Actress and Royalty Soapie Award nominee, Mampho Brescia talks to us about her nomination as the most outstanding villain.
How are you feeling about your nomination?
I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in a field I love, and for this labour of the heart to be recognised by my peers and fans.
What does this nomination mean for you and your career?
It is a step up. I believe in starting with a vision and exerting every effort towards it, engaging in it with perseverance and faith. To be nominated is like an opportunity to take a breather and account for what I have done and what is left to do.
Were you expecting the nomination?
The ingredients are right: great platform, great team and great timing. On this basis, yes, a nomination is the natural outcome of sustained efforts and passion.
How do you feel about your role as a villain?
I thoroughly enjoy getting under the skin of Iris. Any human being is a complex mesh of predispositions and emotions, and it is fascinating to explore the various facets that make Iris who she is. No one is one dimensional, and neither is Iris. She might come off as a villain, but in her world she is not. Her public appeal is a sign that most people relate to some part of her personality.
How have people reacted to you in the streets/mall since you play a villain?
The overwhelming majority have the ability to dissociate the character with the actor. I generally receive great compliments for my efforts to portray Iris.
If you win, what will the win mean for you and your career?
It is a stepping stone, and a confirmation that my personal project is on the right track. As actors we invest a lot of ourselves in our work. To have our efforts recognised by the industry and fans is humbling and energising. Thank you to all the fans: the knowledge that I can connect with you through my character and evoke so many emotions through the show is the best feeling.
