Angel Zuma, the talented 25-year-old actress from Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, is making waves with her remarkable role as Nomkhosi in Umkhokha: The Curse. In an exclusive interview with TRUELOVE, Angel opens up about her unexpected path to acting, her character’s dramatic transformation, and her exciting new adventure in Canada.
Angel’s journey to stardom is a familiar one for many South African artists. Growing up, she had a passion for performing and took part in church plays and school choirs. However, her parents, who didn’t see acting as a viable career, encouraged her to pursue a more stable profession. That’s how she ended up studying architecture at Tshwane University of Technology.
“I think being a Black child and growing up in a Black household, acting is not a career,” Angel explains. “According to our upbringing, acting could never be the first choice, even if I loved it first and showed signs that I was a performer. Performing has always been a part of me.”
Despite her love for the arts, Angel followed her parents’ wishes and studied architecture, which still allowed her to express her creativity. But her passion for acting couldn’t be ignored. At university, she befriended someone connected to Uzalo, which led to her first role — as an extra. It wasn’t much, but it was the start of her acting career.
Her big break came when she auditioned for The Lion King and filmmaker Duma ka Ndlovu took notice of her talent. Soon, she was invited to audition for roles in other productions. However, Angel initially hesitated to dive into acting, unsure about balancing her studies and the financial burden on her family.
“In architecture, it was getting really hectic with no money for tuition, so I couldn’t waste the little money my parents were making just for me to study,” she says.
In 2021, Angel decided to fully pursue acting, enrolling in a performance arts program. That’s when Duma invited her to audition for Umkhokha, and she landed the role of Nomkhosi.
“Nomkhosi didn’t have a big storyline in season 1. She was a character that just popped up. I actually auditioned for the role of Mabusi, but when I didn’t get that, the producers created Nomkhosi,” she explains.
As the show progressed, Nomkhosi’s character evolved, transforming from a supportive woman into a more ambitious and ruthless figure. “Nomkhosi is an extremist who would do anything for her man,” Angel explains. “She started off as someone who just wanted the best for Khulekani, but as time went on, she became more selfish and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family, even if it hurt others.”
Despite her character’s tough exterior, Angel says she is very different from Nomkhosi. “I work hard for what I want, and I wouldn’t do anything underhanded,” she shares. “Nomkhosi does whatever it takes, while I’m firm in my spirituality, reserved, and non-confrontational.”
One of Angel’s most challenging scenes was when she had to yell and insult MaNzimande, played by Gcinile Nkosi, who responded by slapping her. “It was tough because Ma Gcina is like a mother to me, and we have so much respect for her,” Angel says. “I felt guilty after the scene, but she saw no harm and laughed about it.”
Another challenge was portraying a blind character, which required extensive research to understand how visually impaired people behave. “It was a huge learning curve,” Angel explains.Currently, Angel is on a new adventure in Canada, touring with the Lion King until December 2025. “It’s hard to say when I’ll be back on TV, but I’ll be sharing my experience on social media,” she says. “People can follow me for behind-the-scenes content, work ethic, and everything I’m experiencing while in Canada.”
