Actress Dineo Langa has returned to our screens in the second season of Unseen, and this time, her character Naledi takes viewers on an emotional journey. In an interview with True Love, Dineo spoke about what it took to play such a complex role, and how it reflects the deep struggles many women face in South Africa.
In season one, Naledi is introduced as a strong, passionate woman married to a doctor. She’s the sister of the lead character, Zenzi, played by Gail Mabalane. But in season two, the story digs deeper into Naledi’s past, revealing the painful experiences that shaped her.
Dineo shared how she prepared for the role: “A lot of the prepping came down to understanding how to plot the world and the emotional points.” She said she even found music to help her connect to Naledi’s emotions before filming each scene.
“As soon as I knew that my lady had run away at a very young age, I knew that my lady had worked very hard to suppress whatever trauma that she had gone through. I knew that my lady had locked away her past, in a ‘stronger than most’ kind of way,” she explained.
In this new season, viewers also meet the younger versions of the sisters, giving a deeper understanding of their trauma. Dineo said, “It was amazing to meet the younger versions, to see how they explained their worlds to each other.” She added that Naledi’s trauma is so deep, she can’t even look at certain places without feeling sick.
The story also explores the complex relationship between the sisters. Zenzi, the older sister, feels the pressure to hold everything together, while Naledi chooses to run from their painful home life. Dineo said, “In an abused environment, Naledi goes, ‘I can’t.’ But that’s hard for a firstborn like Zenzi to understand.”
While Unseen is about the life of a domestic worker, Dineo points out that it also speaks to the real lives of many South African women today. “People say women are doing more now, but many are still told, ‘Just do your part.’” And even when women try to stay quiet or small, Dineo says, “They’re still judged just as much.”
