Lunathi Mampofu sold her properties to survive
ActressLunathiMampofumayhavehadSouthAfricanscheeringwhenshewalkedawaywithtwoRoyaltySoapieAwards,butbehindthescenes,herlifewasfarfromglamorous.
InarecentepisodeofSundayWorldEngage,theInimba staropenedupabouttheharshrealitiesshewasfacingduringwhatmanyassumedwasahighpointinhercareer.
Mampofusharedthatwhilehernamewastrendingforheroutstandingperformances,shewasquietlydealingwithfinancialruin.
“Ihaven’tgivenmyselftimetocelebratebecauseI’malwayslookingformore,notnecessarilyaccolades,butyouareworkingtoearnmoneyatthetime,”shesaid.
“IrememberwhenIwonthoseawards;Iwasoutofworkformonths,andIwasbroke.”
Theactress,whohasalsoworkedasacastingdirectorinbothCapeTownandLosAngeles,saidshehadrecentlysoldhercarandlostherhouseandapartmentinanefforttoreturntoCapeTownwithherdaughter.
“IputmybelongingsinstoragejustsoIcouldgobackhome,”sheexplained.
Thefinancialstraintookanemotionaltoll,butMampofubelievesitwasapivotalmomentthatrevealedadeepertruth.
“Godshowsupwhenyouleastexpectit,”shereflected.
“Ifyouasanactresshavenotgonethroughlosingitall,thenyouarelucky.Someofushavegonethroughitmorethanonce,anditisokay.Youneedtoexperiencetheupsanddownsinlife.NowIknowthatasanactorIneedtosaveandalsobebusiness-minded.”
Now38,Mampofuisalsoasingerandanaspiringfashiondesigner.Shecreditsherfaithforhelpingherthroughthechallengesofsinglemotherhood,particularlywhenitcomestoraisingherdaughter.
“Godhashelpedmeraiseher.IfeellikeIamrelivingmylifeinmycharacterZoleka,”shesaid.
Despitethehardships,Mampofuremainsdeterminedtoshapeabetterfuture,bothonandoffscreen.
“Ihavebroughtupmydaughtertobeindependent,andsometimesitisaselfishdecisiontotake.However,itisimportantforhertolearntobemoreunderstandingofhavingthelifethatwehave.”
