Siv Ngesi
Sivuyile Ngesi (born 18 October 1985) is a South African actor, comedian, presenter, and producer.
Siv Ngesi | |
|---|---|
 Ngesi in 2019 | |
| Born | Sivuyile Ngesi 18 October 1985 Gugulethu |
| Nationality | South African |
| Other names | Sivanna |
| Alma mater | Pinelands High School |
| Occupation(s) | actor, comedian, presenter, and producer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Notable work | The Woman King |
| Awards | Ovation awards, 2010 |
| Website | iamsiv |
Early life
Ngesi was born to a Xhosa family of four children in Gugulethu in the east of Cape Town. He spent his early childhood there before moving to Langa and later Pinelands.[1] His mother Jacqueline is a school principal.[2] He lost his father to a car accident in 2004.[3] Ngesi attended Pinelands High School[4] and trained at the Waterfront Theatre School and Jazzart Dance Theatre. He explained during the #FeesMustFall movement that he was unable to afford university.[5]
Career
Ngesi began his career as a child actor, playing Gavroche in Les Misérables on tour in Asia. He also performed a piece from the musical for Nelson Mandela.
Ngesi made his television debut in the Disney Channel Original Movie Zenon: Z3 as Bobby and his feature film debut in The World Unseen. He guest starred as Thomas in 24: Redemption, a 2008 television film sequel to the Fox action series 24, and had a small role in the Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar biopic Invictus.
Ngesi embarked on a one-man comedy show DeKaf, which ran for three years at the National Arts Festival and won the Golden Ovation Award for Best Comedy at the 2010 festival. He then took the show on a national tour.[6]
Ngesi starred opposite Rob van Vuuren in the 2012 crime comedy film Copposites.[7] He, van Vuuren, and Danielle Bischoff created the children's book series Florence & Watson as well as it accompanying stage show.
In 2014, Ngesi competed alongside dance partner Marcella Solimeo in the seventh season of Strictly Come Dancing, placing fifth in the competition that year.
Ngesi has hosted the magazine show The Man Cave since 2015, winning one out two nominations for Best TV Presenter at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). In 2016, he began hosting and producing the reality cooking competition show Jou Ma se Chef. He had a recurring role as Udo in the third season of the Starz historical adventure series Black Sails.
Ngesi produced 14 shows at the 2017 National Arts Festival, taking home a Spirit of the Fringe award for his contributions to the festival that year.[8] Among his shows that year was Siv-ilised.[9]
In 2019, Ngesi appeared in three films: Knuckle City, which became South Africa's Academy Award submission in the Best International Feature Film category; Bhai's Cafe, a Bollywood-style musical; and the Afrikaans romantic comedy Kaalgat Karel.[10] The following year, Ngesi joined the cast of the Showmax drama Still Breathing as the character T-Boss.
Ngesi created and began performing under the drag persona Sivanna in 2021. The name is a portmanteau of the cider drink Savanna and the Xhosa word Siyavana.[11] He hosted the Cape Town Drag Brunch that December.[12]
Ngesi joined the Showmax comedy Tali's Baby Diary for its second season as well as the Netflix drama Jiva. His recurring role as Victor in Dam, also on Showmax, earned him his first acting nomination at the 2022 SAFTAs for Best Supporting Actor, having received nods for his presenting work in the past.[13]
It was revealed in January 2022 that Ngesi had joined the cast of the upcoming Gina Prince-Bythewood-directed and Viola Davis-produced film The Woman King.[14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The World Unseen | John | |
| 2009 | Invictus | England Rose | |
| Albert Schweitzer | Minkoe | ||
| 2010 | Christmas in South Africa | Guide | |
| 2012 | Copposites | Alfred "Sharky" Majola | |
| 2013 | Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom | Aide | |
| 2016 | Honey 3: Dare to Dance | DJ Zubair Khumalo | |
| 2017 | Finders Keepers | SS | |
| 2019 | Bhai's Cafe | Patrick | |
| Knuckle City | Goatee | ||
| 438 Days | Chala | ||
| 2020 | American Dream | Jude | |
| 2021 | Kaalgat Karel | Vuyo | |
| 2022 | Daryn's Gym | Jackson | |
| The Woman King | The Migan | ||
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Zenon: Z3 | Bobby | Disney Channel Original Movie |
| 2008 | 24: Redemption | Thomas | Television film |
| 2010 | League of Glory | Kaiser Sigcau | Season 1 |
| 2011 | Verschollen am Kap | Youssou | Miniseries |
| 2012 | Auf der Spur des Löwen | Noah | Television film |
| 2012 | S.I.E.S. | Ike Molefe | Main role |
| 2014 | Strictly Come Dancing | Himself | Season 7 |
| 2015–present | The Man Cave | Himself | Seasons 3– |
| 2016 | Jou Ma se Chef | ||
| Black Sails | Udo | 4 episodes | |
| 2017 | Wingin' It | Himself | |
| Tropika Island of Treasure | Season 7[15] | ||
| 2020 | Still Breathing | T-Boss | 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Tali's Baby Diary | Selebi | Season 2 |
| Dam | Victor | 4 episodes | |
| JIVA! | Paul | 6 episodes | |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Ovation Awards | Best Comedy | DeKaf | Won | |
| 2017 | Spirit of the Fringe Award | Won | [8] | ||
| South African Film and Television Awards | Best TV Presenter | The Man Cave | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | Wingin' It | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | The Man Cave | Won | |||
| Ovation Awards | The Chocolate Chronicles | Won | |||
| Tats is Cancelled | Won | ||||
| 2022 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama | Dam | Nominated | [16] |
| DStv Content Creator Awards | Cause Award | Pending | [17] | ||
References
- Karras, Aspasia (23 January 2022). "'Toxic masculinity is the problem': Siv Ngesi on how pole dancing can liberate men". Times Live. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- "Meet the real Siv Ngesi and his Afriqueen mother Jacqueline". Afribeing. 10 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- "Siv Ngesi". HDS. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- "Tamika Interviews Siv Ngesi". The Starlit Path. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- "I support #FeesMustFall because I only have Grade 12, says Siv Ngesi". Times Live. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- George, Tina (25 September 2012). "Siv races to the top of the comedy tree". Cape Argus. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- "Rob van Vuuren and Siv Ngesi get silly in Copposites". Channel24. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- "Siv Ngesi excels at National Arts Festival". Channel24. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- Jacobs, Summer (28 September 2017). "Prepare to be Siv-ilized". Southern Suburbs Tatler. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- Qunta, Yolisa (17 March 2020). "In the ring with Siv Ngesi". Big Issue. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- Mphande, Joy (22 January 2021). "Siv Ngesi on why he's dressing in drag and what he thinks of his critics". You. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- Grootboom, Jamal (20 December 2021). "Drag Brunch closes out 2021 with a bang". IOL. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- Gaanakgomo, Constance (18 July 2022). "'I've always wanted to get a nomination for acting' — Siv Ngesi on his Safta nod". Times Live. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- Modis, Kedibone (January 25, 2022). "Siv Ngesi joins cast of 'The Woman King'". IOL. Retrieved 21 February 2022.(subscription required)
- Modisane, Kgosi (13 April 2017). "Actor Siv Ngesi is SA's very own Superman". Citizen. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- Ferreira, Thinus (14 July 2022). "From The Wife to Tali's Baby Diary - All the 2022 Saftas nominations". Channel24. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- Keteyi, Oluthando (22 July 2022). "Siv Ngesi, Donovan Goliath and Nina Hastie score nominations at inaugural DStv Content Creator Awards". IOL. Retrieved 22 July 2022.