Award-winning actress Nolwazi Shange will be playing the role of a matriarch on the Showmax Original series Outlaws.
Shange plays Nandi, the strong-willed matriarch of the Zulu cattle-farming Biyela clan, who are at war with the Basotho, cattle-raiding Ts’eoles.Â
She said her initial reaction to the script of the series excited her.
“I was immediately excited by the idea of being involved in action sequences and challenging my body in that way. It’s a first for me in the years I’ve been working. I’m not a small girl, and I found it quite cool that I could express and use my body in that way.”
Nolwazi Shange said the role was more demanding than she thought it would be and there would be times when her body was challenged.
She shared that there are parts of Nandi that she sees herself in and resonates with.
“Nandi is headstrong and determined. She doesn’t shy away from challenges but goes full steam ahead, with a very clear strategy in mind. She’s also just as nurturing and present. Maybe I’m over-hyping myself here, but I’d like to believe I possess these qualities.”
Preparing for the role was very mental for Shange. She said she was lucky because she had handled a firearm before and received training, so that thrilled her more than it intimidated her.
“We thoroughly rehearsed the action sequences, which helped when we got to set. It didn’t feel foreign. I like reading the script; more like study it. I speak to the actors to get their interpretations and better understand the story arc. That informs me with enough knowledge to allow instinct to lead when shooting. I believe the first reaction or feeling is always the right one. That’s what I commit to building on.”
Shange said she managed to evolve with every role she played through preparation and checking how the role relates to other characters.
“I then watch to see if the choices I made translate and try to not repeat ‘tricks’ I’ve used before. It all comes from a place of genuine love and respect. I love performing and respect it as an art form. I want to continue improving, that’s my drive.”Â
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