an unwitting Faith into meeting with Zola

Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele later blindsides an unwitting Faith into meeti...

18/04/2024

Debut author stuns with international bestselling thriller Anna O'

Debut author stuns with international bestselling thriller Anna O'Matthew Blake burst onto the book scene with his bestseller Anna O', a deliciously d...

18/04/2024

Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 17 April 2024 [video]

Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 17 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African ...

18/04/2024

Watch: Trailers for the best Afrikaans movies ever made

Watch: Trailers for the best Afrikaans movies ever madeDon't know what to watch? Here are some of the best Afrikaans movie trailers ever made, including Too...

17/04/2024

Tonight on Scandal: Dintle reels in the line but it seems she's the only one dangling

Tonight on Scandal: Dintle reels in the line but it seems she's the only one...

17/04/2024

Trailer debate: What's the BEST South African movie?

Trailer debate: What's the BEST South African movie?The trailer debate is on! We'd like to spark the debate What's your favourite South African mov...

17/04/2024

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lewatle and Pax are punished for their misdeeds

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lewatle and Pax are punished for their misdeedsDon't miss Wednesday, 17 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Sa...

17/04/2024

Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac tells Funani he has no leads on Nkosi's hijackers yet

Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac tells Funani he has no leads on Nkosi's hij...

17/04/2024

Ster-Kinekor to cut 236 jobs, close THESE nine cinemas in South Africa

Ster-Kinekor to cut 236 jobs, close THESE nine cinemas in South AfricaSter-Kinekor has announced plans to lay off almost a third of its 728 employees and close ...

17/04/2024

Disney and National Geographic celebrate Earth Month

Disney and National Geographic celebrate Earth MonthDisney's storytelling prowess merged with National Geographic's legacy of exploration to celebrate E...

17/04/2024

Prison Journalism: How have you changed as a person while in prison?

Prison Journalism: How have you changed as a person while in prison?Jeffrey Shockley is a writer serving a life sentence in the State Correctional Institution-F...

17/04/2024

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa is determined to solve Dikeledi's sudden disappearance mystery

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa is determined to solve Dikeledi's su...

17/04/2024

Smoke and Mirrors: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]

Smoke and Mirrors: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Afri...

17/04/2024

Skeem Saam: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]

Skeem Saam: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African so...

17/04/2024

Scandal!: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]

Scandal!: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websi...

17/04/2024

Sibongile and The Dlaminis' gains first position on DStv

Sibongile and The Dlaminis' gains first position on DStvRhythm World's popular telenovela Sibongile and The Dlaminis' is the most-watched TV show o...

17/04/2024

House of Zwide: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]

House of Zwide: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African ...

16/04/2024

Call for the 18th Annual South African Film and Television Awards Jury has been extended

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...

16/04/2024

Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele feels Sandile's not a true friend anyway if he's not happy with her

Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele feels Sandile's not a true friend anyway i...

16/04/2024

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Evelyn learns about the full scale of her son's troubles

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Evelyn learns about the full scale of her son's troub...

16/04/2024

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Caesar and Jaxon finally receive the moment they have longed for

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Caesar and Jaxon finally receive the moment they h...

16/04/2024

Smoke and Mirrors: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [VIDEO]

Smoke and Mirrors: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Afric...

16/04/2024

Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [video]

Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...

16/04/2024

Historic: House of Zwide' is the most-watched TV show on e.tv

Historic: House of Zwide' is the most-watched TV show on e.tvE.tv's fashion telenovela House of Zwide' beat Scandal!' for the first time sinc...

16/04/2024

Tonight on Scandal: Jojo's doing his best to make amends, but Phakamile worries about their future

Tonight on Scandal: Jojo's doing his best to make amends, but Phakamile worr...

15/04/2024

Scandal!: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [video]

Scandal!: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websit...

15/04/2024

Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac asks Bra Zakes for help with any information he might come across, regarding Nkosi's hijacking

Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac asks Bra Zakes for help with any information he...

15/04/2024

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Phomolo threatens Pretty in an attempt to save Lehasa

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Phomolo threatens Pretty in an attempt to save LehasaDon't miss Monday, 15 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem...

15/04/2024

Tonight on Scandal: Dintle turns to an old friend to assist with her mission

Tonight on Scandal: Dintle turns to an old friend to assist with her missionDon't miss Monday, 15 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scand...

15/04/2024

Christianity: Four people who claimed to be Jesus

Christianity: Four people who claimed to be JesusChristianity is one of the world's dominant religions, with more than 80% of South Africans following this ...

15/04/2024

House of Zwide: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [VIDEO]

House of Zwide: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African w...

15/04/2024

Die Antwoord's collaborators: what they're doing now

Die Antwoord's collaborators: What they're doing nowDie Antwoord is a controversial hip-hop group founded in 2008. As a duo, they've also collaborat...

15/04/2024

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa hides her turmoil and goes through with marrying Caesar

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa hides her turmoil and goes through with ...

14/04/2024

Afrikaans television shows make a comeback

Afrikaans television shows make a comebackClassic Afrikaans television shows are making a comeback, according to the streaming service AfriForumTV. Here's w...

12/04/2024

Scandal!: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [video]

Scandal!: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websit...

12/04/2024

Skeem Saam: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [video]

Skeem Saam: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...

12/04/2024

House of Zwide: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [VIDEO]

House of Zwide: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African w...

12/04/2024

Tonight on House of Zwide: Sandile changes his mind about telling Faith that Zanele is still seeing Zola

Tonight on House of Zwide: Sandile changes his mind about telling Faith that Zan...

12/04/2024

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors Season 1 finale!: Thandiswa learns that Mthetho and Caesar were also involved in her sister's murder

Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors Season 1 finale!: Thandiswa learns that Mthetho and...

12/04/2024

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Babeile is shocked to find out who harmed Sthoko

Tonight on Skeem Saam: Babeile is shocked to find out who harmed SthokoDon't miss Thursday, 11 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Sa...

12/04/2024

Hollywoodbets introduces power couple as Brand Ambassadors, blending Sports and Entertainment

Hollywoodbets introduces power couple as Brand Ambassadors, blending Sports and ...

12/04/2024

Smoke and Mirrors: Thursday's episode, 11 April 2024 [VIDEO]

Smoke and Mirrors: Thursday's episode, 11 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Afr...

12/04/2024

Prison Journalism: Gang operations in South African prisons

Prison Journalism: Gang operations in South African prisonsDavid van Nek was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2013 until 2015 and participated in the resto...

12/04/2024

Prison Journalism: Challenges faced when released from prison

Prison Journalism: Challenges faced when released from prisonFawaaz Adendorff was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Correctional Centre and participated in a Restorativ...

12/04/2024

Tonight on Scandal: Dintle finds herself on the wrong side of the law

Tonight on Scandal: Dintle finds herself on the wrong side of the lawDon't miss Friday, 12 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! on ...