Actress and singer Nelisiwe Sibiya is overflowing with gratitude after being nominated for Best Actress in a TV Series at the National Film and TV Awards for her captivating role in Ithonga. The talented star, who has been winning hearts on screen, took to Instagram to share her excitement and appreciation for the recognition.
“Oh man!! I am definitely living in my ancestors’ wildest dreams,” Nelisiwe wrote. “What an honour to be nominated amongst amazing and powerful actresses I look up to. Thank you so much to @tshedzapictures @mzansimagic @dstvza @ithonga_mzansi and everyone involved on #ithongamzansi for trusting and believing in me. This is my second nomination this year playing the character of ZamaHlobo Ntanzi. Thank you so much @nationalfilmandtvawards for seeing me and thank you to wonke umuntu who supports me. It’s been an amazing journey and we learn everyday. Thank you to umvelingangi, amathonga and uShembe for izibusiso.” (Thank you to God, the ancestors, and uShembe for the blessings.)
Nelisiwe’s hit show Ithonga has also bagged a nomination for Best Scripted TV Series, proving that the production continues to make waves in the South African television industry.
In Ithonga, Nelisiwe takes on one of her most challenging roles yet — portraying Zama Ntanzi, a complex and cunning villain. In a recent interview with TshisaLIVE, the actress opened up about stepping out of her comfort zone to play a character fans love to hate.
“The reception has been amazing, but the character I’m playing is a villain and it’s my first time doing that,” she laughed. “It’s been hard because abantu bayangizonda [people hate me]. They think what I’m doing on TV is who I am in real life. As artists we grow, and this is all part of the journey.”
Despite the mixed reactions to her on-screen persona, Nelisiwe remains proud and humbled by how far she’s come. Her nomination not only celebrates her growth as an actress but also highlights her dedication to her craft.
