They asked me where I was based, I said Rustenburg and of course I was too far from Johannesburg so they were thrown off by that. I spoke to my parents about it too and they told me to wait until I was 18. I was a staunch academic after that and wanted to pursue very traditionally serious jobs. Like accounting, medicine and so on. I never resonated with acting after that. I did develop an interest in photography and videography though. So I went to AFDA and also followed production companies online and one day I saw a post about an open casting with Seriti Films. I really wanted to go and try it out and was mostly snooping around at the time (I wanted to see who was there and how things work) but I really enjoyed the audition. It was for MaZet and I knew I probably wouldn’t get the role because I didn’t look like that character but they reassigned me to another role to audition for next, which came as a surprise to me. When I returned a few days later, there were only 3 of us there for the role and I knew it was serious then. And well, now we’re here.

What a crazy story.

What genre of filmmaking would you like to tap into?

I have specific stories that I want to tell but I haven’t thought as far as genre. I dont think it’s limited to that for me. I’m drawn to telling history and I know I’m interested in telling an epic. As well as documentaries. There’s so many interesting people and things in this country that we don’t know about.. I love telling untold stories hence epics and documentaries. Maybe even an action film, one that someone like me would love to watch. One that’s aesthetically pleasing as well. Especially because it’s a male dominated genre.

How do you, personally, differentiate between Filmmaking & Television production? Is there one you prefer more than the others?

I think I’m a limited series girl because it’s the best of both worlds. It looks and feels like an extended film with an ending. I don’t think I’d do a series. (Laughs) It’s so long!

Have you always been confident in your creative voice? Or is it something that you had to grow into/are still growing into?

Girrrlll! I’m growing into it, I’m actually still finding it. I said I’m a limited series girl but that might change in a year. I’m definitely still finding my voice and that comes with accepting that fact and being honest about it. I’ll become more confident as I find it. But I’ve really surprised myself at times. So I know there’s something there because of these confident surprise moments I’ve had.

What challenges do you, personally, face as a (young) woman in the industry?

As a young creative first- I’m blessed to be in an environment where I’m given opportunities. I’m speaking from a point of privilege, because I’m supported even where I work now. They are supportive in assisting me find other opportunities too. The struggles I’ve had are more personal. Learning on the job is one. It’s the best way to learn but it’s so hard because there’s still so much you don’t know. And as a young creative I struggle with the idea of having a brand and having to expose yourself. The access thing bothers me because I’m a very private person. I hate keeping up with appearances, on social media or whatever. It’s becoming a standard by which people take you seriously on. It gives me the ick and is incredibly frustrating. But from a work point of view, I’m privileged to work with such strong and talented women. They are a reflection of what I can be and they dont take sh*t. That shows me that I don’t have to either. The environment I’m in truly allows me to flourish.

On that beautiful note, what would you say is the best thing about being a woman in the Film and Television industry right now?

Having a bunch of other black women!!

Periodt!!!

(Laughing together)

It’s the most refreshing thing and makes you feel seen. It reminds you that anything is possible. Everything you want because you can name a black woman doing it. My executive producer is a black woman and that’s the best thing to witness. I look at her and feel like I’m on my way too. It’s really our time as black women. There’s you, there’s Karabo M, man!

I’m glad we have each other to look at and feel that way about.

Speaking about protection, when you started out in the role you have now, did you have an agent and how did that impact your experience?

I didn’t have an agent when I started and I got an agent further in but they didn’t help me at all. It was quite an awkward experience. They knew my aspirations, limitations and boundaries yet kept pushing me to do things I didn’t want to do. So that didn’t work out. I don’t have an agent now but I have people who help me. Fortunately they are in the industry too and can connect me to people who can take me further or help me with opportunities when I need them. But not having an agent means that I’ve had to fight a lot of battles myself. I have experienced being paid my worth and in some instances I haven’t. It’s been good and bad honestly.

What’s the biggest takeaway you want people to get from your catalogue of work?

Uhm.. I haven’t had that many roles to play but I hope I won’t have to play the same role over and over again in future. I’m picky and being picky isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I don’t mind going to certain places and playing certain roles if it means serving the story and hopefully that story is one that helps people in some way. Stories that leave people better you know.