Bio
Hlomla Dandala is a South African actor, presenter and director best known for his television roles as Derek Nyathi in Isidingo (1998-2001), as the title role in Jacob's Cross and for presenting the reality dating show All You Need Is Love, from 2002-2003.
He also has a starring role as Jet Hlatswayo, Minister of the Environment who finds himself at the centre of a political conspiracy, in the SABC1 political thriller mystery drama series End Game.
He has had major roles in the series Interrogation Room, Tsha Tsha and Gaz'lam and the US daytime series Scout's Safari, which aired on Discovery Kids and NBC.
He also played the role of Majola Tindleni on the second season of the SABC1 drama series Zero Tolerance.
He directed three episodes of the South African drama series Hard Copy and seven episodes of Gaz'lam. He also directed episodes of the soapies Generations and Backstage.
In 2006 he directed the film The Bet for the Heartlines movie series on SABC2.
His film appearances include Fools (1997), Red Dust (2004) and Lord Of War (2005.)
He has also appeared in the made-for-TV movie Coup! (2006) and in the mini-series The Triangle (2005).
In 2007 Dandala landed a major role in the South African-Canadian medical drama series Jozi-H. He also plays the title role in the drama series Jacob's Cross, which aired on M-Net Series and M-Net.
In 2008 Dandala played the lead role of Khanyiso Phalo, a returning South African expatriate who falls in love with a white woman, in the SABC2 mini-series Land of Thirst, from January to February.
Dandala was married to TV presenter Candy Litchfield.
He has a daughter, Ziyanda.
He speaks four languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu.
He is 5'9" (1.80 m) tall.
An interview with Hlomla about his role as Khanyiso Phalo in Land of Thirst.
Q&A with Hlomla Dandala
Nicknames: “Q”
A bit of background on your TV career: Isidingo, Channel O, Interrogation Room and Tsha Tsha
Pet hate: Ignorance
Favourite food: All Xhosa traditional dishes
Favourite form of relaxation: Motorbike riding
Favourite movie: Lord of the Rings - Trilogy
Favourite local actress: Nthathi Moshesh
Favourite international actor: Sean Penn
Favourite person: My daughter
Best advice you received: Learn to say No
Worst advice you received: Always be nice
Your source of inspiration: A dream for SA
Favourite drink: Water
How did you get into acting/presenting? Studied for it at Univesity
The best thing about being an actor: Every day is a new experience
Favourite item of clothing: Condom
Most memorable experience: First time seeing my daughter
Your dream for South Africa: For it to be the first state in the United States of Africa
As Jacob Makhubu in Jacob's Cross
As Khanyiso Phalo in Land of Thirst