AFTER months of stressing and entertaining viewers, Scandal’s Mbali has bowed out.
The character, played by Nolwazi Ngubeni (39), was introduced to the small screen last year as an innocent wife who loves and supports her husband Jojo, played by Melusi Mbele.
A few months later, she faked a pregnancy and forced her sister Winnie (Fundiswa Ngcobo) to rape Jojo so she could get pregnant.
It’s been one scam after another with Mbali because she would do anything to be with Jojo.
On Wednesday, 15 February, Mbali was shot and killed by her mum, played by Makhosazana Ndlovu, who was tired of being terrorised by her.
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The actress from Durban spoke to Daily Sun about playing Mbali.
“Playing that character was a whole lot of fun. I think because it’s limitless, there’s nothing you can’t do when you’re a villain. Pretty much everything goes. Plus Mbali is hilarious. I find her very funny and I found her quite interesting,” she said.
The actress said the character showed her how far she can go as an actress.
“This was Mbali’s journey, and I made sure that I had to tell her story with no restrictions. However far I needed to stretch, I would go with her. That’s the fun of it, having to challenge yourself as a performer,” she said.
“I needed to see what I am able to do, what I can’t do. Sometimes as performers we think we are able to do everything, but if some things don’t work, then let’s find another way to do it and tell the story,” she said.
Although Mbali was a villain, she was also a fan favourite, especially after a scene where she hit Winnie and danced on top of her unconscious body while singing Umlando by Toss, Mdoovar and 9umba.
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“Everything Mbali did was my favourite. The Umlando scene also stood out for me because who does that? But that made sense because Mbali is absurd and she does the unexpected, who thinks of that type of song in that situation? But Mbali would always do the unthinkable,” she said.
Nolwazi said she was ready to say goodbye to Mbali.
“I was ready to do so. So viewers had started expecting a lot from Mbali. Like that Umlando scene, everyone wanted me to do that scene again. I don’t want to get to a point where I have to do what the audience wants. It needs to be in the moment.
“Another thing is, I don’t know if I would be able to give her more than I already had. With such characters, it’s good to know when to walk away. They can get boring, so it’s good to walk away, especially when they are at their peak. This way, the character doesn’t die down,” she said.
She’ll be making a return on the small screens on Umkhokha on Mzansi Magic.
“I’m also working on a Ndebele drama for Mzansi Magic,” she said.
