Nndivhaleni Netshiavhela ‘Leni’ is a well-rounded South African TV personality. She is an actress, TV presenter, scriptwriter and researcher.
Leni had a crystal clear idea of what she wanted to do from the get go. As a young girl, she always imagined herself speaking and performing in front of people. “I didn’t know then what exactly that I was doing in front of people but I knew that whatever I would do in this life, my purpose is tied to people, so whatever I am going to be doing, would need to have an audience.”
She bet on herself and has since relentlessly pursued this passion and purpose. And honestly, it is paying off big. Leni has written scripts and done production work for some of Africa’s biggest brands like DSTV, BET Africa, MTV Base, Comedy Central, among others. The actress has featured on adverts for South African brands like Outsurance and Harpic. She is also the host of a show called ‘The Chick Chat With Leni’ that is set to move to Soweto TV.
Leni is passionate about using her talent and platforms to tell authentic African stories and tackling image and identity issues among black women.
- Where are you right now and what is the setting like?
I am literally in bed planning out my content for tomorrow. I need to shoot a YouTube video. I am gathering the questions that people have been asking me and putting them into one coherent document so that it is easier for me to record. - What is the most heartwarming thing you’ve seen or read this week?
I have a 2-year-old niece who gives the tiniest and warmest hugs but can annoy the living crap out of you and then when she sees that you are angry, she is like ‘huggy’. Her innocence, how she is so affectionate and affirming even as a 2year old is very heartwarming. - What drives you, Leni?
I think having grown up in severe and dire poverty is the main drive because you don’t want to go back to that place when you have experienced it.
But also, when I speak of poverty, I don’t just speak about it in its literal sense, I speak about poverty in its most figurative form just like starvation of authentic stories to the world. That’s what drives me because there are so many African stories that I feel we need to tell but have not been told the way they are. They have been whitewashed and are being told for the white gaze, you know, things like distorting our stories to make them seem a certain way.
Another thing that drives me is the fact that I love competing with versions of myself that I have known in the past. You know, 3 years ago, I wouldn’t stand in an audition room confidently, and that specific place in my life pushes me to sort of be better.
And also being able to create a life for my parents that they were unable to create for themselves since they always wanted to give me a better future. - What would you say is the best project you have worked on to date?
I don’t think I have one but directing my honest piece “Eclipsed” by Danai Gurira, a Zimbabwean actress and writer, felt so rewarding.
Seeing something move from just being words to coming to life and you had so much impact over that kind of narrative, the set, the actors, the rehearsals, that was very rewarding for me.
Directing ‘Mnyamane’ was also so rewarding. I collaborated with the actors and for this project, we started from scratch, we explored themes of beauty and what it means to me and the cast.
It is the finest thing I have ever done since I started acting and directing because, with this piece, I had several people coming to me crying and saying the story resonates with them. - What’s the strangest thing you’ve done as an actress?
I am not a fan of intimate scenes. We had to do a threesome scene in the dark and nothing intimate was happening, but we were just using lights and breath to sort of give like an illusion of a threesome and that was strange to me. Would I do it again? I don’t think so! - What’s your best hack for nailing an audition?
I think I am always battling with this myself. Just being confident, being okay with telling the story as beautiful and authentically as you can tell it at that point. It doesn’t mean that you won’t get better, you might re-do the audition tomorrow and do it much better but just at that moment, be your authentic self, and be okay with the fact that this is what I have to offer for now. - What’s the worst advice you were given and regretted following in regards to the film and entertainment industry?
During my early career days, someone was sort of insinuating that for my stories to sell, I have to whitewash and make them fit into the conventional spectrum of telling stories and I played it safe for a long time.
That’s what I would do, even my suggestions would centre around the things that have already been seen so that I am not like stepping out too much but then a few years down the road, I am grown, more mature, my voice is a bit firmer and stronger than it was when I had just entered the entertainment industry and I am very well aware that I don’t need to tell safe stories to brush people’s egos or save them from some sort of embarrassment. I am here to tell authentic stories.
If am presenting, acting, researching or doing other things that relate to my career, I do not have to tone it down for anyone or tell it in a way that is pleasant to someone’s ear. I tell it exactly how it is, as authentic as possible.
Nndivhaleni Netshiavhela ‘Leni’ - Who do you look up to?
My Dad and Mom would top that list simply because I have seen them overcome so many things in my short existence. I have seen how selfless they are, I have seen how they can take little and make it so big and how they strive to make sure we have food on the table, make sure that we are happy and look like other kids even when they don’t look like other parents.
I also love ‘Sarah Jakes Roberts’, she is a preacher who encapsulates what it means to love what you do and love God. And That’s the kind of woman am striving to become in everything I do.
My fiancé is also another top person that inspires me. I admire his drive, tenacity, strength and resilience in everything he does. - Any current projects you are working on that we should look forward to?
I am creating platforms for black women, in particular, to help them embrace how they look and feel good about it. Although some of the projects haven’t come to light yet, others have already started especially on my YouTube channel, ‘Leni Lenz’
We have done one interview so far due to Covid 19 but I am looking forward to creating a platform where I speak to different types of women who grew up being bullied for how they look and now have come to embrace it. These will help encourage young boys and girls to appreciate how they look and to feel no need to change or look a certain way or adhere to conventional beauty standards. - What’s on your African playlist and watchlist?
I listen to a lot of ‘Makhadzi’, a South African Artist. She recently released Ganama which is amazing. I love Sho Madjozi, Pleasure and in terms of a broader spectrum of Africa, Burnaboy is like my favourite. I love his songs.
I am currently watching ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ on Netflix. I just finished watching ‘Never Have I Ever’. I have been watching fashion shows and competitions on Netflix. I am also watching a lot of YouTube talk oriented content. - What’s your proudest accomplishment?
I think getting on a flight to go to the U.S to study Drama. Just coming from the township of Tembisa to going to Rhodes University for 2 years then going on to pursue a career that I was so scared to pursue from childhood. - What are the 3 things that have kept you on top of your career game?
The fear of living a purposeless life, the yearning and zeal to tell African authentic stories and the fear of poverty has always driven me to stay focused on my goals. - What’s your go-to wellness routine for a well-rounded healthy happy life?
I recently started rituals like waking up in the morning and meditating on the word of God. I am looking forward to writing biblical affirmations because I love things that are related to the Bible.
I drink at least 2 to 4 litres of water a day. I am also trying to minimize my time on social media and just spending a bit more time in prayer and on things that I think are more important like family, friendship and reading books.Nndivhaleni Netshiavhela ‘Leni’ - What is the one thing you ditched that has greatly improved the quality of your life?
I don’t think there’s necessarily anything that I have ditched that has directly affected the quality of my life but if I had attended more auditions and immersed myself in acting, I would be in a better place.
If I hadn’t allowed the fear to override the excitement and joy of doing what I love, I think that would be something that would have changed the quality of my performance. - What’s your favourite power outfit?
I love clothes, I am a classy girl who loves classical things and on a normal day, it would have to be sweaters or sweater pants. - What takes up most of your time?
I would say being on social media for research purposes because I am constantly trying to be better and trying to do better in my work. I am always researching how other people do it and how I can infuse that into my day to day routine. However, I am looking for that to change. I am looking to spend more time with my family, friends and all the meaningful people in my life. - What trends are you currently in love with?
I don’t have any because am not a trends person. I don’t like following trends. If something is popular, or making headlines everywhere, I am probably not going to be part of it. Not because I am trying to be different, but because I just find that they don’t resonate with me most of the time. - What social media accounts are you currently following religiously?I don’t have a specific one that I follow, but I love a lot of home decoration, and fashion related pages. So what I do is just type them.
- What’s the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I am a big softie. I put out this very strong exterior but I am such a soft, caring and loving person who just wants the best for everyone. But it takes a while for people to pick this about me because apparently, I look way too serious and intimidating. - What power quote or saying do you live by?
“If you can dream it, you can be it!” - What’s the most South African thing about you?
It’s the fact that I battle with holding sentences in English, I have to put in like Sepedi, Zulu and Kasi Taal . And I like street foods versus the nicely packaged food from Woolworths, big supermarkets or food outlets.
A hard working individual who inspires not only herself but others too I love You my sister❤️❤️❤️