Ex-The Queen actress Thabisile Zikhali turns tables on Uzalo

Uzalo star Thabisile Zikhali has revealed she’s back on the most-watched telenovela.

She’s known as the no-nonsense officer Biyela, who hated corruption.

But this time, the multi-award-winning actress’s character is back with a twist.

“This time, officer Biyela is the most corrupt cop. She’ll work with thugs in KwaMashu to commit crime.

“Viewers will start watching me again from Friday, 17 May,” said Thabisile.

The 30-year-old actress from KwaMashu in Durban told the publication she sees herself spreading her wings and flying high in the acting space.

She thanked the late Shona Ferguson, who gave her the big break in 2020.

This is after she graduated from the Duma Ndlovu Academy in 2019 and joined The Queen, where she played a private investigator.

Shona, of Ferguson Films, died in 2021 at 47.

“I’ll never forget what Shona did for me. That man gave me something I had been longing for.

“Playing the role of a private investigator in The Queen opened doors for me. I want him, from where he’s resting, to know that he’s my hero.

“Also, baba Ndlovu, Muvhango creator Duma KaNdlovu, is also my hero for granting me a chance to enrol at his academy. I’m where I am today because of these two men.

“This industry needs people like them, who open doors for township youth like me,” she said.

Thabisile is currently in Isitha: The Enermy, which airs on e.tv and is produced by BlackBrain Pictures.

On the show, she plays the role of Minenhle.

Since Thabisile ventured into the industry after graduating in 2019, she’s been nominated for various awards outside Mzansi.

“By God’s grace, I’ve also won awards as an actress. One of them is the Best New Actor Award from Nigeria’s Scream Awards in 2022. So far, the industry has been good to me. I’ve not run out of jobs since I got into acting.

“I’ve been getting gigs in various shows like Greenman Flashing, a theatre production, Rockville, The Black Door, Magenta Coal on Netflix, Durban Gen and Alleyway on Amazon. God has been good,” Thabisile said.

She also revealed that although she is a Christian, she sacrificed a lot to turn her acting dream into reality, like her marriage.

“I don’t want to dwell on the issue, but I had to abandon some of the things and focus on my dream. I took a risk, and it paid off.”