Bohang Moeko on breaking boundaries, global dreams, and the power of purposeful storytelling

Whether he’s playing a conflicted character in a drama or charming audiences in romantic comedies, Bohang Moeko brings a grounded intensity to every role he takes on. With a career that continues to expand across film, television, and now producing, Moeko is steadily carving out a space for himself not just in South Africa’s entertainment industry, but on a global stage. In this candid Q&A, the actor opens up about the roles that have challenged him the most, the quiet side of his off-screen personality, and his vision for storytelling rooted in Africa but made for the world. 

Q. You’ve played a range of roles in your career, from romantic leads to intense dramas. Is there a role that’s challenged you the most so far? 

A. I would say the role I played on Isono was the most challenging so far. That was a character who is at conflict with himself.  He hides who he truly is, and dislikes the person he feels he’s forced to be. That was challenging but also very fulfilling to play, and something that a lot of people can relate to because that’s often how a lot of people live life.   

Q. You’ve got quite a presence on screen, but what’s something fans would be surprised to learn about you off-screen? 

A. I can be a bit of an introvert sometimes. When I’m in surroundings or around people that I’m not yet familiar with, I tend to sit back and observe first before engaging.   

Q. When you’re reading a new script, what grabs you right away? 

A. How vividly the writer is able to paint the picture of the world and characters they’re writing about. When a script can immediately evoke my imagination, that’s what grabs me. That’s what makes me want to turn the pages and keep reading.   

Q. You’ve worked across both film and television, how different is your process for each medium? Do you have a favourite? 

A. My process is the same. I start with the script, and read that over and over in order to get a full understanding of the story we’re telling and my part in it. The only difference is that sometimes with television, you might not get all the scripts at the same time, so you don’t always have your character’s full story arc, which can be a challenge but can also be exciting. My favourite medium is definitely film, I love movies. I love watching them, and I love making them.   

Q. If you could swap lives with any character you’ve played, even just for a day, who would it be and why? 

A. Probably the first real role I ever got which was on a show called Zabalaza. I played a rich, young man who had everything, and didn’t really have to work hard to make a living, so he pretty much did what he wanted to. I think that would be interesting to try out for a day.  

Q. What’s been a “pinch me” moment in your career so far? 

A. Having people around the world watch my work and respond to it or be moved by it. People in countries I haven’t been to and in countries that don’t even speak English, it’s amazing, it’s always been my dream.   

Q. You’ve filmed in iconic locations like Cape Town, do real locations help shape your performance? 

A. Definitely! There’s nothing like the real thing, when you can feel the sun on your skin, or the wind, and you look around and there’s real life happening around you, I think it makes it easier to ground your performance in truth. It also allows for happy accidents that aren’t scripted to occur and those are usually magical on screen. And I love filming in Cape Town, it’s always so special, I look forward to shooting a lot more here.   

Q. Has there been a role you’ve turned down because it didn’t feel right? 

A. Yeah, a few. For different reasons. Sometimes it’s the role, sometimes it’s the script that just isn’t great.   

Q. What’s one scene you’ve filmed that you’ll never forget, and why? 

A. It’s so hard to pick just one, but probably the opening beach scene in season 1 of How To Ruin Love. We shot that over two days, and the chaos of that scene was hilarious to shoot. I’ve never struggled so hard to keep a straight face before. It was a lot of fun.   

Q. South African productions are gaining traction on platforms like Netflix, where do you see yourself fitting into the future of global storytelling? 

A. I see myself being a big part of telling stories that are rooted in Africa and have a global impact. Through my production company, More Echo Entertainment, I’m working on creating and developing premium, purpose-led African stories with global crossover appeal. And I’m really keen to collaborate and work with my peers as well as institutions like Film Cape Town to make it happen.   

Q. What is next for Bohang Moeko? 

A. I’ve shot four projects in the last year that haven’t come out yet. Two of them are Netflix projects that will be coming out later this year. The other two are projects I shot in Nigeria. I’m also producing an independent film that we’re shooting in the US with my producing partner. So besides that, what’s next is me focusing on the projects I want to produce. I’m really craving to lead an action film with a great story as well so I’m looking forward to doing something big in that genre.