Being the Hallmark aficionado that I am, I regularly notice new movies that are being filmed, and since Lacey Chabert is one of my favorite actresses anyway, I was thrilled when I saw that she was the lead in Love On Safari which shot in South Africa earlier this year. Almost by accident, I connected with one of her co-stars, Xabiso Ngqabe, and after reading an informative interview about this young man, I knew I wanted to interview him and feature him on my site. Since we now know that Love On Safari will be shown during Summer Nights on the Hallmark Channel this year, I decided it was high time to share his recent interview with my readers today.

RH: Please tell us a little about your background and what led you to pursue acting.

XN: I consider myself a young man who is full of life and destined for greatness. I’ve always wanted to be an actor, but I just didn’t know how to get started. When the opportunity to be on set came last year, I grabbed it with both hands.

Please tell us about the work you have already done and what your experiences have been like on those projects.

I consider myself very fortunate in that I started as a background actor but in most shows, I got to be chosen amongst others to be featured with a few lines and a chance to portray a certain character in the story. Thus far, I have done soapies like The Queen, Isibaya, Scandal and Rhythm City which is on Dstv Mzansi Magic Channel and Etv respectively. Its a work in progress as I am working towards growing in the craft and becoming the best at what I do.

Since Hallmark viewers will see you in Love on Safari this summer, could you tell us how you happened to get that role? What can you tell us about your work on that film and how it relates to the story? Did you get to meet and/or work with any of the stars of the film?

With Lacey Chabert

My agency told me about the movie and said I would be featured as Ukuthula staff. I got on set and on the first day, I was given a few lines in a scene. Before I knew it, the director (Lief Bristow) gave me a character name, and I started to shoot some significant scenes in the movie. “Jason,” the attendant character at Ukuthula Lodge, came to life. I don’t want to say much as I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I can promise you that Hallmarkies will love it. It was an honour to meet Lacey Chabert. I loved her role on Single Gals and never knew that one day I would meet and actually work with her. She is amazing.

Before working on this film, were you familiar at all with the Hallmark Channel? If so, please tell us your thoughts about it before filming this movie. Also, what are your thoughts about working with Hallmark after this movie?

I didn’t know about the Hallmark Channel till Lacey told me that the movie will be playing on the channel. After looking it up online, I found out that it actually has some interesting movies that resonate with people. I also see that through viewer engagement on Twitter. If an opportunity to do more Hallmark Channel movies comes my way, I will definitely grab it with both hands. I should start sorting out my passport while I’m on that. 🙂

What is the film industry like in South Africa? What are the good things about it and what are the challenges?

It’s definitely growing and offers opportunities for young people as well as the elders to infiltrate. It’s almost as if its a fertilized space ready to receive and nurture new talent to fuze with veteran actors. For someone like me who just started, it is indeed a great time to be alive.

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

I have started going to auditions for bigger roles in some of our biggest soapies. I can’t say much at the moment, but I’m excited about everything that is happening right now.

But I can tell you that I just booked a role for a series called Mzansi, a show on DStv Channel 161. I had a cameo for a few episodes in season one, but I am grateful to now be a part of the cast. I have shot a lot of episodes that will be coming up in June. I am portraying the character of an SRC Treasurer in a storyline that reflects the obstacles of youth in a university setting. It’s a really interesting character, and I can’t wait for my début and to see how people will respond to my character.

Do you have plans to remain in South Africa, or do you hope to broaden your horizon beyond Africa?

I definitely want to broaden my horizon beyond Africa. I believe I have a lot to offer, and I’m willing to learn how to navigate my way up to the top. It is possible.

Are you training for your career of acting? If so, what kind of training?

I am waiting for the next intake at Market Theatre, where I will be taking a course in acting and other facets of the industry like directing. The sky is no limit.

In the US, I know that many people have misconceptions about South Africa. What are some of the things that people may not know about your country that you feel are important and maybe have even changed over the years?

South Africa is a country that is rich with diverse cultures and a great story to tell. Whilst I may not be sure of the misconceptions some people may have but as a country, we have come a long way, transitioning from apartheid to having a taste of freedom and the spirit of oneness.

Xabiso has the unmitigated honor of being the first South African industry professional that I have ever interviewed, and his enthusiasm and joy illumined the entire conversation with delectable scintillation. There is no doubt in my mind that Xabiso is well on his way to accomplishing his dreams. Moreover, whenever he encounters an obstacle in his path, his persistence and dedication ultimately show him a way to navigate around or through it. He relishes every occasion that has been afforded him so far, and I couldn’t be happier with his upcoming works which will furnish him with potential new fans and audiences all around the world who will be able to witness and admire his artistic abilities for themselves.
Therefore, I would invite all of my readers to keep a sharp eye out for Love On Safari coming to the Hallmark Channel this summer (scheduled for July 28th, but you can keep updated about this film by checking out this link). While we await the premiere of what is destined to be the perfect summer escape, be sure that you check out and follow Xabiso at the links below. I know that his aspirations extend far beyond the profession he has created for himself in South Africa, and I can only hope that Love On Safari will be his “golden ticket” to even more movie-making and success in the future!
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