How Nqobile Gamedze shed the anxiety that came with playing Mbali

Nqobile Gamedze, formerly known as Nqobile Khumalo, is a South African actress and model. Her acting career began in 2013 when she portrayed Cindy in the telenovela Isibaya on Mzansi Magic. Currently, Gamedze stars as Mbali Dlamini in the Netflix crime drama Umthetho. The character Mbali is a principled public prosecutor who uncovers the true nature of her older brother Moses, who she had been told died in prison years ago, only to learn that he is alive and leading a dangerous prison syndicate called iGaz’lam.

Mbali faces the challenge of balancing her duty to the law with her deep familial loyalty as she becomes entangled in the dangerous world of the prison gang. She must navigate complex decisions and alliances while protecting her younger brother Sphelele. In numerous interviews about the show, Gamedze has described Mbali as deeply devoted to her family, brave, and capable of unconditional love, even when her actions appear extreme.

The character starts as morally upright but becomes increasingly complex as she faces life-altering decisions. For Gamedze, this role is one of her major leading roles on a Netflix original, serving as the emotional and moral core of the series. When asked about her surprise at the portrayal of the justice system in the show, Gamedze speaks candidly.

She reveals that she only truly understood the concept of justice in her adulthood and acknowledges that even that understanding may evolve as she continues to experience life. Playing a character in a constant state of tension, Gamedze admits that maintaining the separation between herself and her character, Mbali, was exhausting and challenging.

"I don't lie when I say it was not easy," she confesses. Despite the difficulties, Gamedze aims to convey to viewers the grace of a rebel - the transformative power that can be achieved when one redirects their energy from harm to positive change. She emphasizes Mbali's hope for those around her, suggesting that by supporting them steadfastly, the character believes grace will eventually emerge.