In this intimate conversation, actress Ngele Ramulondi shares the deeply personal motivations and experiences that have shaped her career, from her childhood fascination with art to her breakthrough role in Noughts and Crosses. She opens up about the importance of family support, the mentors who inspired her, and the challenges of being a young actress, where talent alone isn’t enough to thrive.
Reflecting on the evolving representation of actors in diverse roles, she expresses excitement about the future of African narratives and cross-genre storytelling. She also dives into her creative process, explaining how character breakdowns, playlists, and physical movement help her embody each role. Balancing work with personal life remains a challenge, but she emphasizes the value of protecting her peace and staying grounded through simple practices like cooking and spending time with family.
Outside of acting, she embraces a playful, active lifestyle, which feeds her work, and speaks about her love for fashion, drawing inspiration from icons like Boom Shaka and Zoë Kravitz. Whether casually dressed or gracing the red carpet, her style reflects a unique blend of elegance, playfulness, and authenticity
Personal Journey and Early Career
What inspired you to pursue acting at such a young age, and how did you get started?
The need to connect. I grew up seeing how art could really move people-whether it was music, acting, or even storytelling around a fire. That ability to stir something within someone fascinated me. Acting, in particular, felt like home.
I knew I wanted to do this for life the first time I stepped on stage and felt the quiet after a powerful scene-that shared breath between audience and performer.
Can you share a memory of your first audition and how it went?
I’ll go with my first audition post-grad—it was for a role in BBC’s Noughts and Crosses. It ended up being my debut screen credit. There’s something wild about that—it felt God nodding back at me, saying, “Yeah, you’re on the right path.” I barely remember the details because I was hyper-focused on being present.
I do remember it involved a slap-and the casting director was very into it. I wasn’t sure it was mine when I left the room I just remember the excitement of having just had my first audition!
How has your family supported you in your acting career, and what role do they play in your success?
My family has backed me all the way. Even when they didn’t fully understand the ins and outs of the industry, they showed up for me. I mean even before that my parents would wake up at 9:30pm to come pick me up at the school from drama rehearsals and we stayed far away from my high school so I could already see then, that they were willing to make sacrifices for my future. They made space for me to dream-and dream big. That support has been a true anchor.
Who were your role models or mentors when you were starting out, and how did they influence you?
It’s so great that I grew up in SA where black faces really dominated the film and tv industry. So it wasn’t just one face that influenced me but all the different faces on tv made it easy for me to dream as a black child because I grew up seeing faces like mine on the screen. That on its own made their careers a blueprint in so many ways’.
Industry Insights
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing young actors in Hollywood today?
Honestly? The myth that talent alone is enough. The grind outside the frame is real-you’re not just an actor; you’re a brand, a strategist, a business. It’s draining, especially when all you want to do is tell stories. There’s also this constant feeling of needing to stay relevant, which can be creatively suffocating if you’re not careful.
How do you feel about the evolving representation of young actors, especially in diverse roles?
It’s overdue, and it’s exciting. We’re finally seeing stories that reflect the world we live in. But there’s still a long way to go. I want us to move past “firsts” and “exceptions.” I want layered, ordinary, extraordinary characters across the board-without the constant need to explain our presence.
What trends do you see in the industry right now that excite you or inspire your work?
The rise of cross-genre storytelling and African narratives owning space globally really excites me. I’m also loving how fashion and film are intertwining-telling stories beyond dialogue.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
Unpopular opinion? Striving for excellence. I had to do some self introspection and I realised, It’s not about me or how good of a storyteller I am or can be. It’s about expressing and connecting, and as long as I’m present and in-tune with that, excellence with flow out of the work unprovoked. When you look deeper into it, it’s a battle between chasing excellence (which in this case is talent validation) versus trusting yourself and the gift God planted in you. It’s why I fell in-love with acting in the first place.
How do you handle the pressures and expectations that come with being in the spotlight?
