From her breakout role as Thandi in Soul City to her SAFTA-winning turn in Poppie Nongena and more recent hits including How to Ruin Christmas, Clementine Mosimane has created an acclaimed career spanning decades. The veteran performer remains one of South Africa’s most admired actors, with a screen legacy defined by range, dedication and staying power.
Despite her formidable standing across film and television, Mosimane says her work is guided by humility, faith and a determination to preserve her sense of childlike joy.
A calling rooted in faith
Unlike many performers who begin their careers through formal drama training, Mosimane did not attend acting school. Instead, she sees her path as something driven by instinct and a spiritual calling.
“I didn’t study acting,” she says, explaining that she considers her ability a gift from God—one she must value and use in a way that honours Him before seeking her own satisfaction.
That faith continues to shape her approach after years in the business. Every new production is met with respect for its story, as well as for the cast and crew members she works alongside.
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Working with a new generation on Spinners
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Mosimane joined the eagerly awaited second season of Spinners, placing her alongside an energetic group of younger performers.
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For the established star, arriving on a contemporary production is not about seniority. She believes every actor deserves room, respect and professional consideration.
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“When I enter their space, I respect them and allow them their space,” she says. “There is an exchange of energy: if you respect me, I respect you. If I give you goodness, you give me goodness.”
Her key advice for newcomers is equally direct: respect the set, the producers, everyone’s time and one another.
Keeping her inner child alive
While her on-screen performances can carry considerable emotional weight, Mosimane also credits a lighter spirit with helping her endure in the arts. She believes performers need to safeguard their youthful side and remain connected to their inner child.
“The wonderful thing about being a thespian is that there is always a little child alive inside you,” she says. “You may get older in years, but that baby within you stays young.”
Lengthy shoot days and demanding dramatic roles also require her to consciously separate the fictional world from her real life. At the end of an intense working day, Mosimane turns to a faith-based routine to reset.
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She begins by thanking God for carrying her through the day and guiding her steps.
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She listens to gospel music.
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She follows it with her daily prayers and reads either a Bible chapter or a verse.
She says that spiritual practice is how she relaxes after work.
Self-respect and well-being
Looking back at the lessons that have stood out most over the past year, Mosimane says her guiding belief is rooted in valuing life and treating it with respect.
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As time passes, she is placing even greater emphasis on her personal well-being.
“Your body is your temple,” she says. “It is your responsibility to decide how you carry that temple and how you care for it. If you want others to love and respect you, it must begin with loving and respecting yourself, before you can extend that to other people.”
READ: From vision boards to action roles, Luyanda Zwane is shaping a purpose-driven career.
