Veteran actor Brenda Ngxoli is feeling grateful and rejuvenated as she reflects on the overwhelming support she received from fans after going through personal challenges last month. The 45-year-old actress, known for her role in the upcoming rom-com A Scam Called Love, recently opened up about how her fans came together to uplift her when she faced financial struggles and emotional distress at home.
Three weeks ago, Ngxoli went viral on social media after sharing a heartfelt video about her difficult situation in the Eastern Cape, where she revealed the mistreatment she was allegedly experiencing at home. Another video followed, showing an exchange with a close female family member, which shed light on her living conditions at the time.
At the press junket for A Scam Called Love, Ngxoli shared her gratitude and relief, acknowledging that she’s now in a better place thanks to the support of the public.
“It was humbling to see how everyone came and supported me during that trying time,” Ngxoli said. “My uncle once said to me, ‘Brenda, you will never understand how deep the swamp is until you’re out of it.’ The reaction from people made me see that I’m in such a bad situation, and as much as you try to hide it, you have no choice but to reveal it. I’m glad that my child and I are breathing today because of the masses that came to our aid. People don’t understand the intensity of what they did. It’s more than I can ever thank them for.”
Ngxoli, who has often been misjudged as “problematic” by others, explained that the kindness of her fans made her realize that the negative things said about her by a close family member weren’t true.
“The way South Africans came to my rescue made me realise that, even if [a close family member] can utter words that broke me, and words that state that everybody knows that you beat people, it showed me they didn’t know that about me,” she shared. “That was enough for me to stand firm in taking care of my child. A family member once said to me that God knows not to give you a child because you’re cruel, but 42 years later, I did.”
Ngxoli’s daughter, Sky, is her “ray of sunshine” and a source of immense strength. She explained her deep attachment to Sky, noting that motherhood came later in her life, but she’s determined to give her daughter the best. “I’m more addicted to my daughter than she is to me. I have attachment issues, it could be that I had a child at 42. Motherhood came late for me, but I will make sure she’s sorted and that no one paints me as the bad person I’m made out to be,” she said.
In A Scam Called Love, Ngxoli plays the role of Naledi Cele, a supporting character in a film she is proud of. The production team created a supportive environment that helped her navigate her personal challenges. “We shot this movie a year-and-a-half ago. I loved the support structure the production team created. They were able to provide two childminders for Sky, and I found home with the black directors leading this production,” she shared.
She also revealed that during the filming, she was staying with fellow actor Fezile Mpela, who plays her husband in the film. “When I received this role, I was living with Fezile Mpela. He and I play husband and wife in this movie. He took me and my daughter into his house when we needed a roof over our heads,” Ngxoli said.
Looking ahead, Ngxoli is optimistic about her career, sharing that her next role will be even bigger. “I can’t really speak much about this because I got a call late last year that I received the role. It’s one that not many expected, but I can assure you they’re going to be blown away,” she said.
