Bend it like Brenda

26 September 2016 - 08:38 By LEONIE WAGNER

Brenda Ngxoli might be a "homesteader" in her village, but the actor hasn't completely abandoned the entertainment industry. The 36-year-old returns tonight as Kitt Khambule in e.tv's latest music drama series, Hustle. Kitt, an award-winning artist from the '80s, tries to make a come-back, but drugs, sex and the pressure of fame take centre stage."It was the most difficult character I've ever played, it was hectic," said Ngxoli. "It forced me to truly look at musicians ."Director Jahmil Qubeka said the series is a "hybrid" which draws on references such as the lives of Brenda Fassie, Lebo Mathosa, Whitney Houston as well as productions like Fame and Empire."Each character is an archetype and an amalgamation of a few personalities. It tries to paint a human picture of our music industry - but at the same time it's not just about realism, it's also about drama," he said.Ngxoli, who lives near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, said the only vocal training she had for the role was singing while herding her cows. After filming, she returned to her village and said her next project will be making sure she gets her seeds in the ground before the rain comes.Hustlealso stars Dineo Ranaka, Masello Motana, Lungelo Lubelwana and Zolisa Xaluva."This show will give people the opportunity to look at the entertainment industry from the inside, revealing its nuances and complexities. It's going to demystify the notion that whoever is on TV is not real," said Ngxoli...

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