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The Secret Life of Penny Lebyane

Written by TVSA Team from the blog Interviews on 23 Jun 2010
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penny_lebyane_large

She's been in the spotlight for over 13 years, since her voice first hit the airwaves on Voice of Soweto - a gig she landed when she was in Grade 12.

Since then she's been a signature voice on MetroFM, she's judged on Idols, been a guest on various shows, presented others in between, MC'd award ceremonies, travelled our airports in Beyond The Runway and of course she's now hosting SABC2's Motswako.

Penny Lebyane has to go down as one of the most consistently public figures in the entertainment industry. With her being so "out there" and having said so much over the years, I thought it would be juicy for us to scoop what she hasn't spoken about yet. Her secrets:

Tashi: You’ve done so much: TV, radio shows, award ceremonies in between. What secret ambition do you have that you haven’t done yet?
Penny: I wanna write a book. About my experiences in the South African entertainment industry.

Tashi: Will you spill the secrets about everyone you know? And then they’ll never talk to ever you again, haha.
Penny: Mmmmm ... maybe. I’ll turn it into a movie and go live in LA. Then they won’t bother me. *laughs*

Tashi: You’ll be like Richard E. Grant - the Swaziland actor who wrote a biography about his Hollywood experiences - the things he said about Madonna and others - after the book was published I don’t think he ever got acting work again.
Penny: *laughs* Well, mmm, okay, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Tashi: What will the title of the book be?
Penny: Penny Lane - the name of my first radio show on Metro.
 
penny_labyane_5
Penny out and about at a shindig with Bassie Kumalo in 2007.

Tashi: What’s the most difficult thing about being you?
Penny: Shucks, one thing is that I’m too accommodating. Like I go out of my way to accommodate people. Sometimes when I go out of my way, people don’t “get” that - it’s almost like I’m a bit overbearing, I’m just trying to accommodate.

I wanna make sure that everyone is comfortable. I don’t know ... I think because people have said that I tend to be unapproachable so sometimes I really go out of my way and that can be too much for people.

Tashi: What’s the easiest thing about being you?
Penny: I guess that I fit in to any environment - like I come in, I just fit in, I’m there and before you know it I’m part of things.

Tashi: Can you tell us one thing about yourself that no-one else knows?
Penny: Mmmm. Ai, ai, ai ... there are a lot of things man. I’m a very regular girl - I’m not the Penny in the magazines. I don’t live in magazines. I’m as ordinary as they come. I walk around with my hair unbrushed.

I forget that I’m famous. I don’t see myself as famous. The girl that I work with on Motswako always says: “You forget that you’re on TV.” And I’m really not saying this because I want to be “real” or anything. *laughs*

People sometimes expect me to be a certain way - when people are on TV many people say it’s an act but for me, it’s not an act, it’s real. I forget that I’m on TV and radio and that people see me as a celebrity - it’s a job.

It can be draining because you should go into a job and come out of it but I don’t know how to come out of it. I bring all of me into it.

Tashi: Have you ever used your celebrity status for anything?
Penny: No, I’m always scared of being found out.

Tashi: Of what? That they'll know you’re trying to “get” something?
Penny: I’m really terrified - I’m not as bold as people think I am.

Tashi: Do you feel very watched?
Penny: No I don’t - when I’m on TV and radio I don’t. I don’t think, “Millions of people know me”.

Tashi: And in the world?
Penny: No - people will wave at me and I’ll be like “Why is he waving at me, he doesn’t even know me?”
 
penny_lebyane_large_6
Penny at the 2009 SAFTAs
 
Tashi: You’ve won Snaparazzi’s Most Booblicious Award numerous times. At the end of last year you made the Top 10 pics of the Year ‘cos of your fab cleavage in your outfits. What secret tips do you have to be booblicious?
Penny: I just think, find your own signature style and stick to it. That’s really what it is - I like dresses that show my curves - some of my boobliciousness comes from breastfeeding.  I think, don’t try too hard, I’m always looking for something that I’m confortable with, that isn’t tacky - find something that works for you.

Tashi: Could you tell us about your current squeeze?
Penny: My current squeeze is Jesus Christ. Nobody else. That’s who my current squeeze is.

Tashi: As a celebrity, do you find that it’s difficult finding lurve or a relationship?
Penny: I’m one of those people that ... people say that I’m unapproachable - I don’t get asked out. *laughs*.

Tashi: So guys think that you’re unapproachable?
Penny: I think that maybe I’m too focused on what I’m doing so even if people are flirting with me I don’t pick it up. Also, being in the entertainment industry, getting into it as young as I did, you sort of build this exterior to protect yourself.

I think that’s probably what I’ve done so I don’t ... people don’t come up to me and say: “Yo, can I can take you out on a date?” That never happens to me.

Tashi: Being a celebrity, if someone pursues you - do you always wonder whether it’s for you or because of the image they have of you; or because you’re famous? You’d never be able to tell?
Penny: Yah - and then when you’re in a relationship you find yourself doing everything to make sure it works because ... yah, *laughs.*

Tashi: What secret do you know now, that you wish you’d known when you were at high school?
Penny: That tomorrow will still come. Like I don’t have to do everything today, here, now. There’s no need for me to feel under pressure about anything - I can give myself another chance, like I’m not competing with anyone, tomorrow - there’s still another chance.
 

