PICTURE: INSTAGRAM/ PEARL MONAMA
South African actress Pearl Monama, who kept Mzansi glued to their screens every weekday at 8 pm on Generations: The Legacy, recently bid farewell to her character on the long standing soapie.
Pearl joined the cast in 2016, portraying the character Dr Siphesihle ‘Sphe’ Cele. Her character started as a sweet doctor, and as her storyline developed, it took a dramatic turn. In the soapie, Sphe was introduced as the daughter of the notorious Jack Mabaso (played by Vusi Kunene), and she later found herself knee deep in Jack’s shady dealings.
Taking to her Instagram page to say goodbye to Sphe, Pearl shared a video clip of her last scene on set, and her colleagues bidding her farewell. She also quoted Brianna Wiest when he said:”When it’s time for something new, you will feel it. You will feel a desire to let go, to shed layers, to move, to re-create. You will know because there will be subtle shifts all around you. You will release the old because you are really clearing the path for what’s ahead. Trust the process.”
Instagram users weighed in:
One user said: “I am sure Rori is even calling you mom in real life , the chemistry you two showed was amazing.”
While another one said: “Watching Sphesihle leave Generations: The Legacy is bittersweet for me. She has been my role model from the very moment I was first introduced to television. For years, her presence on screen has inspired me, guided me, and shaped the way I see the art industry.
“I was blessed to experience her brilliance in person when she served as a judge at the Sing It Out Competition at UJ. Her comments before the announcement of the results were absolutely powerful, sharp, critical, and deeply insightful, especially for someone like me who is still paving his way in this industry.
“That moment showed me a level of excellence I had never seen before. She pays attention to every detail on stage, and the quality of her judging was nothing short of stunning. I’ll be honest with you all, there was a time I thought she was underrated, maybe because I only saw her on Generations: The Legacy. But after hearing her artistic mind at work, after seeing her command the room with so much grace and intelligence, I realised just how brilliant, intentional, and creatively gifted she truly is.
“Pearl, keep shining. Your light is far too bright for one screen, one platform, or one role. I have no doubt that in this art industry, you are on your way to becoming one of the greatest. Thank you for being an inspiration, a role model, and a reminder of what true artistry looks like.”
Also see: 5 minutes with Pearl Monama