Award-winning actress Nomzamo Mbatha opened up about her childhood traumas and how later in adulthood, her self-esteem and education were impacted.
While speaking to Radio 702 presenter, Relebongile Mabotja on The Upside of Failure, the Coming 2 America actress revealed that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked on herself by learning to reconnect with her inner child. The actress claimed that despite feeling loved as a child, she didn’t feel like she got the proper emotional support. When she was 14 years old, her father passed away, and she recalls taking over as his primary carer just before he died.
“Those things being thrust upon you as a child will affect you. Your childhood is stolen in a way,” she said.
The Shaka iLembe actress also spoke about the trials she faced while attending the University of Cape Town (UCT).
“I think UCT for me was a very tough period. The first year at UCT was extremely hard… Number one, I was there on bursaries, so, I am surrounded by kids whose parents are paying. I have to perform to stay there, and if I don’t, it gets taken away,” she recounted.
“I failed… I had four or five distinctions coming out of high school… everyone is happy for you… you are the duck scholar… You have this full scholarship… Everyone has contributed to this dream, and when you get there, it’s the first time you get 35 per cent in your life,” she said.
Nomzamo recalls lying to her family when they called to ask how her academics were doing because she was so ashamed of her new situation.
“It felt like my world was ending… I say this all the time, outside of being in the business of believing in myself, I’ve been in the business of saving my life – for as long as I can remember,” she added.
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