Tashi: Where did you buy your hidden gem blue nail polish that you were wearing to the TopTV launch?
Penny: China Town ... China Town in Main Reef, next to Gold Reef City.

Tashi: What secretly thrills you?
Penny: I like being spontaneous. I can’t be boxed in - I hate being boxed in. Every day I go out of my way to be myself and it’s a constant challenge because either you fit in here, or you don’t fit in there so that’s my thing.

Tashi: It’s like no-one can ever be enough of anything to fit in exactly. You can never be rich enough, successful enough, you can’t be enough of a perfect friend, husband, girlfriend, actor, sportsman - whatever it is, it's not possible - all one can do is be you.

Penny: That’s the thing I wake up with every day, just to be me and in time I’ve realised that the journey of my life is that. When I try not to be me, my life becomes difficult. When I don’t express myself, I feel like I’ve been silenced.

I don’t fit into that whole celebrity thing - I don’t have a clique, I try to get along with anybody, I’m not fighting with anyone, I’m excited for everyone. Sometimes I get cheated and then I cry but it’s okay - I get up and do it again. I’m like: “Let’s just move on.”

I don’t want to seen at the right places for the sake of looking a certain way. My career shouldn’t depend on whether or not I go to five parties a week - people say I’m difficult, arrogant, they’ve called me the “B” word but I’m not - and I don’t apologise for who I am. When I was younger I felt the pressure to do it, but now I don’t.
 

Tashi: It’s all an illusion isn’t it? Everything that’s set up socially has been created by someone somewhere who has some sort of hidden agenda.*laughs*
Penny: Yes, until you’ve been a psychiatrist’s ward you wouldn’’t appreciate that. I’ve been, it’s not worth it.

Tashi: Did you really have a breakdown as a result of the pressure of what you “need” to be?
Penny: I did, it was after I had my baby, it was a build-up of things that I’d bottled up and it had nothing to do with my baby. I got to that place where I was like “I’m not bottling up anything for whatever reason anymore and I’m not fighting with anyone.”

I got to a place where I was like: “If someone doesn’t want to respect my values, I’m not going to fight it. It's not worth me losing sleep over it.” I say to people: “Do you. I’ll do me.”
 
penny_labyane_4
Penny at the 2009 SAMAs, snapped by Cande.
 
Tashi: Who would you secretly love to have as a guest on Motswako who you haven’t chatted to yet?
Penny: I’d like to have Winnie Mandela. I’d like to have her on to talk about what it was like being a single mom in the ‘70’s. That would be very interesting - I think she’d have some tips she could share with us younger, single mothers of today. The others are too controversial.*laughs*

Tashi: No - you can’t say that. You have to tell.
Penny: No, no, no - I can’t say.

Tashi: Are they so controversial that they’d never be on?
Penny: Yah.

Tashi: Who could be so controversial? ... the fight for freedom of speech. It’s like a constant fight just to not be controversial or to just say what you think.
Penny: For me, I think there’s a difference between being controversial and being truthful. I go out of my way to be truthful and if that causes controversy, I’ve got no control over it.

Tashi: Have you been involved in a controversy that’s stuck with you?
Penny: Nah, not really, but “controversial” is a word that people like to throw when my name is mentioned and I don’t think that I’m controversial. I just like to be truthful about something.

An example, one time there was a Miss Teen who was pregnant. I went to Miss SA Teen, I watched the show and said: “This girl is pregnant.” And everyone was like “How can you say she’s pregnant?! - you don’t know, wadda, wadda, wadda,”

I was like “Okay fine, if she’s not, she looks pregnant and she’s a teenager - can someone explain that?” It so happened that three months later it came out that she was pregnant - so I wasn’t being controversial, I just said it as I saw it.

Before the news was out people were like: “How could she go on air and say that?” and afterwards no-one came to me and said: “Oh you were right.” It’s not like I think “How can I stir up controversy?” There’s definitely a difference between truthful and controversial.

Tashi: Do you ever feel afraid that you’re gonna say the “wrong” thing? Do you ever hold yourself back?
Penny: Yes, I have managed to hold myself back - exercising restrain is a good quality to have. I used to be afraid of saying the wrong thing but in time I’ve grown comfortable with myself to know how to say what I want to say without offending people.

There’s a thin line you know - it’s how you say it. So long as I’m not degrading anyone. Stick to the facts. I would never make a statement like: “That was worst song ever.” Rather: “That was a terrible song.” and then quantify it. If you say “ever” you’re making a definitive statement - that there will never be a worse song.

Tashi: Don’t you think that people take what people say too seriously? Even if you were to say it was the worst song ever, it adds emphasis to how terrible it is. They’re just words that come and go.
Penny: But there is power in our words. They don’t just come and go - especially in the media, it’s not just words. You need to exercise restraint, even if you criticise someone, criticise what they’re doing - don’t break the person down.

