Meet Actress and Entrepreneur Nambitha Ben-Mazwi

Nambitha Ben-Mazwi, is a South African actress known for her various tv drama roles, and her most recent is the etv Soapie, “Scandal,”where she played the role of Shado. For her it was a massive and exciting switch from playing a bold attorney on the SABC1 drama series, Diamond City, to the sultry and scandalous Chardonay, aka Shado.

Nambitha, from the tender age of 3, always had the dream of being a star on stage. She said:

“I grew up very much replicating that through my involvement in the arts, but never took it seriously – it was a hobby. As the years progressed and my smarts and grades showcased me as a straight-A student, I was naturally driven towards commerce.

I am a nerd at heart and a true strategist, so that will never change. But, I got to a point where I wasn’t fulfilled in corporate and knew that this was not how I was going to change the world. So I left everything, and found myself back in the arms of the arts as a performer.

I cannot not acknowledge my late uncle, Tony, award-winning veteran, Winston Ntshona and Viola Davis, as my greatest influence in this move.”

About challenges:

One of the biggest acting career challenges Nambitha and her colleagues face in the industry, is not being paid your worth, which has given her the opportunity to pursue producing and other forms of business in the industry. 

“My dark skin tone for roles might have been seen as a challenge, but I’ve treated that as my key differentiator or ‘magic’ as I like to call it, and have successfully been able to change the minds of casting directors for roles that were meant for ‘fairer’ skin, she admits.

Nambitha also recalls her growing up years and how many teased her for her dark complexion. She added:

“There was a nickname that I will never forget. There is a bird that’s pitch black and people used to sing a song calling me that bird,” “Although I have never been told that my skin was the reason for me not getting roles, I have tried to work with what I have and work with Pan-African productions where I know that I have the look. I tend to go where I am celebrated and block off everything else.”

Nambitha was born in Cape Town, and is a graduate of Business Science from university of Cape Town, South Africa. She has worked as a marketing strategist, in business development, for radio and television both in South Africa and abroad.

Multi talented Nambitha, has featured in several television commercials, anchored and hosted radio and television programmes, and  MC’d several events.

Her first role on TV was on Mzansi Magic drama, ‘Doubt’ as Unathi Mweli, after which she landed another role as Tamara, in a drama series ‘Black Mirror.’

Other drama’s and series she has featured in are: etv drama, ‘Broken Vows’ as Lulama, second season of ‘eKasi’, police procedural series, ‘Traffic!’ on etv, as Nandi in ‘Madiba’ series which was aired on Discovery Channel, and as Benathi, in the SABC1 drama series, ‘Diamond City’ in 2018.

Her most recent work was etv series, ‘Scandal’ as Shado, a club hostess.

About her relationship, she said:

“I am indeed single…waiting to be found. I took a year off dating last year because it was my year to heal from a lot.”

Nambitha is at the moment focusing on loving herself and helping young girls and women in developing themselves, which gave birth to her greatest love; #SheSpeaks by Lady Nam.