Miranda Ntshangase, who is best known for her role as Joy on The Queen and Latoya on Tshisa, was the lead member of a film cast which may have predicted the coronavirus – if you believe in prophetic art. In a Mzansi Magic film titled Something About, the singer-actress and talent developer plays Busi, the workaholic owner of a bed-and-breakfast establishment who is beset with three amorous men, all of whom vie for her affection.
One of the men, a bothersome hotel guest, a former schoolmate of Busi, is quarantined at the B-N-B when he contracts Vark virus, a novel respiratory virus. The hotel staff attend to him with surgical masks in a cordoned off room. Sound familiar? Scottness Smith directs the film whose script is written by Fidel Namisi.
Coronavirus déjà vu
Asked if she thought it was spooky that her 2014 film mirrors the world’s current reality, Miranda Ntshangase agreed.
Commenting on the rescreening of Something About and another of her films, Love And A Broken Rose – both of which aired in May and Juy – Miranda joked that she wished there was payment for old movies repeated on television:
“Oh my… if only one got paid, each time these movies played – I would be super rich now!”
Oh my… if only one got paid, each time these movies played – I would be super rich now! https://t.co/dExm1V53sd
— Miranda Ntshangase (@mirandalately) May 18, 2020
Life after “predicting” coronavirus
So much has happened since the release of the prophetic film; Miranda has added to her family with the birth of son Zakhe, she took a brief hiatus from acting before making a comeback and, sadly, her signature crown of spiral hair is no more. It is pleasing to note, though, the barber’s shears did not clip off her sense of humour.
Big hair or short hair, what has remained unchanged, is her stunning beauty, even after the passage of six years.
Miranda Ntshangase the businesswoman
Apart from being an actress and musician who owns a recording studio, Miranda Ntshangase is a businesswoman and acting coach at Star Quality Management which she co-owns with business partner Zinzi Zungu. Star Quality represents celebrities and beginners within the industry for services for television, films, commercials, Mc’ng , influencing and voice-overs. Zinzi and Miranda also established the Star Quality Performing Arts College, which now offers a 1 year accredited acting program.
Zinzi also has a strong television and drama background, having begun her career at the tender age of 16, as a presenter on eTV show Craze. She is a graduate of the South African School of Motion Picture and Live performance and is currently working on her Masters degree in Drama Therapy.
Regarding their coming together to form Star Quality, Miranda had this to say.
“Zinzi and I met at a company we both used to work for years ago. Star Quality Management and Star Quality Performing Arts College represent and facilitate students from Johannesburg amd Durban. We now offer a short online course as well, so anyone can register no matter the location.
Zinzi and I do not facilitate the acting programs, but rather come on as guest lecturers from time to time. We have professional facilitators that run the course for us.”
The agency, which was set up in 2012, currently has on its books actors Charmone Blennies (Jasmine on The Queen) Pabee Moganedi (who has appearances on The Queen, Isibaya, Isithembiso), Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa (currently playing Sizakele on Isibaya), Bongani Tshabalala, Joe Kazadi and Sibonile Ngubane, among others.
Featured photo from Instagram