No longer ‘Unseen’, actress and entrepreneur Gail Mabalane has made her mark in the beauty industry as well as cemented her role in South African entertainment.
Someone in a dark room calls out for the individuals to come forward. Number four steps up. A woman of average height and build, with a simple and unassuming appearance. Her short, natural hair complements her functional outfit. Bruised, fragile, dry lips and all…
This scene, starring Gail Mabalane, from her recent lead role in the Netflix crime thriller Unseen, showcases the actor’s precision and craft. It was the kind of show-stopping performance we’ve come to expect from her, as she has proven over the years that she has incredible range and talent. In the six-episode show, a South African adaptation of a Turkish series called Fatma, Gail plays Zenzi Mwale, a cleaning lady who embarks on a dangerous search for her husband, Max, who’s just been released from prison and gone missing. She gives a dramatic and commanding performance, captivating the audience with each passionate rant, expertly conveying her character’s waning self-assurance. This role allowed Gail to explore new depths as an actor, and she delivers an authentic, raw performance.
“I’m forcing myself just to take this moment. I’ve been in the industry for a decade, and this is the first lead character I’ve played,” Gail says. “I’m taking it all in; the fact that I’m on such a global platform telling this incredible story – and that it’s taken me 10 years to get to this place.”
Gail has another notable performance under her belt, that of Thandeka Khumalo in Blood and Water (also on Netflix), which has returned for a fourth season. “I enjoyed tapping into all those emotions and allowing her to feel all of them,” she says of playing a mother searching for her abducted daughter.
Gail’s journey into the spotlight began in 2010, when she entered season six of Idols SA. Despite not winning, her talent and charisma led to an audition for the critically acclaimed M-Net soapie The Wild. Despite having no acting experience, she landed the role and soon made her television debut as Lelo Sidibe, a glam Joburg fashion editor. “It was very intimidating, but I was fortunate and privileged enough to be surrounded by supportive cast members,” she says. These included the iconic Connie and Shona Ferguson.
This opportunity opened doors for her, and over the next few years she quickly became a beloved figure on our screens, appearing in Generations: The Legacy, Rockville and The Road.
Finding strength
Gail’s journey to success has not been without its challenges. When she was 21 years old, she lost her mother to a long-term illness and, six months later, her older brother died in an accident.
Because of this, she put her plans on hold and stayed in Kimberley to help care for her father and younger sister. Four years later, with her sights set on pursuing her passion for singing, she relocated to Joburg, leaving her small-town roots behind. She auditioned for Idols SA, and the rest is history. Despite her undeniable talent and success, Gail faced her fair share of insecurities, especially at the start of her career. “I constantly asked myself if I was good enough, whether I have what it takes,” she says.
However, as she matured and gained experience, she discovered that true strength comes from within. “With age, you become secure in who you are. I now know I don’t need to fit in.” Gail’s relationship with God has been a source of inspiration and empowerment for her. It has helped her to accept herself as an individual and forgo the pressure to conform, she reveals. This renewed self-assurance has catapulted her career and introduced her to previously inaccessible opportunities.
Overcoming and inspiring
Her journey goes beyond the screen, though. Gail has also established herself as an entrepreneur. In 2022, she launched her vegan and cruelty-free haircare brand, Ethnogenics. The story behind it is very personal.
Gail had swapped her signature short pixie cut for a bun in preparation for a role. A few weeks after shooting, she decided to remove the bun. “The lady who washed my hair removed the bun. I remember her taking it off – it felt like it literally broke off my hair… Where the bun was, that whole section of hair at the top of my head came off with the bun.” She was diagnosed with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, a common cause of hair loss in black women.
Determined to overcome this challenge, she embraced her hair loss and used her experience to educate and empower others. “It was clear from my own journey that knowledge was the missing piece. I realised there was a distinct lack of education around how to solve the problem,” she says.
Family values
In 2013 she married musician Kabelo Mabalane. The couple met at a networking/support meeting for people in the entertainment industry, and they marked their 10th anniversary in February. Her husband captioned an Instagram post: “No, you will not find a love that is perfect, but you will find a love that is light, that isn’t heavy to carry, that does not weigh down the core of you.”Together, the pair have built a beautiful family, with their two young children, Zoe and Khumo, at the centre of their lives. “I’ve learnt so much about myself and my capacity to love,’ she says about motherhood. Gail and Kabelo as parents are striving to empower their children for a successful future while also instilling essential values of humanity and humility in them. Making others feel appreciated is important in their household. “In their quest to be more, we want them not to forget people and build relationships. People don’t remember what you acquired, but how you made them feel.”
Gail is humble and appreciative of the success that has come her way in her career. She recognises the significance of her journey and the time it took to reach this point. Her life has been filled with excitement and hard work, but she has learned the importance of self-care, of her mental health and maintaining a strong support system to thrive. “As women, we think we should be doing everything ourselves, but it’s okay to ask for help,” she says. “Taking care of yourself is the secret to being a good mother, wife and person.”
Gail’s mental health message
“I certainly think that we are in an era where, more than ever, our minds and mental well-being are under attack. We are constantly having to fight for the positive thoughts to overcome the battle in our minds. I think that most human beings experience this constant battle. For me, my faith and spirituality has been a great contributor to my mental health. I meditate on the word of God. I try my best to give very limited attention to negative thoughts… My ultimate belief is that whichever thought we water is the one that grows.”
Gail in a flash
Your favourite scent?
The smell of my mom and dad’s cooking. My parents are both late, but boy could they cook! It’s amazing the kind of comfort I get from cooking one of the meals they taught me to cook and the emotions that scent evokes. It lets me know that they are with me… always.
Your favourite hobby?
Quality time with family and friends.
The best book you’ve read?
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.
What’s a quote you live by?
“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time” by author Douglas Wood.
Words: Koketso Mashika
Photographs: Zhann Solomons
Stylist: Mia-Tess Smith
