Mother of all problems

Linda Sebezo reveals why her new brothel-owning character Mam Rebecca is one of her favourite roles in a career that spans more that 40 years.

- CRAIG FALCK

NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE Linda is as at home behind the cameras as in front of them. She's a producer and has directed shows and stage plays. Plus she teaches young actors, dancers and singers.

Mam Rebecca is a no-nonsense corrupt and greedy businesswoman who doesn't take no for an answer, says seasoned actress Linda Sebezo. And she just happens to be Linda's hottest new character in the steamy telenovela series The Black Door, which kickstarted e.tv's night-time schedule overhaul in April this year. "The producers called me to come audition for Mam Rebecca and I was a little nervous after reading the script," explains Linda. "I've played a lot of shady people in my career, but Mam Rebecca - or Rebs as she's known - is by far the worst."

When she's not running her highclass underground brothel The Black Door, Mam Rebecca is schmoozing, wining and dining the local business elite to win new tender contracts. "She's greedy and she uses her brothel to get her contracts to make money," says Linda, adding that "she's so much fun to play!"

GETTING TO KNOW REBS

What does this role mean to you? The telenovela is dark and Rebs is darker and extremely ruthless - she kills and she doesn't have a heart. Even with her family, they feel like they're just pawns in her game. She moves and manipulates people to get ahead. And if they serve no purpose to her, they're gone.