We were first introduced to model and actor, Jesse Suntele, as the beautiful face in some of the ads on our TV screens but it wasn’t until his stint on and subsequent win of the BET reality series, Top Actor season 2 that we sat up and took notice.
Suntele’s love for acting developed during his time at school where he participated in multiple plays. He later auditioned in a professional capacity and snagged the job on his first try which inspired him to pursue acting full time.
He’s also currently a Stimorol brand ambassador alongside Thabo Bokamoso and Serati Maseko, who they found in an online competition hosted by the brand.
But back to Jesse…
The sound engineer from Cosmo City beat out competition from across the continent to bag the title of Top Actor Africa, a $ 10,000 (± R140 000) prize as well as a 12-month contract with international talent agency J. Pervis Talent Agency. The fact that this is an international agency means that Suntele often gets the chance to audition for Hollywood roles.
In addition to the competition being open to viewer votes, Suntele had to impress the likes of Zikhona Sodlaka, Brandon Auret (who has starred in Isidingo, District 9, Chappie) and stunt expert Ciprian Florian.
He has since had small roles on Generations: The Legacy and eTV’s Ashes to Ashes but his role as Constable Tuelo Hladi on The Queen is what we consider his first real foray into acting since the competition.
Actors have this saying, “there are no small roles, only small actors” but Suntele’s time as Tuelo and the attention he has received prove that this is a bit of a big deal.
This new police officer Tuelo is hunk 🔥 #TheQueenMzansi
— ❣️Ney❣️ (@MissYabayankie) January 9, 2017
Tuelo is all sorts of yummy and deliciousness 😍❤️😘 #TheQueenMzansi
— Tshegofatso (@i_am_tshego) January 9, 2017
Amo & Tuelo should date already urrghhh😩😍 #THEQUEENMZANSI
— ♛♕Kalanga Princess♚♔ (@JordieWithSauce) January 9, 2017
This Tuelo gentle brother… 😍& those arms… those arms… 💜💚💛❤ Sweet Baby Jesus #TheQueenMzansi
— Nompumelelo Mali ♥ (@Nompi_Maharaj) January 9, 2017
Oh Heyyy Tuelo😊😊😊😊❤️❤️😁😁👋🏾🌟 #TheQueenMzansi
— 🍾🍸👸🏽 (@Preci_Ramz) December 29, 2016
We mean just look at that smile!
And who doesn’t love a man in uniform?
If Amo doesn’t take him, we will.
In addition to being an on-screen hottie, Suntele is just a real life hottie. His instagram feed is full of thirst traps and every single one of us here at ZAlebs got caught in them!
Does anyone else suddenly want a protein shake…? Yum.
In addition to acting, Suntele moonlights as a BET A-list correspondent and he is a musician (a rapper – and a good one at that), so we’ll hopefully be seeing more of him in future.
For now you can catch him on Mzansi Magic’s drama The Queen, Monday to Friday at 9pm.
