[LISTEN] It's all happening for award-winning actor Thapelo Mokoena

Mokoena's bagged a leading role in UK TV series 'Bulletproof' and is also pursuing his interests in restaurant, wine making and beer brewing ventures.

Messages of congratulation have been pouring in since the announcement that local luminary Thapelo Mokoena has bagged a lead role in the UK TV series Bulletproof.

The award-winning actor, producer and filmmaker chats to Refiloe Mpakanyane about this exciting development as well as his restaurant, wine making and beer brewing ventures.

It's an incredible British series starring Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters who are two black actors from the UK. They're quite an incredible bunch of human beings. I met them recently as we started filming.

Thapelo Mokoena, Actor

They were told not so long ago that nobody's going to watch a cop series led by two black individuals in the UK and there were no chances for them to put it on. So they decided to go against the grain and they created it, pitched it, eventually Sky One took the show and it's very successful.

Thapelo Mokoena, Actor

BULLETPROOF 3 🌍🇬🇧🇿🇦

Time to play with other kids from other countries🇬🇧
Trying to bring that AfriCAN ingredient to the Global stage🇿🇦

For now we cook up. Soon we will be entertained #TIA ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/P3nnVH9lHn

— Official Thapelo Mokoena (@ThapeloMokoena) January 15, 2020

For some reason Season 3 comes to Africa and that's where I come in.

Thapelo Mokoena, Actor

I've always wanted to have a particular artist's journey. As an actor I know exactly what inspires me... I'm aware of the fact that at some point you could have seen me as a romcom guy because I did two very big romcoms... Romcoms can literally drown all the other work that you do...

Thapelo Mokoena, Actor

I see beyond that. It's a journey. Beyond my performance there's an energy and there's a vibe that I'm constantly trying to protect and maintain as an artist.

Thapelo Mokoena, Actor

Watch part of the interview with Mokoena below (or listen to the complete audio version at the bottom of the page):

Now: @ThapeloMokoena on how he got in to the Winery and Brewing business with @Mpakanyane on #702WeekendBreakfast pic.twitter.com/gmbHDpucnI

— 702 (@Radio702) January 19, 2020

We would like to congratulate our very own SAFTA-winning star, @ThapeloMokoena on bagging a role in a UK drama series, “Bulletproof 3”.

Siyaziqhenya ngawe, Thapelo. Keep flying the SA flag high. We #LoveSAFilm 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/OGpweFybag

— #SAFTAs (@SAFTAS1) January 15, 2020