I live exactly where my feet are. And stay present in the daily dynamic of how my life goes, it’s great to be a freelancer because each day is different but that can also be overwhelming so having a daily routine and consistent practices like gym. I’m learning that protecting your peace is an active practice—it’s not a passive state. And I don’t perform outside the performance. I let Ngele be Ngele.
Current Projects and Experiences
How do you prepare for your roles, and do you have any specific rituals or routines?
Character break downs and bibles really allow me to imagine the character as if they’re a memory I have of someone, that context allows me to know and commit to who they are when I’m playing and making decisions. I build a playlist for different parts of the characters arc -it helps me find their rhythm, and its just something that gets me in their mind state. I also like working through backstory journals, writing as the character to discover new things that they might be thinking but never say, the undertones of their behaviour. On the physical side, I love space, walking around and embodying the character helps me find their form. And I’m a stage girl so, repetition repetition repetition!
Can you share a defining moment on set that impacted you as an actress?
There was a moment where everything went wrong in the scene and I was so sure the director was going to ask for another take, instead he said that the scene happened exactly the way it was meant to happen, and it made me realise there’s no right or wrong in truth.
As a young actress, how do you approach the challenge of balancing work and personal life?
I don’t always get it right. But I’ve learned that saying no is sometimes saying yes to my wellbeing. I keep space for people and things that don’t need me to be “on.” That way when I do need to be at work and in networking spaces I also genuinely enjoy it.
Personal Reflections
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started your career?That timing isn’t a punishment. There really is a season for everything and “delay” is often preparation and realignment. So I’ve learned to trust the wait.
How do you stay grounded amidst the glamour and excitement of acting?Honestly? I do the dishes. I cook and I stay close to family. I have quiet time with God, and loud time too. Anything that naturally reminds me of who I am as a person and keeps me grounded. Also fortunately enough we’re in South Ah where everyone else treats you like a human being too, so it’s hard to get lost in the sauce.
What are your hobbies or interests outside of acting, and how do they influence your work?I love movement—whether it’s gym, tennis, or hiking. I’m also learning to play guitar, very badly, but it’s fun. Those things keep me active and playful, which helps with the work too.
If you could choose any fictional character to portray, who would it be and why?Lady Macbeth—hands down. That unraveling, that ambition, that language… She’s a storm many can relate to and completely have disdain for at the same time, and I’d love to step into that fire.
Fashion
How do you balance your creative vision with the demands of having to always look put together?
I’ve learned that “put together” doesn’t have to mean polished. I aim for intentional. Some days that’s bold colours and structured lines, other days it’s bare skin and denim. As long as it feels like me.
How would you describe your personal style, and how has it evolved over the years?
My style is rooted in duality—elegant but playful, soft but edgy, clean but rugged. I went through so many phases when I was younger, it was so hard for my family to keep up. But I think that curiosity contributed to my overall style today, there’s always a little bit of every phase and it’s kept me very open to exploring as time goes.
Who are your fashion icons, and how have they influenced your style?
The golden oldies had such an authentic style, musicians like Boom Shaka, Brenda Fassie and young mama Mariam Makheba. They were bold, daring and African. Those same notes come through in Thebe Magugu’s work and SA fashion week newcomer Tadiwa Na She. I just love how they communicate elegance, personality and culture through fabric. On a casual day? Zoë Kravitz—minimalistic, but potent.
What is your go-to outfit for a casual day versus a red carpet event?
Casual day, I’m a plane Jane but I go crazy with accessories for that little bit of character, so throw in a big scarf or some chunky jewellery, anything that adds “statement” to the outfit. Red carpet, is all about theme and hair for me. My look needs to commonicate the theme, but not in the way one would imagine —and then a bold hair structure to seal everything in place.
Can you share a favorite fashion moment from your career that stands out to you?
Definitely between one of my PR looks by Amy Zama, it was a chic denim 2 piece, with just enough drama and glamour. It made me feel like I didn’t even need to say a lot about myself, walking into any room you would have an idea of who I was by just looking at me without me having to say a word.
