Publications
Partners
- Kgomotso Christopher plays the stylish and oh so cool Dineo Price in M-Net's telenovela, Legacy.
- Twenty episodes in the second wife of the Price patriarch has had a bumpy ride after being accused of her husband's murder.
- Legacy airs Monday - Thursday at 19:00 on M-Net (DStv 101).
Kgomotso Christopher needs no introduction. From Isidingo, to Scandal! the Safta-winning actor is one of the most well-known faces on South African television.
Now the 41-year-old stars as Dineo Price in Legacy - M-Net's first telenovela in years - which centres on the affluent Price family who fight over who will take over the empire the patriarch has created when he dies.
Twenty episodes in and Dineo has already had a bumpy ride from being accused and jailed for her husband's murder to her deepest secret being revealed: that her brother is actually her son. What else could be in store for Dineo?
"There's lots to look forward to now that Dineo is out of prison. I know that the viewers were quite thrilled when Dineo went from jail and straight to the Legacy offices to fire Msizi," says Kgomotso.
In this Q&A, we find out more about what drew her to the role, what working in Covid-19 has been like, and find out what filming a fight scene with Michelle Botes is like.
Can you describe the character of Dineo, and what it was about her that drew you to the script?
Dineo Price is pitched as the matriarch to the very wealthy Price family. She's everything money, wealth, and opulence. A corporate woman. Mother and protector of her family's legacy. It's been an interesting journey to play a cool, calm, and collected character. She's measured and keeps her cards close to her.
How do you develop your character after getting the script?
I generally follow the same character development steps most actors need to follow when discovering and developing a character. Starting from the character bible, which is the skeletal overview of a character, their biography, their needs, personality. The scripts are also a helpful source of understanding the relationships the character has with others and thereby helps to inform and extend one's knowledge about the character. People study, i.e. observing real-life people, seeing their characteristics and similarities to the character. These are just the basics; in truth, a character, especially in a developing and on-going telenovela, is always in constant development.
What has been challenging for you working on this show, especially in our current state of Covid-19?
Covid has changed the whole world, let alone our industry and our craft as actors. Naturally, the most challenging aspect of our work is to tell stories without the physical and spatial restrictions that came with Covid protocols. We needed to be able to work and perform within those restrictions and still be aware of the risks of being on set during the pandemic, and unlike other sectors, there was no option to work remotely at home.
What do you think it is about family in fighting/power struggles that are appealing to viewers?
It's appealing to viewers because it's relatable to all regardless of social standing or economic status.
The bad blood between Angelique and Dineo was very apparent early on. What was it like to shoot that fight scene?
Michelle is one of the most grounded, gentle and most humble iconic actors I have ever had the fortune to work with. I learnt from her that neither your star nor your fame should ever change your humanity and humility. As a performer, Michelle's work ethic and professionalism is something to behold; she dives and digs deep into each character as if it were her first role. So definitely she went all the way, and so did I, we had a lot of fun shooting the scene and miraculously didn't injure ourselves.
On the surface, the Price family seem perfect, but we soon find out there are cracks in their foundation. I think for many families, appearance is everything. What social commentary do you think the series makes on this point?
The series is definitely a reminder to society that there are no perfect families and more importantly, as the adage says, don't judge a book by its cover. It's especially important in these times of social media and the power thereof in informing people's selfhood and self-worth on the basis of the presentation of perfect lives purported through social media. It's quite easy for those who are consumed by social media to aspire to impossible and most times, false notions of perfection reflected through the content of social media platforms.
