She plays the role of Nandi Mahlati, a Professor at UCT, in the Faculty of Law in the new Netflix production, Fatal Seduction. Nandi is an intellectual and has the perfect family life from the outside. She’s very passionate about her life in academia specifically the area of her specialism Gender Based Violence. She is also a mother to a very feisty and intelligent daughter, Zintle. Highly acclaimed actress, wife, and mom Kgomotso Christopher opens up to ZiMoja about what it takes to play an intense sex scene and her new role. "Nandi is quite different from the characters I’ve portrayed in that past in that she’s a woman in her own right, on her own journey, a career woman and forging her own path," Kgomotso says. "She’s not there as an accessory to her husband but a powerful and strong woman in her own right."

PLAYING SEX SCENES

She took on the role with keen interest and felt the script very compelling. "The narrative of the protagonist/heroine, Nandi was quite complex and multi-layered," she says. "It’s completely different from any other role I’ve ever taken on and therefore I knew it would be a challenge. A challenge I was up for and excited to take on." Kgomotso agrees with many who say playing sex scenes needs someone mature and professional. "It is not tough but with the correct technique and professional support before and on set you can do it well," she says. Fatal Seduction explores secrets, lies, betrayals, and shocking discoveries. It is a tale of secretive desires and hidden passions which explode when a loving wife, Nandi spends a life-altering weekend away from her husband, Leonard played by Thapelo Mokoena, and discovers how far she is willing to go to release her inhibitions. "Fatal Seduction and Netflix ensured that as actors we were well supported by the incredible team of Intimacy Coaches. Intimate scenes ultimately and are in essence, stunts. They need to be choreographed, rehearsed, and prepared before the cameras roll. When all of that is in place, everything else falls into place, naturally and comfortably."

AN UNDERSTANDING FAMILY

Being married for 19 years to her husband Calvin, Kgomotso says her hubby understands when she has to be part of a steamy sex scene. "I am very grateful to have a partner who understands that my chosen path and career as a storyteller is to be a vessel, a channel to express the lives and stories of others," she says. "Part of that means I need, and I choose to embrace what is necessary to tell the story. If the scenes serve the narrative and are authentic to the journey of the character, then absolutely, as an artist, I embrace that fully," she adds. "Ultimately, he also understands that it’s my profession. He’s always supported my profession and career wholeheartedly."

 A scene from Fatal Seduction



KISSING SCENES

The first ever kissing or intimate scene was on the multi-award-winning show, 4play: Sex Tips For Girls. "Ironically, it was my first major lead role in South Africa and another ground-breaking film. Like Fatal Seduction, it pushed the envelope by bringing content and topics that mainstream shows at the time were afraid to portray on our screens, sensuality, sexuality, and more importantly, a woman’s right to own their sensuality and sexuality," she says. "I’ve always been a professional and I’ve always served my characters and their journeys. I, therefore, can professionally embrace the task at hand, even if it’s a kissing or intimate scene."

STAYING GROUNDED

In the cut-throat film industry, Kgomotso says knowing her career is not just a job but also a calling helps to keep her grounded. "What keeps me grounded is always reminding myself that I’m doing this because it is a calling. A calling that happens to also be a profession," she says. "I do it for the love and passion of telling stories. It’s very cut-throat, there are times especially in South Africa, when many of us as actors have no source of income from our chosen profession. It’s a small industry, it’s not well-supported and funded. You can’t stay in this industry if you’re doing it for the money or the fame," she adds. "It’s simply not worth it in our country. But always coming back to my truth. I’m doing this for the love of the art. It’s my happy place, that keeps me grounded and gives me the resilience to continue acting in South Africa." 

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

 In the future, Kgomotso would love to work behind the scenes. "I’m hoping it will happen soon. I’m definitely at that stage in my career where I do have more time to spend behind the scenes," she says. "It’s always been part of my career plans. Only time will tell."