by Cece Smith
Isibaya actress, mom, and singer Lerato Mvelase, 37, is one of the most respected leading lady in the South African industry.
Her career dates back to 2003, but she flourished when she played the lead of Katlego on SABC 1 drama series Home Affairs.
Her career dates back to 2003, but she flourished when she played the lead of Katlego on SABC 1 drama series Home Affairs.
Lerato recently took to social media to express how the acting industry has changed.
“I’m thankful to God that I came into the art industry when there was no social media: no Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram,” she wrote.
“When being a performer was purely about performing, telling stories with amazing actors like Nthathi Moshesh, Harriet Manamela, and many others that I adore and respect so much. Touching lives and having our people reflect on their own lives through our art so we become a better people and that was enough, fulfilling.”
Lerato says acting has now become about fame and less about the craft.
“Today I’m famous and I influence the younger generation to strive for fame, for relevance, for followers for likes, it breaks my heart that what I love and I’m passionate about has turned against me,” she wrote.
“Making me an instigator of the youth dreaming and living for fame and doing anything and everything to be famous.” Lerato said, she “thought fame would influence the youth to find their passion, their talent, and their calling and be damn good at it but my fame has stolen political leaders, wives, teachers, mothers, doctors, pilots, engineers, visionaries, accountants, entrepreneurs, etc.”
“My fame tells the youth that their dream of being anything other than celebrities is not good enough, not relevant, not life-changing, and not God-given. I don’t want to be famous anymore because my fame is making my ancestors turn in their graves,” she says.
“I am mediocre for my fame doesn’t strengthen my people’s spirituality, my fame doesn’t build people with character and depth, my fame doesn’t build families. My fame promotes unkindness, selfishness, and stupidity. My fame has turned against me and I don’t want it anymore.”
Picture: Lerato Mvelase/Instagram
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