- How would you describe your journey on Backstage?
Cele: There have been ups and downs. But I learnt a lot from everyone I've worked with.
Mahlaba: Fabulous. I enjoyed every moment of it. If I had to do it all over again, I would.
Cooper: It's been awesome, especially for my self growth. The people I've worked with, especially the cast, were incredible.
- What do you love best about your character?
Cele: I like that she was loved by people. Everywhere I went fans where always supportive and saying such wonderful things about Katlego.
Mahlaba: I love that she was so strict. I'm strict too but the way I played the character was that she was over-the-top. The way she speaks and dresses is totally different from who Grace is.
Cooper: I loved that I could fuse acting with dancing and the fact that my character interacted with children so much, from when they introduced baby Ethan in the beginning and when he came back as a 4-year-old last year.
- Tell us about your most memorable moment on the soap?
Cele: The storyline where Katlego was in an abusive relationship with SK (Shane Maja).
Mahlaba: When we left Cape Town to start afresh in Jozi. While it was nice being in a different setting, and Jozi does offer a different rush. Leaving Cape Town was traumatic, as it was memorable to live there.
Cooper: That would have to be when we were in Cape Town and acting with Clint Brink and Candice Derman. Candice's character was in love with Clint's character and I was also in the picture.
- What are your thoughts on the soap ending?
Cele: Good move! Long overdue.
Mahlaba: I think Backstage had run its course. There wasn't much that could have been done further. With the show having changed so many hands, maybe the end was meant to be.
Cooper: Since the move from Cape Town there have been a lot of changes and throughout them it was clear the show was never going back to what it used to be. But, with that said, I believe everything has its season, reason and lifetime and the show simply reached its end.
- What's next for you after Backstage?
Cele: My first love - theatre. I'll be touring overseas for four months with Truth In Translation.
Mahlaba: I will wait and see what opens up next. I'm enjoying domestic life: cooking, cleaning, the changing of locks and just being a housewife. I never thought it would be so therapeutic. I'm not looking for anything at the moment, but something will come up.
Cooper: Right now, it's all about my baby girl, Jannah, who was born recently. Since her arrival, there's been no time to worry, though I'd like to do more acting. But, at the moment, my husband (Rafick Hoosain) and I are developing a concept called Cornegy for the dance industry. What it does is ensure dancers are empowered through knowledge.