In a candid interview with Sowetan LIVE, South African actress Dineo Rasedile opens up about her decade-long journey in the entertainment industry, her latest role in Showmax’s legal drama Law, Love & Betrayal, and the unique challenges she faces playing youthful characters while in her 30s.
At 33, Rasedile is shifting gears, stepping into a complex role that required her to embrace her recent decision to shave her head—a look that turned out to be exactly what the producers envisioned for her character. “It has been a long, hard, and hectic road,” she admits, reflecting on how her persistence has finally started to pay off. “From the past ten years that I’ve been acting, I can see that my consistency paid off because I now get requested to come for auditions as opposed to standing in long queues for a casting.”
Rasedile also shares the mental and physical demands of portraying younger characters, a task that requires staying in tune with the ever-evolving trends of today’s youth. “Playing young is mentally exhausting because it needs a lot of energy. Teens of today aren’t like how we were growing up… so I had to keep abreast with what’s cool and popping with the young ones even though I’m in my 30s,” she explains.
The star credits her time on MTV Shuga for helping her bridge the generational gap with her co-stars, some of whom were ten years younger than her. “At times, makeup artists would only switch up the manner they spoke to me after they’d find out how old I was. So, it’s been quite an interesting ride,” she recalls.
Rasedile also reflects on the striking difference between her generation and the younger one, admiring their smart, creative approach to work. “One thing I’ve learned about the younger generation is that they work smart and creatively instead of working hard or sweating like we were taught growing up.”
In Law, Love & Betrayal, Rasedile shares the screen with seasoned actors Nimrod Nkosi and Pearl Modiadie. She expresses her excitement about reuniting with Nkosi for the third time, praising the on-set chemistry and the careful casting decisions made by the director.
Learning the intricacies of legal terminology proved to be a challenge, but it was one Rasedile embraced wholeheartedly. “We also had experts come in to teach us how to pronounce the right words or legal terms correctly,” she shares, highlighting the dedication and attention to detail that went into bringing the legal drama to life.
