The premiere of The Wife Season 3 gives us a taste of Wiseman Mncube as the new Mqhele. Mncube does an amazing job tapping into the role of Mqhele, thanks to his vast experience. He takes over from Bonko Khoza, who won Best Actor at the SAFTAs this year. The actor has played dark roles including Jama in Ehostela, a role that earned him Best Actor at the 2020 SAFTAs.
I’ve never had to replace someone before and I’ve always wondered how it feels to fill someone else’s shoes. This was the one thing that was pressing on my mind.
– Wiseman Mncube
The Ulundi-born actor says being cast as Mqhele came as a shock to him but he quickly realised he couldn’t try to be Bonko. “I tried not to do the exact same as how he did it because as people we are not the same. So I had to come with my approach but still keep it within the story. Mqhele and Hlomu are a couple that’s loved, so for me, it was just to add on with my own interpretation of this love story. I’m not here to replace Bonko but to start my own journey as Mqhele and run with it in my own way”, Wiseman Mncube adds.
For Mncube, the key to his approach was listening to the scripts. “The script had all the answers I needed. If you listen carefully to what’s written, you’ll never go wrong. If it moves me a certain way then ultimately that’s how the viewers are going to feel too.”
Working alongside Mbalenhle Mavimbela
Wiseman is enjoying acting opposite “The National Wife”, Mbalenhle Mavimbela, as Hlomu. “I won’t lie; it’s been nice,” he says. “It’s been an interesting journey between the two of us because we’ve known each other on Instagram and we would just compliment and show appreciation for each other’s work. We’ve always said that one day we will work together, God willing. So when it happened, it became a full-circle moment. That in itself made it easy because we both wanted to work together.”
Hlomu and Mqhele’s love story remains complicated this season. Wiseman warns Mqhele is still “dark and abusive,” while Mbalenhle says, “We’re deep into toxic love now… There’s definitely going to be crazy stuff that’s going to shock viewers this season.”
Working with the fellow Zulu brothers
Similarly, he’s found it easy to tap into Mqhele’s love for the Zulu brothers, having mentored Kwenzo Ngcobo (Qhawe) at school and worked with Swelihle Luthuli (Ntsika) on Ehostela, Thulane Shange (Mqoqi) on Uzalo, and Mondli Makhoba (Nkosana) on Shaka Ilembe. “It has been so great and easy to work with the gents because they really are my brothers. Since these are people I’ve been close with from outside, it was very easy for me to feel comfortable and for them to accept me on set.”
This season centres on two star-crossed lovers: Tswana doctor Naledi Montsho and Zulu taxi driver Qhawe. Gaisang K Noge stars as Naledi opposite DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Favourite Rising Star winner Kwenzo Ngcobo. The new season picks up with the Zulu brothers’ crimes now front-page news – and Naledi kidnapped.
The most viewed series on Showmax ever, The Wife won 2022 DStv Mzansi Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for Kwenzo (Rising Star) and Abdul Khoza (Best Actor). At the 2022 SAFTAs, The Wife was up for 10 awards, including Best Telenovela, and won Best Actor and Supporting Actor for Bonko and Abdul Khoza respectively. Season 2 lead Khanyi Mbau has just been nominated as African Social Star of 2022 at The People’s Choice Awards.
Watch the latest teaser for The Wife Season 3
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