Six Nyamane, also known as Mpume, is one of the fresh faces making waves on television as Nozipho Cele in SABC 1’s hit soapie, Generations: The Legacy.
Previously recognized for her roles as the vibrant Buhle on e.tv’s Scandal!, the ruthless Natasha in the comedy film Blessers, and Amogelang on Rhythm City, Nyamane’s journey to acting fame has an interesting backstory.
“People often ask if ‘Six’ is my real name, and I always say ‘Yes’ because I’ve come to believe it is. I got the name during my provincial hockey days when I played in position six. With so many players, the coaches referred to us by our numbers rather than names,” Nyamane shares.
“Even off the field, we used numbers to address each other, and I kept my name through my acting career.”
Nyamane played hockey from grade 4 until she finished high school, but she stopped when she moved to Johannesburg due to the lack of available teams and time constraints.
Also read: Financial Struggles Hit Lizwi Wokuqala’s Family Following Tragic Accident
At 25, Nyamane, who has a three-year-old child, hails from Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. She discovered her passion for acting in her first year at the University of South Africa (Unisa). Although her mother was initially unhappy with her choice to pursue acting over academics, Nyamane was determined.
“I grew up in Newcastle and knew I had to come to the city to pursue a career. I had no clear plan when I arrived in Johannesburg because my family had dismissed the idea of studying sports science or playing hockey professionally. All I knew was that I needed to go to school,” Nyamane reflects.
“I searched for schools and ended up at Unisa, which wasn’t my first choice. I initially studied finance but lost interest, so I began skipping classes to attend auditions after someone at the gym told me I had a face for TV.”
Nyamane landed her first role at her very first audition but chose to keep it a secret from her family. However, when the school notified her mother of her absences, her mother’s anger was intense, and they didn’t speak for two weeks.
Despite her mother’s initial resistance, Nyamane continued to pursue acting and eventually gained her mother’s support after demonstrating her commitment to her craft.