Not many people get the joy of doing what they have always wanted to do from a young age, some give up along the way and some just lose hope.
Actress, Soso Rungqu, persevered through all the industry hardships and today she has stolen the hearts of many South African viewers.
You won't understand why we are taken by Soso's acting until you see her play the role of Morongwa Tau on the SABC 3 soapie, Isidingo. Her passion for acting allows her to play the role with flair and without trying too hard.
ZAlebs had a chat with the bubbly actress to get a bit of insight into her passion.
"Arts has always been my passion at a very young age I did dance with a group which traveled the Eastern Cape. After that I entered a talent search competition that I won in 1990. With growing up and having free-spirited parents, a very warm home and everyone getting along we always entertained each other. Me growing up, I took it a bit a further because it was the only thing that made sense to me. As much as I was involved in athletics as well, as I grew up, I pursued the arts and I ended up at the Tshwane University of Technology."
In an industry that usually has one idea of beauty, Soso has accepted herself on all levels.
"No one is like me and I embrace who I am. The moment you try to be somebody else that is when you miss your mark. The moment you try to compete with others that's when you miss your calling. I have always understood the idea of being content and knowing and accepting who you are and where you come from. In the new terms I always try to stay in my lane."
Soso explained how she kept her eye and mind on her dream of acting during her days of being the voice behind Smarty Cats on eTV's kids show Cool Catz.
"Everyone has their own time, we all talk to the same God and God can't answer all of us at the same time. Faith has kept me going, perseverance has kept me going and knowing that one day I will win, and it is a beautiful thing when you eventually do win. My family and the circle I keep around me has always been supportive."
We all have people we look up to in terms of our careers and Soso is no different.
"I look up to so many people because no people are the same, I take a bit of something from everyone. I look up to a lot of people in the acting industry, I'm losing count now in my head."
"People are different even in Isidingo, the only thing we have in common is the work ethic. Everyone is just doing so well in their own path.No day is the same on set, no script is the same and no one wakes up as the same as yesterday."
Everything that happens in life brings a change, Soso told us about how her life has changed since playing Morongwa.
"My life has changed for the best in terms of the hustle, in terms of the art and in terms of the dream I have always had. In all honesty, we go to school with certain aspirations, at the end of the day you have a dream of pursuing whatever it is that you love. For me to actually see myself where I am today, I would do it again but with less pain and less drama."
The Isidingo actress may be living her dream right now but she still has a few more dreams she would like to live.
"I believe that one day I will portray Grace Jones and in South Africa, I would like to portray Brenda Fassie. They are both big roles but I can only and do my best with the right direction of course."
"Besides Isidingo I am working on other things that I can't divulge for now and I am very excited about that."
Catch Soso on Isidingo every weeknight at 7:30pm on SABC 3.
Image Credit: Instagram