She plays 14-year-old Mpumi, Zamani’s sister on Mzansi Magic’s Isithembiso. But Yolisa Cele, the 18-year-old daughter of seasoned actress Baby Cele, tells us how it’s been following in her mother’s footsteps.
She was doing commercials before landing the role in Isithembiso.
“I decided to stop acting for two years to focus on my studies. But my agent phoned me about this show, Isithembiso. I went for auditions and I was really nervous. I was shocked when I got the part.”
Yolisa says auditioning without a script is the hardest. “I doubted myself. But when I got the part I was so happy when.”
Yolisa had to move to Durban for a couple of weeks to shoot some scenes.
“I’m getting the hang of things, but shooting scenes where I’m not talking has been difficult. So I have to think about difficult times in my life like parting ways with friends or failing a certain subjects to bring out emotions.”
However, having a mother like Baby helps, she tells us. “My mother is idol. You don’t see her name in the newspapers for bad reasons; she’s able to keep her life private.” And she also helps her with her acting too. “Even though I know isiZulu, my mom is very good with it. She helps me with translations. I learnt that the talking is much easier than when you’re quiet.”
But acting was never part of the plan, Yolisa reveals.
“It was unexpected. I love fashion, I would sleep and dream myself in a beautiful dress, I would wake up and I draw it,” she tells us.
It’s known that her mother has an ancestral calling, but Yolisa has a different kind of calling: designing clothes.
Since she’s still doing Grade 11 at President High School, Yolisa says after matric she’ll do both acting and fashion.
“I’m still not sure where I want to study.” Above all, Yolisa wants to stay humble just like her mother.
