Ferry Jele plays a master manipulator in Rhythm City
|||No stranger to playing crafty characters, Ferry Jele finds herself in familiar territory as Gadifele in e.tv’s Rhythm City, writes Debashine Thangevelo
THERE are actors who are extremely easy-going and chatty in interviews and then there are those who are a few words shy of being tagged as monosyllabic.
Ferry Jele, for all of her 13 years in the industry, has clearly not warmed up to interviews. That, or she was having a terribly busy day and was too exhausted for conversation.
I’m not quite sure.
What I do know is that the interview required a heck of a lot more inducement from my side. At times, such interviews can be frustrating.
But I’m going to give Jele the benefit of the doubt on this one.
A recognisable face, having starred in a slew of popular productions (Mzansi, Donkerland, iNkaba, Jacob’s Cross, Rockville, Saints and Sinners, Skeem Saam, Society, Soul City, Yizo Yizo, Sokhulu & Partners, Scandal and Ashes to Ashes), she has sauntered over to the set of e.tv’s Rhythm City.
Interestingly, she has been with the soap since last May – but as a coach. She confirmed that while “it’s very exciting and has its own challenges”, she has been doing this on other productions before Rhythm City.
“That, I pick up easily,” she says.
She shares, “So I learnt about the auditions for an upcoming role and one of the guys suggested I audition for it. And I got cast.”
She plays the role of Gadifele, Mapula’s (Mapula Mafola) long-lost aunt. Jele also shares many scenes with Sabelo (Ishmael Songo).
Having worked with Mafola before, she reveals: “I only met the other guys here. It’s interesting because I coached them prior to me acting with them.”
On whether that perhaps felt a little weird, Jele says: “No, it wasn’t weird at all. It was fun.”
Looking at her more recent résumé, which comprises roles in mostly soaps and telenovelas, the actress was asked if these genres have been occupying most of her time.
She responds: “No, not really. I was on Scandal half of my time. So I couldn’t do other productions.”
Contradictory response aside, I asked her about her thoughts on branching out into movies.
“I would love to give it a chance,” she offers. “I would definitely go for auditions.”
When it comes to offers, she prefers playing roles that are never the same.
Interestingly, she also reprises her role as Ma’Khoza on e.tv’s telenovela, Ashes to Ashes, which returns on the small screen tonight.
She notes: “She is a woman who runs a stokvel and lends money to people. And she has got a hold on Selogilwe “Selo” Namane (played by Patrick Shai). He is for ever out of money. She offers him a favour half of the time, but for something in return.”
Offering insight into her character, she reveals: “This woman is very sly and cruel. She is a con artist with no scruples whatsoever.”
Pushed for more on what can be expected of Gadifele as her storyline gains impetus, she says: “I can’t say much about her. There are some things I can’t give away. I can say, whatever she does, is shocking.”
And, as they say in showbiz , that was a wrap of this interview. Moving on…
Rhythm City airs on e.tv on weekdays at 7pm.