Fans will be surprised to find out that Shoki Mmola, who plays Celia Kunutu mother to Rachel, Nimrod, Mahlatse and Bushang in SABC 1’s popular telenovela Skeem Saam is nothing like her on-screen character in real life.
In the drama, she’s a conservative dedicated mother and wife who hardly shows off some skin. However, when off-screen she’s a free-spirited woman who’s very full of life – she’s also a fitness fanatic. A few days ago she shared snap snaps of herself in a bikini showing off her banging bod and fans can’t get over them. We love to see it.
In the current storyline, she finds herself entangled in Alfred and Nimrod’s mess. The two lured innocent Alfios in their unlawful ways of acquiring the Turf university tender. She’s caught between stringing along or reporting their shady ways.
Born In Tzaneen in the Limpopo province, the actress attended Prudens Secondary school and continued her studies at the Tampere University of Technology. Apart from acting, Shoki is also a casting director, businesswoman and fashion designer. Her more notable roles include Grace Lerothodi in the SABC1 mini-series Death of a Queen, which aired as part of the channel's "Shakespeare in Mzans strand back in 2008. She’s also played Tumi in Muvhango and currently Celia Magonwa on Skeem Saam.
Shoki is what we call multi-talented. She’s worked as a translator, language advisor, dubbing producer and was the casting director on Rhythm City. Like many great actors, Shoki has done a great amount of work in theatre, appearing in productions such as Ancient Stars at the Giant Theatre, Space Odyssey at the Grahamstown Festival, The Pen at The Market Theatre and Gogo's Groove at the Aardklop Festival.
In the past, the star has opened up about her abusive 10-year-marriage which she walked away from."I've always been a hands-on mother, I read to my kids, we play, and if they want me to roll on the floor and act like a dead cat I will, nothing has changed since Sello left us, except that we're safe and don't live in fear anymore,” she said in an interview with Drum Magazine.