That’s what I’ve learnt to do - for me, I don’t have a problem with people taking it too seriously because then it means that people need to realise the power of their words. When someone writes it online or in print and the public reads it, it’s fact. It’s part of that person’s history.

Tashi: What about opinion though?
Penny: But you need to quantify it - you can’t just say: “Penny’s a terrible actress,” because then I can say: “She’s a brilliant actress,” and that’s just a pointless conversation.
 
penny_lebyane_20
 
Tashi: What’s your best kept beauty secret?
Penny: Olive oil - put it in on your food, if you can, drink it, put it on your skin.

Tashi: I once tried drinking fish oil and it’s terrible.
Penny: Yah, olive oil’s good.

Tashi: So you’re not gonna tell us your controversial guest list?
Penny: No, no.
Tashi: Fair enough - we’ll leave you with one secret.

Ends

Actors in this post: Penny Lebyane



19 Comments

SiyaB
24 Jun 2010 05:47

Yo, Penny has an amazing dress sense, hands down. I do feel though her talent is average. Just not my cup of tea, whether its radio or TV. I also wish she wouldn't be so critical and judgemental about others in the industry (her twitter) e.g Touch. I feel like its tacky when any celeb speaks about another celebs craft. Great article! Thanks Tashi :)

Mokema
24 Jun 2010 07:48

Nice gal indeed and i like her.

Lus
24 Jun 2010 08:07

i love Penny's thinking and honesty. She is a hard worker and i must say she has grown up nyani. All the best Penny, i can't wait for your book....
Nice interview & Article Tashi!!

mathata
24 Jun 2010 08:38

i love penny from d 90s when she used to be big.look at her body....fabulous.

this thing of hers....single mothers,does she want to get paid for being single mother?even if she call Graca machell she will ask the same thing,i dont know how many time did i heard her saying the same thing.

I know shis looking for a decent men,but she musnt dwell like that.with her single mothers.takeit easy  my sister,God cant give you all.

i like her.........but to be honest  she sound like a bitter person,her actions,but i love her it doest matter to me.





Lus
24 Jun 2010 08:56

lol mathata, kodwa nam i agree with you , it's like  she was alone or unaware when making these babies yhu..!! but shame let's not be harsh one her she is not bitter but shocked ngokubayi-single parent. (maybe the daddy promised marriage after the kids)

Vesa
24 Jun 2010 10:19

I agree with you mathata and Lus on this "single mothers ish"! She needs to tone it down....it's not the end of the world. And it's not like everyone chooses to be a single mom.....it just so happens and life has to go on!!

maud
24 Jun 2010 10:49

mina i dont understant whats a beef about being a single mother especialy if you are as successfull as she is so i think

she was once hurt or twice, but i think she need to focus on taking care of the babies and forget about marriage.

Lex
24 Jun 2010 11:09

Ya,Penny ne.I like her sometimes.She has a tendency of being too....(I dont know how to put it).As a presenter/radio jock I think she's average,nothing to write home about really.

cleve
24 Jun 2010 11:18

She looks good on the 2nd last pic

GoldenSta
24 Jun 2010 11:32

Mhhhh... Ms Penny Lebyane, like some have said her TV and radio presenting are nothing to shout about. And generally she has never been a favourite of mine. 

However... I must say her dress sense is so on point *most of the time* and she's looking more and more gorgeous by the years. She's so pretty yena and her body now looks really good or she knows how to dress appropriately for it.

I don't like pic 3 though. The cleveage is accompanied by too much meat on the sides.

Lex
24 Jun 2010 11:33

cleve,that second last pic,the dress seems a bit small coz it isn't hiding those two 'bubbles'.Just wondering if that's how she wanted to look.Yena,she is pretty,dont get me wrong.

therapy
24 Jun 2010 12:05

honestly,i think if Penny can learn from a mistakes and not think that she is always right,and learn from people next door,like Azania Ndoro Bala's wife..she can still be a great person.

She is bitter and i doubt if there is a decent man who can settle for a person like her.
She is gogeouse and if she can be sweet and calm like a lady,she can still go a long way

I like her pic with Batsi,not that she look good on it but she looks fit to be mentioned in teh same line with Batsi.

kiki X
24 Jun 2010 14:56

Nice1 Tashi..

Penny needs to calm down when it comes to this single motherhood cry.....She is not the only one.

carino
24 Jun 2010 15:00

Oh God! My thoughts exactly, Kiki.... single motherhood is only normal, now... We've moved over to the times of people having children with their own fathers - even that we are getting used to. Really now.

Strolicious
24 Jun 2010 16:32

how many kids does she have?

therapy
28 Jun 2010 11:20

2,i think

poshym
29 Jun 2010 11:59

Penny to me lukz very beautiful,inside and out..i so lyk people like her,saying it like it is coz dats exactly how it is....nd ya,wen people tel da truth dey r labelled arrogant,naive. etc coz vele da truth realy does hurt....der r billions of human beings mo earth,cant live to pleaze em ol.........her dress sense z tops,bt a bit squeezd up most of da tym dou...

6444
29 Apr 2011 12:59

anyway i like her she is very intelligent nd beautiful

Mnogemane
11 Jan 2016 15:07

I love Penny guys
 


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