Who doesn't know Katlego Danke as Keketso from e.tv's Backstage? Danke played her character, who was a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic basket, with such conviction that it did not take long for Keketso to become widely despised by viewers.
So why did she join Generations? "It was just a personal growth. I think I had done that role (Keketso) enough. I wouldn't want to do the same thing for too long and become complacent. It is always good to try new scenarios. It was a necessary move," the petite actress explains.
Aside from Backstage giving Danke her first full-time role, it made her a household name. "Before that I had a cameo role in SOS. I joined Backstage in January 2002. In my final year at UCT, we did a crash course in camera so that kinda helped me ease into television, which can sometimes be very daunting for a first timer," she says.
Danke attained her BA degree in theatre and performing from the University of Cape Town and has been in theatre productions such as Beyond the Veil, The House of Kalumba, The Town That Was Mad, Crimes of the Heart, King Lear and The Suit, to name a few.
What did Backstage do for her television career? "It was a rollercoaster ride because at one time I was doing that and shooting a movie at the same time. It was physically taxing but worth the challenge.
"The film was called A Love in Africa. It was a German made-for-TV movie. I was part of the supporting cast: a maid who looked after the kids."
The actress reckons that theatre is definitely the best medium to groom one for a career in television. "I would even go as far as to say it is compulsory. It gives one such discipline and a foundation to do bigger and better things," Danke adds.
While being on a daily soap doesn't leave this busy actress time to do much else, she would love to be more actively involved in theatre.
"Theatre is good exercise for actors. I've looked at a couple of scripts and gone to auditions, but time is a bit of a problem. To accept any work in that field, you would literally have to take leave from your television responsibilities. Juggling all of that can get messy," she says.
While Dineo Mashaba is not as complex a character as Keketso, the role has its fair share of challenges. "Dineo is very different to play - that is why I like the character. While she is young, being married to an older man has made her more mature."
Danke auditioned for the role, like anyone else, and decided not to beat herself up about it if she didn't land it. "I always tell myself 'Hey, if I get it, I get it'. I don't like to dwell over such things. Obviously, I did something right at the auditions," she says.
Warming up to the Generations family was effortless for Danke. "I found the ambience on set very welcoming. They are all very nice people and pleasant to work with. There is none of that personal nonsense garbage," she shares.
Of her character, Danke warns: "Things are about to get very heated..."