ALL FOR LOVE

LunathiMampofu, 33, is an actress on the rise. Following her role as the competitive and vicious Emma on The River, the talented star shares on her acting journey

- PHILA TYEKANA

I studied at AFDA, Cape Town, after high school, and got my introduction into acting during my first year at the film school for a feature called Mercy, that I’m yet to watch.

The director didn’t follow up with us, but it lives on the Internet Movie Database page. From then on, I starred in short films such as Umthandazo. With more work trickling in, I went on to do my first international gig in 2010 in the movie The Good Man, shot both locally and in Ireland. I did my third year at the Joburg AFDA campus and after completing my studies, felt that I needed to continue studying. So, I took off to study further at the New York Film Academy, and spent five years abroad. I later moved to Los Angeles to gain experience, even working at popular casting agency The Gersh Agency as an assistant. Locally, I’ve starred in shows including SABC1’s Ingozi, Isikizi, The Queen and recently, The River.

Emma, the character I played on The River, was my breakthrough role and in getting to play it, I went the traditional route with an audition tape and was blessed to play her.

I loved and enjoyed Emma, even though viewers were eager for her downfall. In fact, I still get hate mail because of her! She didn’t die in the end, so I’m hoping that she does come back to the show at some point. The one character

I wish to play is that of Mazet on Mzansi Magic’s Gomora.