FATAL SEDUCTION, TURNING UP THE HEAT!

“Sex, fornication, and fucking are compulsions – primal urges. Society wants us to believe they are gateways to love, but that’s a lie. They are acts of desire. And so, it can be confusing – something that feels so good can be so bad.” This opening monologue, narrated by Nandi, a character played by Kgomotso Christopher, sets the tone for “Fatal Seduction.”

“Fatal Seduction” is based on the original work “Dark Desire ” created by Leticia Lopez Margalli, with a South African lens. It is a steamy, sexy, and daring series that is both heartbreaking and a testament to black love.

The series explores universal themes such as family structures, friendship, love, passion, lust, and deceit, with unexpected plot twists that constantly surprise the audience.

Starring Kgomotso Christopher as Nandi, a successful lawyer who embarks on a fateful weekend apart from her husband Leonard (played by Thapelo Mokoena), she encounters Jacob (played by Prince Grootboom), a sexy, charming, and captivating stranger. As their encounter stirs Nandi’s innermost desires, she finds herself questioning the authenticity of those close to her, as long-hidden lies and secrets begin to emerge, unravelling a captivating and dramatic tale.

On the day of the shoot, I arrived slightly late due to my Uber driver. The production team was already there, setting up, and I felt slightly nervous about talking to the stars of the show: Kgomotso, and Prince. I decided to have a glass of water and a cigarette to calm myself down. When I returned to the room where we were shooting, Kgomotso was already there on the couch. I internally wondered when she had arrived because she looked so beautiful talking to everyone. I quickly introduced myself and was charmed by her warm smile and friendliness. She appeared calm and poised, and eventually, I felt myself becoming calm as well. Prince arrived later for the shoot (because of an engagement he had) since his makeup didn’t take long. I sat with them separately while they were busy with hair and makeup.

In IsiZulu, when we greet, we say “Sawubona,” which translates to “I see you and receive you.” How did you receive, acknowledge, and prepare for the role of Nandi? And how do you separate yourself from the character?

Technique is everything. It’s all in our training. You know how to step into and step out of those shoes. I think when you are on set, you enter the zone of stepping into the “other” and not the self. When you leave the set, you leave that world behind you. For me, I’ve never really struggled with stepping in and stepping out. But stepping in is usually quite difficult because you have to find facets that are not you, yet you must embody them, and they become you. The challenge for a performer is to step into someone’s world and be a vessel: physically, emotionally, and vocally. Stepping out is easy because you are always yourself when you leave the set. It’s easy to find yourself as you are in yourself. The emotional baggage is the hard part. Our bodies as actors don’t know we are telling a story that is fake and not real. People have different techniques.

I think that can be so challenging, having to carry and embody a whole life that is not yours. I think you do such an amazing job in portraying the character of Nandi. It is so believable, and you go through her emotions with her. Please take me through your character’s journey.

It’s not a linear journey. From a technical aspect, she goes through many different story beats. I had to walk around with a beat diary whenever I was shooting to remember flashbacks and beats from ten years ago or from a particular day. In episode one, we meet an academic woman who is a professor. She is a mother, a wife, and appears to have a perfect life, in control of everything. But in the first episode, we break down those notions about her. She starts questioning herself, her relationships, and her marriage.

This role challenged you in diverse ways, and you received support from intimate coaches, took dance lessons, all while keeping in mind that you have two left feet (we share a laugh). You make the character of Nandi seem so easy and natural.  Finally, we get to see a different side. My next question is slightly personal, but I like to get nosy. How do you personally relate to Nandi’s character, and what aspect of her personality do you find intriguing?

It’s quite interesting because this is the closest character to me biographically that I’ve played. This role is closest to me, which ironically makes it hard to differentiate. I have to be like, “No, no. I have to find something that is not me.” Otherwise, I’m just there being myself. Biographically, I also went to UCT. I studied law, so it was like déjà vu because I know those lecture halls. It’s the closest relatable aspect of her character. What intrigued me was the blind spot she had. I am not a person who has blind spots. I had to mute that side of me, but Nandi, this is happening right in front of you. Nandi is a believer; she believes in the good in everyone, and that creates the blind spot.

Because I am a lover of books and everything related to them, I won’t let you go without telling me what your favorite book is.

My favorite book is “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It turned me into a Paulo Coelho fan. I start chatting with Prince, who plays Jacob Tau. He’s busy getting ready for the photoshoot, trying out different shoes to match his first look. He is calm and easy to talk to. You can feel his passion and excitement; he wants everything to go smoothly. Prince has so much character and personality.

Can you tell me more about your character, Jacob Tau? What makes him unique or interesting?

Jacob is a revenge-driven young man who has been planning to avenge his father for years. I like to call him an artist. He is detail-oriented and plans everything meticulously. If something isn’t working, he steps back. He’s a chameleon who can fit in anywhere with anyone to get what he wants. Jacob has planned his revenge for so long, and at this point, he can make it happen. But what derails his plan is falling in love. Jacob’s entire world is turned upside-down, and even amidst that chaos, there are still trivial things unfolding as he falls in love. As a viewer, you never know with him—is he falling in love, or is this part of the plan? This makes him different from the other characters in the show.

Jacob’s character is very confusing at times, and I can see he’s a little bit broken. What attracted you to the role?

Risk. I love taking risks. I think this is such a risky character to take, and for me, it takes me out of my comfort zone. I never wanted to take the normal roles. I always wanted to take risks. I always wanted to play risky characters that make people think twice about playing them. It gives me a unique perspective on people, and as an actor, I feel comfortable taking risks. The script and character description were beautiful. I also learned a lot from my cast mates, the OGs (older actors).

I’ve always feared taking risks myself. It is only later in life that we realise that for growth to happen we need to take risks. I’m curious about what you have learned from your castmates, you speak about them so fondly.

Patience. To clear your mind of everything else and be in the moment. I never studied acting formally; everything I know now; I learned on set and by receiving from the other person. I loved shooting “Fatal Seduction”; everyone was willing to give some knowledge and techniques of the craft so that I may become better as well as perform and create at my best.

What scene did you enjoy playing the most?

I enjoyed playing scenes with Leonard because there was so much going on in the back of Jacob’s mind and the façade, he had to show Leonard. Jacob knew what he was doing, but Leonard couldn’t see it. Everything was happening right in front of him. I also enjoyed scenes with Zinhle, the daughter.

What message or themes from “Fatal Seduction” do you hope viewers will resonate with the most? Is there anything they should take away from your character, Jacob?

I hope viewers can take away from Jacob’s story how far a man will go for his family and what he is willing to do to get what he wants. I hope they can understand Jacob’s emotions and why he is doing what he does. There is much more that viewers will get from the story in general, how the characters connect, and the direction the story takes. I hope viewers receive it well.

What words of wisdom would you like to share with aspiring actors?

If you love something, just go for it. One thing that pushed me to pursue acting, even though I wasn’t professionally trained, was the fact that I always wanted to be in front of the camera. I never wanted to play myself. From an early age, I was never comfortable with who I was, I was not comfortable. I was comfortable with playing other things.

I would imitate characters from TV to feel different. Just push! Take acting classes. It takes time, but just push through. The fact that you believe you can be an actor is there, you just need to dig deep and find it.