Seasoned actress Baby Cele would love nothing more than to spread her wings as a writer and director after being an actor for 35 years of her career that debuted in Mbongeni Ngema’s Sarafina when she was just 16 years of age.
Cele says the direction the industry is taking now is the right one because actors even get offers of directorships whereas back in the day, no one was invited to get involved in directing.
“I started directing in 2011, when I did My Perfect Family with Katlego Ramaphakela, who played my toyboy in Backstage. They had just started a production company with two of his siblings and he called me to say they want me, and when I got there, I told them I want to direct it.
“They gave me a chance and I learnt the ropes. Whenever I was not shooting I would go to the box with the directors.
“In Inkaba I approached Bra John Kani for the same thing, and I think it’s only in Zabalaza where they believed I can direct. If I didn’t have a hectic day they would give me a few scenes to direct,” she says.
Cele says she has opted to do something on the side for those days when she is not on call because she hates idling.
She says the head writer of Uzalo, Bongi Ndaba, has taken her under her wing and they are cooking something together.
“I don’t write for other shows yet. I’ve realised I have a talent for writing, something which I wasn’t aware of and I was scared of doing. I’ve tried it a million times before and I failed because I’m my own toughest critic.
“But when you find people like Bongi Ndaba they will guide you along the way.
“ So there is something we are doing with the girls, Nthati Moshesh, Linda Sokhulu, Andrea Dondolo and Harriet Manamela as well as Dieketseng Mnisi. That’s what I’m focusing on when I’m not doing Uzalo.”
Baby Cele recently joined SABC1’s drama series, Uzalo, starring as Gabsile Zikhali, pastor Mdletshe’s younger sister.
“I’m grateful and I feel honoured to have this first job in Durban, where I’m going to be based, and it is such a big and beautiful show,” she says.
“I remember I got the call after shooting Inkaba with Dawn Thandeka King ...her first job in TV, and we worked together. In Zabalaza she had a small part but it grew and I believe it did because of the passion she has and we became quite close since then.”
It’s relationships like hers with King together with her husband, whom she recently married, that keep her going.
“My family is everything and now it has suffered because I had to leave my husband behind and also my eldest. I only took my eight-year-old. I think of them, but I know something’s gotta give. I have to work.”
Cele credits her staying power in the industry to her level headedness, hard work and respect.
“There is this thing of getting used to things that are wrong and horrible, even in relationships. If you start taking each other for granted, you know it’s going to be wrong. So why do it at work and in your craft? Why do I go crazy over people saying they love me, why should that go to my head? Why can’t I just embrace that and be grateful that it’s happening?”
The one advice that Cele has for people wanting to join the industry is for them to be honest to themselves.
“There is so much competition out there and it breaks my heart to see young talent not getting jobs and then you see young, beautiful people with millions of followers on social media get cast,” she says.
“Then I’m like, ‘Oh my God, times have changed’. But that should not deter anyone, they shouldn’t despair. They must keep pushing on. It will come to them too”.