Wright Ngubeni is a former child star who is affectionately remembered for his role as Jonathan Motene in the SABC 1 soapie Generations. He tells us about his growth in the entertainment industry.
By: Fundiswa Nkwanyana
1. I started acting when I was five years old. My career kicked off with children’s TV shows. Back then, I was just having fun; I never thought it would turn into a long-term career.
2. As I grew older, I fell deeply in love with the art of acting. Over the years, I kept going for auditions while roles were flooding in. Being part of a popular soapie at a young age made me realise that I still needed to explore the world of acting as I did not want to be typecast or get comfortable. I was eager and hungry to learn more, so I decided to leave Generations in order to plan my career path.
3. I am glad that I planned ahead. I knew where I was headed, and spent years perfecting my craft. I’m where I am today because I made strategic moves that have enabled my career to grow. I am a seasoned actor, TV presenter and part of a social empowerment movement called Self Made Cheese because I prepared myself for the path that I wanted to follow.
4. Nothing is more important than preparation. I treat my acting as a business and my name as a reputable brand. I’m making moves and taking up roles that push and challenge me to better myself. I spent years preparing for acting roles that I am doing today.
* Catch Wright Ngubeni in a captivating role as a street hustler named 5 bob on e.tv drama series Heist on Tuesdays at 9.30pm.
