Beloved Isibaya star Mampho Brescia is back on the small screen with a daring new role in the Showmax Original series Soft Life, premiering on November 18 with three episodes. Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Mampho offered a glimpse into the world of her character Zam, the powerful yet morally complex owner of NubiaBlaq—a cover for a high-end escort agency.
Mampho’s character, Zam, takes Owami (played by Zizipho Buti) under her wing as she enters the secretive world of high-society companionship. Owami’s journey begins out of desperation to pay her mother’s medical bills, and as she navigates this dangerous double life, she risks losing everything she holds dear.
“Zam is a hustler,” Mampho explained. “She’s created her own world to succeed and thrive, and she’ll do whatever it takes to sustain the lifestyle she wants. She’s a bit sordid and morally corrupt.”
The role of Zam offers more than just a surface-level portrayal of power; it delves into the complexities of a woman who has had to carve her place in a world dominated by men. “You wonder why: what happened to her? Why would she decide to embark on such an interesting career line?” Mampho reflected. “But you come to realise she’s a woman asserting her femininity and role as someone powerful who won’t be controlled.”
With the #softlife trend taking social media by storm, Mampho also weighed in on how the desire for financial stability and luxury has shaped modern women’s lives. “There’s been this need for women in particular to have a soft life, but how to get that soft life has been twisted, especially with the erosion of the family unit.”
Mampho shared a powerful quote she once encountered: “We’re all whores. Men and women. It just depends on what part of you you’re selling. Whether you’re selling your soul, body, or mind, we’ve all found ourselves in a race where everybody is selling something in exchange for that soft life.”
As Mampho prepares for her return, she reminds viewers not to judge her character through the lens of personal beliefs, but to allow Zam the space to live her truth. Soft Life promises to be a provocative and compelling addition to Showmax’s original lineup.
