He has been away from the limelight and working behind the scenes as a producer, writer and tenderpreneur. Actor Thami Mngqolo (42) is back on the small screens in a local production, Code 13, playing the role of a doctor who escapes prison.

BACK ON SCREEN

"It feels good to be back,' he tells ZiMoja. He was part of the Generations 16 that got axed over a decade ago for demanding salary increase. He played the popular role of Senzo, who was a homosexual man. That role has since stuck with him, and he still gets referred to by the name Senzo. "I used to mind it in the beginning, but I don't anymore,' he says. "I know there's no malice in it, it's just people showing love and appreciation.' After Generations, he was on several other TV shows including Grootboom and Sons. "I was not completely away from the screens, but you know when people don't see you busy, they think you are unemployed. I have been surviving and busy.'

FAME

He still loves acting and when he thinks of leaving it, the acting bug bites him. "I love acting. I love the people, being on set and the energies around performers and artists- siyahlanya sonke (we are all crazy). It's easy to miss the camaraderie on set.' He admits though that fame can be tough to navigate. "Fame is overrated, there are people cut out for it. I am not necessarily cut out for it but I have the temerity for it. But I am not crazy about it. But I love telling stories, it's a form of escape in a way. Being able to create a world and storylines is also a lot of fun.,' he adds. "What I dislike is the same reason I walked away from Generations; remuneration is still not where it's supposed to be. Some of the best actors always end up behind the scenes because of remuneration.'

FINDING LOVE AGAIN

His time away has also given him a chance to fall in love again, after his highly publicised breakup with the mother of his children, Jo-Anne Reyneke. "There is someone that I love dearly. I have been with her since pre-Covid,' he says. "She is definitely not in the limelight. I learned to stay away from dating in the same industry."