The eagerly anticipated second season of Savage Beauty is officially underway. Set to debut on Netflix on Friday, June 28, 2024, viewers can anticipate a gripping narrative centered around the battle for control of the Bhengu empire.
Returning cast members including Nthati Moshesh, Dumisani Mbebe, Nambitha Ben-Mazwi, Rosemary Zimu, Angela Sithole, and Jesse Suntele are set to explore the aftermath of the intense gun confrontation between Zinhle (played by Rosemary Zimu) and Don (portrayed by Dumisani Mbebe).
Joining the ensemble are Lebogang Fisher and Abena Ayivor in pivotal roles. Fisher portrays Charlie, Phila’s romantic interest, while Ayivor embodies Mutale, a formidable businesswoman and board leader.
Jesse Suntele, known for his role as Phila Bhengu in the first season, promises a transformed portrayal of his character in season two, hinting at intricate storylines involving redemption and moral ambiguity.
With promises of compelling character arcs and unexpected twists, the upcoming season is poised to captivate audiences with its dramatic storytelling and dynamic performances.
Dumisani Mbebe as Don Bhengu
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“In season two, he’s just so totally different. There’s no talk of marrying a new wife, there’s no talk of baby. It’s a survival game, because remember that season one sets up season two. He’s a lonely man, everyone just left and the only thing that he’s left with now is the company that everyone now wants to take over. And is he going to allow that? No. So, it’s constant fighting in season two.”
Nthati Moshesh as Grace Bhengu
“For Grace, imagine getting kicked out of your own house. An empire that you have sweated over the years to build. There are secrets to this empire, how this empire happened and her main thing is to keep those secrets secret. But now, everything’s coming. All the chickens are coming home to roost and also the two of them [Grace and Don] are surviving.
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“They’re surviving the aftermath of what happens in season one. So, it then becomes almost like an onion, it’s the layers. The layers get peeled off and then it becomes do you really know your partner? Or how well do you know your partner?”
Jesse Suntele as Phila Bhengu
“Phila is at a place in his life where he’s actually been tossed into the deep end and I feel like he’s directionless at the moment, at the top of the season. I feel like he’s very directionless because I think this is the first time that he’s really questioned his loyalty and his reasons behind who he chooses to be loyal to.
“The end of season one really showed him sides of the people around him that shook him and so going into season two, the big questions are laying in front of him. Who is it that he’s loyal to, why is he loyal to those people. And besides loyalty, love. Not necessarily just relationship love but who are the people that love him and who are the people that he loves and why.”
Lebogang Fisher as Charlie
“This was a really great opportunity to borrow from my own life and turn this character into a person that I recognised and that I knew and that I think other people would recognise and know. And being able to do that with Jesse was such a great experience. We had quite a hectic first day on sent, like we really were thrown into the deep end! It was like, ‘Hi, nice to meet you and go 100 percent’.
“But I think that really set us up in a really beautiful way for the rest of the thing to just trust each other and because he’s also been in season one and I hadn’t worked with anyone before, it was such a blessing.”
Abena Ayivor as Mutale
“What I love the most about this character is that she is the sanity amidst the madness and I love that. Like she really figures out very quickly that it isn’t just about being a good businesswoman.
“It’s managing a bunch of crazy people who need straight jackets and coming out the other end sane. That’s what it feels like for this character and I love that. I love how unhinged they all are.”
Rosemary Zimu as Zinhle
“The risks, it was the same as before. If anything, right now for me, she took less risks now than she did before. Because before she was protected, before she had Chansa and she had Bonga. Before she had uGogo Mnisi with her too, but now she’s got nobody. So, as much as she’s got nothing to lose, she takes less risks because she does not know if I step here, what will happen next.
Nambitha Ben-Mazwi as Linda Bhengu
“In season one you see the conflict, I mean they [Linda and Thando] were having a secret relationship under one roof and you understand the sacrifice. The stakes are so high, she could lose every single thing that she’s worked hard for and the sense of the provision Don Bhengu provides for her and her family and for me, this is my dad.
“I’ve always had this void as this prodigal daughter who’s yearned for him to see me, to love me, his sense of approval and I’ve always fought for that … So, the stakes are the highest but they still choose each other.”
Angela Sithole as Thando Bhengu
“Before we even started season one, Nambitha and I had a long conversation about how we’d like to portray these characters and portray this love story. And so … just seeing the viewers fall in love with this love story it’s really heartwarming. As also to how we just wanted to play these characters and this love story as authentically as possible and I’m glad to say I think we did a really good job with that. Shout out to us.”