It is fair to say that the intellectual bar in the Mzansi entertainment industry is not set very high, so it’s always intriguing when you find out that your favourite actors have gone to college or better. Some intelligent personalities have joined the entertainment industry and traded their academic skills to pursue acting careers. Below are 10 South African actors that have swapped glitz and glamour for books and become teachers and lecturers.
Jailoshini Naidoo
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Drama, English and Education
- Degree in communications and Public relations
Actress Jailoshini Naidoo is slaying the role of Nerupa on Imbewu The Seed. Jailoshini is an English teacher and lecturer of acting classes and television presenting courses. She multitasks as an entertainer and lecturer.
Connie Chiume
Qualifications: Diploma in Education
Connie Chiume plays the role of MaMsonto, a gangster grandma involved in some car hijacking businesses. Before acting, Connie Chiume worked as a teacher at a local secondary school and later moved to Israel for greener pastures. In Israel, she taught English and worked as a teacher for ten years before relocating to South Africa to become an actress.
Nombulelo Mhlongo
Qualifications: Degree in Dramatic Arts
In real life, Durban Gen actress Nombulelo Mhlongo is a teacher and founder of the Pan African Space Arts Platform. Although she is nailing her role as nurse Sne, the actress teaches young people to perform drama acts.
Candice Modiselle
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and honours degree in Dramatic Arts
Former Generations The Legacy actress Candice Modiselle is a full-time college lecturer. With her industrial experience of acting, advertising and presenting cupped by academic expertise, Candice teaches Television Presentation at the OnCue Interface Talent School.
Rapulana Seiphemo
Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts
The Queen actor Rapulana Seiphemo who plays the role of Hector, once worked as a lecturer before ditching his career to be an actor. Rapulana worked as a teacher at Fuba Academic and later moved to Wits University to work as a lecturer. Rapulana doubled as an actor and lecturer but later resigned from being a lecturer to focus on his entertainment career.
Makgofe Moagi
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Science
- Degree in Arts
Actress Makgofe Moagi plays the role of Charity on Skeem Saam, and Mzansi has grown fond of her character. However, besides being an actress, she works as a chemistry teacher.
Thabo Mkhabela
Qualifications: Bachelor’s and Masters’s degree in Arts
Thabo Mkhabela, who plays the role of Leshole on Skeem Saam, is a lecturer in real life. He doubles as an actor and lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology
Zinzi Zungu
Qualifications: BA certificate in Dramatic Arts
Zinzi Zungu portray the role of Mpho on Umbuso. She balances as an actress and lecturer. Zinzi is a lecturer and co-founder of the Star Quality Performing Arts College. She is the epitome of hard work and stops at nothing to be successful.
Elsie Rasalanavho
Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Education
Former Muvhango actress Elsie Rasalanavho is a teacher in real life, and rumours are she resigned from Muvhango so she could focus on her career in teaching.
Linda Mtoba
Qualifications: Qualified IsiZulu teacher for primary school
Before she was shot to fame, actress Linda Mtoba used to teach isiZulu in KwaZulu-Natal. However, she later ditched her career to furnish her craze of acting with Isibaya auditions.
Read more: