MBABANE – LiSwati actor Linda Lukhele has reached a new career milestone by joining the cast of the popular South African television drama, ‘Smoke & Mirrors’.
Currently filming for Jozi Biskop, Lukhele’s rise in the South African media industry is a result of a career change that began after he lost his job in Johannesburg.
What started as a move for survival has turned into a professional journey across some of the most-watched shows on e.tv and Mzansi Magic. Lukhele did not originally plan to be an actor. He mentioned that after losing his employment, he enrolled in acting classes, where directors noticed his natural ability. He earned his first opportunities on shows such as Skeem Saam and Rhythm City.
Recognising the need for technical skill, Lukhele said he returned to school to study acting and theatre. He used his position as a mature student and a father to drive his progress, stating that the responsibility to provide for his children and family motivated him to succeed.
This dedication led to roles in high-profile productions including ‘The Wife’, ‘Adulting’, ‘Youngings’ and ‘Isitha: The Enemy’.
Lukhele is now part of ‘Smoke & Mirrors’, an e.tv original series produced by The Final Chapter Production. Created by Loyiso Maqoma, the drama stars industry veterans such as Ayanda Bandla and Meshack Mavuso Magabane. The story follows Thandiswa Mseleku, a woman who enters the mining town of Emnyameni to seek justice against three corrupt men, Caesar, Jaxon and Mthetho, who murdered her sister for a ritual. Lukhele joined the production for the final three months of the season. His role is central to the show’s current plot, which focuses on a tense battle for the position of mayor. His transition from short stories on Moja Love to a major daily drama shows a steady upward trajectory.
Reflecting on his path, Lukhele noted that his current success is the result of a long fight for his goals. He remains focused on his work, encouraging others to remain persistent in following their own professional paths.
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