Rosemary Zimu steps into the new role of Warona after years of fine tuning her craft dating back to her days in nursery.Warona is the hot new girl in town turning heads, yet she faces her stiffest competition from her own man-eater of a mother Mildred Sefatsa (played by Kuli Roberts). Through it all, Warona remains composed and loves Mildred nonetheless and her father Bra Socks, a BEE tycoon.
Viewers will grow to love Warona because of her beauty, warmth and grace. Zimu shares: ‘Warona is sweet, she is not in competition with her mum, her mum is the one in competition with her, it wouldn’t be the first time she steals her boyfriend. Also Warona is someone different and can get spicy.’
Zimu was born in Sebokeng and she grew up in a church-orientated family. Her grandmother taught Sunday School and her uncles wrote gospel music, one of them being the late great Neyi Zimu. ‘I grew up singing gospel songs and my grandmother pushed me to act, so I was in all Sunday School plays, then came preschool where I played Sarafina in our graduation production. I continued in primary school all the way to high school where I realised that I actually loved and enjoyed acting and thought of pursuing it as a career.’ She was accepted at the University of Johannesburg, but had to withdraw when her father wouldn’t fund her studies.
She ended up at Midrand Graduate Institute pursuing LLB. While in the second year a friend invited her to audition for the lead part in a Nollywood movie, not only did she get cast on the spot, she earned a nomination in the People’s Choice Awards in Ghana. She swapped LLB for a labour law degree that she completed.
In 2017 she played the role of Veronica in Isidingo.And recently played lady juice on Etv scandal.
Looking at The Queen, an elated Zimu says she is ready for the big time. ‘People are invested in characters and you have to do your job well. I’m excited to see where this goes. I look forward to learning from older actors who have been at it much longer. I’m also excited to show them what I can do. I’m not just a pretty face, I’m a hard worker.’
Preparing for the role, Zimu says she has been working with her acting coach and jotting down the characteristics she would like to bring to Warona.
‘Sometimes when I take on jobs I always look at what I bring to the table, I’ve never really looked at what I will gain, but I believe being on The Queen will bring me more exposure and propel my career to another level. It may bring recognition for my craft internationally what with all the doors opening for South African talent.’
Fun facts about Rosemary
- She loves meditating over the Bible.
- Purple is her favourite colour because it represents the vision chukra in meditation, but she mostly wears black.
- She used to play for Jozi Nuggets in the Johannesburg Basketball League (JBL) and is a basketball coach.
- She dreams of helping rural schools to build or renovate basketball courts.
- She describes herself as a giver. I just want to take care of everyone.
- She loves food, especially mogodu and ting.
- Family comes first in her life and she credits her mother, stepmother and father, for raising her.
- Her late paternal grandmother was her best friend.
