Actress Liteboho Molise opens up about playing Tebogo on Muvhango

When fans see her as her character on Muvhango, they could easily describe her as uptight. 

But actress Liteboho Molise is anything but. She enjoys not just acting but is an avid rapper. 

The best day of her life was sharing the stage with legendary Motswako rapper HHP, dropping bars to Harambe during a concert in Lesotho in 2014, she says. 

Liteboho speaks to Drum during her lunch break while on the Muvhango set.

“It was Jabba man; can you imagine how cool that was? People think I am uptight because of Tebogo and I am not, I do not think I am very interesting, but I am not as uptight as people think I am. I love old school hip hop from the likes on Jay Z, Snoop Dogg and Eminem. Locally, I love HHP’s music as well as old school Khuli Chana. I listen to a bit of Cassper too,” she says.

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Another thing people did not know about her is that she loves to dance.

“I am really good dancer, even though I think I am a bit rusty right now, but I can dance. I need to get in front of a mirror and practice some Amapiano moves or the pouncing cat,” she laughs.

If she was not an actress, Liteboho would definitely pursue a career in politics.

“Actually, I think maybe when I am older, I can get into politics. I am very interested in politics,” she says.

She has been on Muvhango since 2012 and her character has developed from being a domestic worker to the mayor’s wife and she has her eyes set on the chieftaincy.

“It has been a great journey. When a character transforms the way Tebogo has, each stage feels like a new character and it challenges you as an actor and I have to channel different people into the character. Tebogo will always be interesting to me.

“Tebogo has taught me to go after what I want. Sometimes I secretly wish I had her drive and fearlessness because she does not care who you are, if you are in her way somehow, she will let you know. She is all about the bottom-line.”

When she first arrived on the Muvhango set, she was determined to succeed and did not let the language barriers get to her.

“I come from Lesotho where we only speak Sesotho so I did not know any of the other languages that were spoken on the show, not just TshiVenda. Then I decided to read the whole script because it is in English so that I do not only go on cue, but I also know what the other person is saying too. I also spent a lot of time with my colleagues off set and they would teach me how to pronounce certain words and that helped tremendously, even with our chemistry on camera. I was just very eager to learn.”

Now, she's adding a new role to her life. Last month 1Magic announced their new telenovela, Lingashoni, which will premiere on 22 March. She will be playing Seipati Moeketsi, a farm worker on the show.

Speaking about her upcoming role, Liteboho says viewers will definitely like this new character.

“I am so excited about this new role,” she says.

“She is a much nicer person that Tebogo is. Over the years I have learnt that people have a love hate relationship with Tebogo. Some might wish they had an alter ego like her and other people are just irritated by her.  But Seipati is a really nice lady. She is a little bit older than Tebogo and she lives to protect her family. She goes to great lengths to ensure that her family structure is kept secure. She is also very traditional and is quite layered. I think viewers are going to like her,” she says.

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Liteboho says as actors she believes they should constantly be doing their best to hone their craft.

“Being on a soapie for a long time can make you be on autopilot. That’s why we must constantly develop ourselves. Read, watch masterclasses and do anything that will push you to be better.

“I also think it is important for us to live for ourselves and not focus on a social media lifestyle. People can get lost in the artificial world of social media and that is why I think there is some much depression in our industry because we are trying to portray unattainable perfection,” she says.