Ngxoli speaks on acting sabbatical

Standard People
JOHANNESBURG — Celebrated South African actress Brenda Ngxoli has cleared the air on rumours around her break from the industry, explaining how she needed to leave the cut-throat world of entertainment for a short time to follow her spiritual calling.

style reporter

JOHANNESBURG — Celebrated South African actress Brenda Ngxoli has cleared the air on rumours around her break from the industry, explaining how she needed to leave the cut-throat world of entertainment for a short time to follow her spiritual calling.

Ngxoli’s seven-year absence from screens sparked all kinds of rumours and speaking to Drum recently, she explained that none were true.

“It’s funny seeing those stories about me as I didn’t leave because I didn’t have money, or because I was angry with the industry. I didn’t leave because of an alcohol or drug problem. I followed my heart for my own physical and spiritual growth,” she said.

The star left Joburg for Xolobe in the Eastern Cape, where she was closer to nature and could “clear her head”.

“Things were going well for me and I was happy. But it got to a point where I questioned my being and my origins … I yearned to see those hills of the Eastern Cape and there was no amount of money that could satisfy that yearning,” she added.

Ngxoli lived a more basic life, relying on agriculture.

She eventually returned to screens and recently scored the role of Nomonde on iThemba.

She paid tribute to the Fergusons in a social media post in August, revealing how they gave her a chance when people were saying “all sorts” about her. —TshisaLIVE