Xolile Tshabalala
Xolile Tshabalala
Xolile Tshabalala is a South African actress best known for her role as Julia Motene on the SABC1 soapie Generations (South African TV series), from 2002-2005. She is one of the actress and film director who packs major talent and not just in the world of acting. She has been awarded severally, which further proves her talent and things keep getting better and better. Aside from her successful career, she has fallen prey to various negative aspects of life, but she took them with stride and rose above it all to continue shining.[2] She appears on Netflix's Blood and Water (South African TV series) in 2020.
Early Life
Xolile was born in 1977, in Vrede in the Free state, at her grandfather's bedroom and she got named after her grandmother. Her birth also initiated the birth of a very special bond between her and her grandfather who instilled a lot of great life lessons to the young Xolile. The bond was so strong between them that the actress couldn't get a job without the approval of her grandfather.
"If I don’t get a job it is because my grandfather doesn’t approve, I don’t go to jobs, jobs come to me,” she said.
“I was pregnant and I remember my grandfather did not approve of the person I was with.
I remember I was sleeping one day and I had a dream and my grandfather said ‘ngizoza ngizothatha umntwana’ (I’m coming to take the baby) I had a miscarriage that day.
My grandfather approves, that’s how I live my life," she shared.
The Generations (South African TV series) star attended the National School of the Arts, where she graduated with honors and the title of "Best Overall Performer". [1][4] In 2005 she took time away from the screen to attend New York Film Academy. This was the step that would propel her to film production and directing. She would not only be on screen or on stage but behind it too, a jack of all trades.
Career
Xolile started performing during her matric year when she was opportune to play alongside with her mentor.
They starred together in The Crucible which was shown at Market Theatre (Johannesburg). She took up the role of Julia Motene in Generations (South African TV series), finessing the character from 2002 to 2005.
The actress played the role of Sister Zama in the seventh season of the SABC 1 drama series Soul City (South African TV series) (in 2006) and also starred in NCIS season 5 as Sayda Zuri, in the episode titled "Designated Target" in 2007.
She has also starred in a large number of Television productions such as Secret in my Bosom, Scoop Schoombie, Justice for All, Isidingo, and Soul City (South African TV series) season 7, where she played sister Zama. Not limited to on-screen acting, Xolile has also starred in various plays which include "Another Child"
She featured as Mandi Mbalula, Mvelo's (Yonda Thomas) father's calculating accountant and second in command at Nobela Holdings, in the SABC 1 drama series Fallen, in 2011. While in 2013, she starred as TT's gorgeous wife Gugu, an ambitious player development executive who gives the casino's high rollers whatever they want but is unable to give TT the one thing he wants - a child, in the SABC 3 drama series High Rollers.[1][2]
Filmography
| S/N | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blood and Water (South African TV series)(TV Series) | Nwabisa Bhele | 2020 |
| 2 | Secrets and Scandal (TV Series) | Felicia Okpara | 2017 |
| 3 | Miraculous Weapon | Lesedi | 2017 |
| 4 | Rise (TV Movie) | Fezeka Dlamini | 2015 |
| 5 | 4Play : Sex Tips for Girls (TV Series) | Noma | 2010 |
| 6 | NCIS (TV series)(TV Series) | Sayda Zuri | 2007 |
| 7 | Rift (Video Short) | 2005 | |
| 8 | Generations (South African TV series)(TV Series) | Julia Motene | 1993[6] |
Nominations and Awards
Duku Duku Viewers Choice award in 2003
People Magazine Crystal Award for best soap actress in 2004
South African Film and Television Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap in 2006 for her role in Generations: The Legacy.
South African Film and Television Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama Series in 2012 for her role in Fallen.
South African Film and Television Awards for Best Actress in a Lead Role in a TV Drama in 2013 for her role in 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls.
South African Film and Television Awards for Best Achievement by a Lead Actress in a Made for TV Movie in 2016 for her role in Rise.[5]
Xolile Ventures into Fashion
In 2019, Xolile, the veteran actress who has already been known for her wokeness and no-nonsense person started a T-Shirt Line called I Rise Like My Afro. She made it clear that she isn't raising an awareness but the range was inspired by ancestors and being an African.
"When a child is born the first thing elders look at is their hair and when the ancestors pays someone a visit they identify that person by their hair.
Even in the bible God makes significance reference to hair."
She started this to empower young ladies to be proud of wearing their afro or natural hair and embrace their natural beauty.
“We live in a society where many young girls are told they not pretty enough until they wear silky and straight hair and that is not the case, beauty comes in all forms and shapes, colour and sizes,”
She was overwhelmed by the positive response and support got from people, and this makes her to start working on an online stores where people could place orders as she delivers and couriers.
Personal Life
She has a special ability of being able to contact being in the spirit realm, and she executed this when she was almost robbed in her house.
“I have a gift, people broke into my house the other day, four men, and one of them who actually attacked me, I looked at him and I said ‘your mother needs you to stop,’ and he started screaming and instead of them attacking me they ran away out my house, yeah I’m gifted.”
She is a simple woman that takes life as it is.
She prefers to do her laundry manually even though she could afford using machines.[2]
Social Media
Xolile Tshabalala Instagram is active with 3620 followers and 680 posts. She posts on her experiences and sometimes her everyday life. Her handle is @xolile.tshabalala. [7]