You've asked for it and here it is... the inside sc-ooh-p on Lesego Marakalla who plays Skeem Saam's troublemaking, sugar-daddy-dating Rachel Kunutu.
We've been receiving loads of requests for more on Lesego so I caught up with her for us to uncover the mystery of the elusive and shy actress:
Tashi: Please tell us about your life?
Lesego: When I was a little girl, especially towards the end of primary school and high school, I always participated in drama and other extra mural activities in school. But I could have called you a liar if you would have told me that I would be acting for a living. Whenever I was asked what I would be when I grew up, I said with a straight face that I would be a doctor. Acting was not something that I saw as a career.
Tashi: Where did you grow up and go to school?
Lesego: I went to Motswedi Primary School in Seabe in Mpumalanga.
Tashi: How did you grow up? What's your family like?
Lesego: I pretty much grew up in a normal family where we were taught to respect our elders. I was a very quiet child, and didn’t speak unless spoken to. To this day, I’m incredibly quiet around people that I don’t know well.
Tashi: How did you get the role of Rachel?
Lesego: I heard that there was a new SePedi show and that they were holding auditions. Like everyone else, I went to the auditions to try my luck. I could be wrong, but I believe they had been searching for a while for someone to play Rachel’s role. The casting director was looking for someone with an innocence in her eyes.
Tashi: Did you study drama? Did you do any acting before?
Lesego: Yes… after matric, I went to Monis Arts House in Pretoria
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Tashi: What are your thoughts on Rachel? How do you feel about her behaviour and attitudes?
Lesego: I love playing Rachel, and I appreciate that the writers have challenged me and got me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to play such a rebellious teenager.
Obviously I feel that she’s out of hand a lot of times, and her curiosity and liking things has landed her in hot water. But that is the story of many girls that we know and have grown up with. I think people could look at her and learn that there are consequences to crazy behaviour.
Tashi: What’s the best thing about playing her?
Lesego: I get to do and say things that I would never ever do as Lesego.
Tashi: Who are you closest to on Skeem Saam?
Lesego: Molalo who plays Kamo. We’re more or less the same age, we both live in Pretoria, we use the same transport. Furthermore, she’s crazy and open to everyone, which I am not. That being said, we have a lot of similarities. She’s fun to be with. I enjoy doing my classroom and other scenes with her.
Tashi: What do you do in your spare time?
Lesego: I’m often on set shooting, but when I’m off, I make sure that I catch up and spend time with my family and friends.
Tashi: What can you tell us about yourself that very few people know?
Lesego: I’m a very simple person.
The smallest things make me happy. And right now, that thing is my job. My job is my life. And I don’t plan on giving it up anytime soon.