Zenobia Kloppers on storytelling, performance and her expanding screen career

Zenobia Kloppers is a Cape Town-based Namibian–South African actress, singer, and voice artist whose career spans film, television, theatre, and radio. Born in Windhoek and raised in Khomasdal, she trained in acting and music in Cape Town, studying at the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, where she earned a Performer’s Licentiate in Music in Opera and Lieder. Known for her versatility and commanding performances across multiple mediums, Kloppers recently celebrated a significant career milestone with the release of two films, further cementing her place as one of the region’s most accomplished multidisciplinary performers.

Cape Town has become a major filming destination for international productions. From your
perspective as a local actor, what makes the city such a special place to film in?

Gosh, what’s not to love? Cape Town has everything: spectacular landscapes, a vibrant city energy, world-class
crews and facilities, and incredible versatility. One day you can be filming against a mountain backdrop, the
next on a beach, in a city street, or somewhere that could easily double for another part of the world. It’s a
filmmaker’s dream and a wonderful place to work as an actor.

You’ve appeared in several productions connected to Cape Town storytelling, including Fiela se Kind
and shows filmed locally. How important is it for authentic Cape stories to reach global audiences?

I don’t think people can truly understand a place or its culture unless they’ve lived there, visited it, or
experienced its stories. Film and television are among the most immediate, immersive, and entertaining ways
to share our histories, cultures, and perspectives with the world. The Cape is such a rich melting pot of
communities and traditions, and that creates fascinating stories that resonate far beyond our borders.
Dalene Matthee’s Fiela se Kind (Fiela’s Child) is probably one of the best-known South African stories in the
world. Fiela was my breakthrough role in film, after a lifetime of working mostly in theatre and voice. We filmed
on a farm near Uniondale, close to where Fiela might actually have lived, as well as in the forests near
Plettenberg Bay. Both places will always hold a special place in my heart, because that is Fiela’s world.

A lot of young South African actors dream of working on international productions. What did your
journey teach you about persistence and preparation?

Don’t give up. Keep working hard, keep building your skills, and keep dreaming. Sometimes an impossible
dream is closer than you think. It’s important to visualise what you want for your career and then pursue it
relentlessly. My mother always says: “Pray as though work doesn’t help. Work as though prayer doesn’t help.”
I’ve carried that advice with me throughout my journey. At the same time, you have to stay rooted in your truth, but remain open. Invest in your craft, be consistent, and understand that growth often happens quietly before it becomes visible. There is no single path into this industry, but authenticity, discipline, and resilience will always carry you forward.

You’ve spoken about carrying your Namibian and South African heritage into your work. How does
Cape Town’s creative energy influence your performances?

Cape Town has an incredible creative energy. I think there’s something about the combination of the mountain,
the ocean, and the diversity of people who live here that inspires creativity. We also have an extraordinary
community of artists, filmmakers, musicians, and storytellers, and that creative spirit is contagious.

You’ve worked on both intimate local dramas and large-scale fantasy worlds. Do you approach
character-building differently depending on the size of the production?

Not really. Each genre demands a slightly different approach, but essentially I always try to work from a place of
truth. I often base a character on a person, or a combination of people, I’ve observed or studied in real life.
Whether the world is very intimate or very large in scale, the character still has to feel human and believable.

Several productions you’ve been part of were filmed in and around Cape Town. Do you have a favourite
local filming location or set experience that stands out?

I’ve really loved all the locations and sets I’ve filmed in so far because I get so excited to make movies and
television. I do have a particular love for locations in nature. I’m currently shooting a series in Ocean View, and
driving over the mountain every day is an absolute joy. When the mist rolls in, the landscape feels like
something out of Wuthering Heights or Outlander. Cape Town really does offer some of the most beautiful
filming locations in the world.

Beyond acting, you’ve also worked as a writer and director. Has being behind the camera changed the
way you approach roles on screen?

Absolutely. Directing and writing have given me a much deeper appreciation for every department involved in
bringing a story to life. My debut feature, RIEL (2023), was filmed on a beautiful farm outside Montagu —
another incredible location — and being behind the camera helped me understand the complexity and
collaboration involved in filmmaking. As an actor, it has made me more aware of how my work supports the
bigger picture. You are the one being filmed, but you are also part of the team that makes the dream.

Looking at the growth of Cape Town’s film industry right now, what excites you most about the future
of local talent and storytelling?
I’m excited to see more authentic South African stories reaching audiences both locally and internationally. I’m
also encouraged by the fact that we’re exploring a wider range of genres. For a long time, South African
productions were often associated mainly with drama, but we’re now seeing fantasy, horror, science fiction, and
other genres gaining momentum. That’s incredibly exciting for performers and audiences alike.

You’ve worked across theatre, television, and film. How did stepping into a global fantasy series like
The Wheel of Time challenge you in new ways?

The Wheel of Time was such a huge production that my biggest challenge was not getting overwhelmed by the
sheer scale of it all. Acting is acting — it’s what I do — but how do you stop yourself from going into full fangirl
mode when you’re acting opposite Rosamund Pike, Sophie Okonedo or Shohreh Aghdashloo?

Your role as Amico Nagoyin introduced you to an international audience. What was your first reaction
when you found out you’d officially joined the cast of The Wheel of Time?

The Wheel of Time is actually my favourite fantasy book series of all time. I’ve read it four times over the years
and often listen to the audiobooks, so being cast was beyond exciting — it was a dream come true. It felt like a
miracle and an answered prayer. One of the first people I called was Bonnie Lee Bouman, the SA casting
director who connected me with UK casting director Kelly Valentine so that I could audition in the first place.
None of us do this alone — we need people who believe in us and help carry the dream forward.

You’re also part of the new film HIVE (2026), which was filmed in part in Cape Town. What drew you to
the project, and how was your experience working on a production that blends local talent with an
international cast and story?

This is actually an interesting story: I often go to casting director Richard Lothian’s studio, Cast Serve, for my
self-tapes. At one of these sessions, he asked if I’d be open to auditioning for a horror film he was casting at the
time. I had never worked in horror before and was immediately excited to audition. On top of that, I was excited
to put my American accent to good use. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be cast.

What drew me to HIVE was also the psychological depth of the story. Frances isn’t loud or overt, but she
carries an immense internal life. She is someone who sees the truth but has to live as though she doesn’t —
and that tension immediately drew me in.

It was a joy collaborating with director Filipe Vargas, who has an incredible understanding of the genre and
such strong creative instincts. Filipe created a space where nuance was encouraged, which is essential for a
story like this. I also loved working with Xochitl Gomez and Aaron Dominguez — both wonderfully talented and
grounded performers. At the same time, our local cast and crew were world-class, which made the production a
fantastic example of international collaboration and local excellence coming together.

Looking ahead, what kinds of stories are you most excited to tell next, and what do you hope
audiences continue to take away from your work on both local and international screens?

I’m a huge fantasy fan, and I’m currently developing a few projects that weave together elements of fantasy and
magical realism. Beyond that, I’m passionate about continuing to tell meaningful stories — both as an actor and
as a writer-director.

I hope audiences will continue to support locally made films and series, and that many more international
productions will choose to bring their stories to our beautiful country, especially here in the Cape. I also hope
South African audiences feel a sense of possibility: that our stories, our voices, and our performers belong in
global spaces — not as exceptions, but as part of the fabric of the industry.