She’s at the salon getting what many would call her signature haircut.
She’s known for rocking short hair or a bald look and is almost unrecognizable without it.
When asked to share the secret to her ageless beauty, the 39-year-old actress jokingly says, “Black don’t crack.”
But she then attributes looking forever young to her mother, “My mom didn’t age, I get that from her.”
Almost 30 years of acting and Lerato Mvelase is still as humble as she was when she started appearing in theatre productions back in 1995.
The highly acclaimed actress had always dreamt of seeing herself on TV, she says, telling Drum she used to act and sing at home when she was a child.
“There’s a beautiful thing about being humans, we dream. I wanted to be a singer and actor. I used to watch Shaka Zulu and I would say, ‘I’ll be there on TV.'”
After seven years in theatre, she landed her first TV role in 2002. Looking back on that moment now, Lerato says she never anticipated how well she’d do in the industry.
“I didn’t know how big I would be. But I knew people will watch me and love me.”
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The award-winning actress has appeared in many of South Africa’s most-watched TV shows, including Showmax’s The Wife.
Currently, she appears on the new Netflix documentary Justice Served, a fast-paced drama that’s kept many viewers hooked for all six episodes.
With all that’s happening in South Africa, Lerato and the leading actors in the show agree that Justice Served is a bit of art imitating life.
“I am sure many women will relate in all the different parts of their lives in the careers that they have. You know, having to be a mom who is not just a mom but a mom in the law system,” says Lerato Mvelase of her character, Mampho Mashaba, a widowed police officer who is struggling with balancing motherhood and her career.
“The idea of justice served is purely that, Justice Served,” says Lerato recently told Drum at a press junket in which she and fellow lead stars Morné Visser and Hlomla Dandala teased about the emotionally charged drama series which shows evocative flash-back scenes of apartheid SA, comparing them with modern SA.
“Justice is not only one term but an umbrella of many things that falls under justice you know, the legislation, the law, protect and serve, racism, all those things. So the series is highlighting everything that is currently relevant not only in this country but the world all over,” Lerato told Drum.
“It is the law protecting the people, I guess that is what the Numoors are about.”
Outside of her busy work schedule, she maintains her dedication to hard work, whether it’s at the gym or at school.
If you follow her on social media, you will see her at the gym stretching or doing some exercise.
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“I enjoy the gym,” she says. “Lately we gym for completely different reasons – to release endorphins. When I gym, it’s a moment to reflect and think about my kids, finances. It’s like a journal.”
Although she has been in the public eye for decades, the Emmy-nominated actress likes to keep her life private and use social media to share inspiring content.
“It’s my duty,” she believes.
“I don’t post my life. I use social media to inspire. As a known person I have a responsibility to teach,” and inspiring is what keeps her going, she says.
“We can’t afford to give too much to the public.” The KZN-born actress has many exciting projects planned for this year, including season 4 of Seng’khathele.