TIFF 2023: Noxolo Dlamini Talks Death of a Whistleblower, Telling Authentic South African Stories, and More

Noxolo Dlamini is a dynamic storyteller who is best known for the nuanced and layered characters she’s brought to life in projects including Silverton Siege, iNumber Number: Jozi Gold, and Jiva!, and is currently the talk of the Toronto International Film Festival for her outstanding performance in Death of a Whisteblower.

In Death of a Whisteblower, investigative journalist Luyanda Masinda’s (Noxolo Dlamini) life is thrown into shock when her one-night lover, renowned editor Stanley Galloway (Rob van Vuuren), is hijacked and killed in front of her in a busy Jo’burg street. When it becomes clear that Stanley’s death was engineered by unknown forces in high places, and Luyanda discovers that Stanley has been receiving explosive information from a secret military whistle-blower, she realizes that the clue to his death may lie with the secrets the whistle-blower is determined to reveal. After an initial clash, Luyanda and the whistle-blower Albert Loots (Irshaad Ally) join forces and must sacrifice everything in their quest to expose state capture of South Africa’s military assets by a corrupt group profiteering from the illicit trade in military hardware and chemical weaponry to rogue states across Africa.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Noxolo about Death of a Whisteblower, how the film gives a voice to the voiceless, telling authentic South African stories, and more!

PC: You’ve had such an illustrious career on the stage and screen. What was it about Death of a Whistleblower and this particular project that resonated with you?
Noxolo: Thank you. I think it’s been a pretty cool career myself. [laughs] What I absolutely loved about Death was the script. That was the first thing that caught my attention. I appreciated how well written it is and that it’s also a South African story. I love South Africa, and I’m very big on telling our stories. It’s important for us to tell our own stories.

For many years, we’ve had non-South African actors playing South African characters and even South African icons. It’s really lovely to be able to own our own stories and have them told from a more authentic space.

PC: One of the major themes within this film is giving a voice to the voiceless. When you’re working on a project that has such an impactful message, does that bring a different weight/pressure to it? What was that preparation process like?
Noxolo: In the beginning, I felt a little bit of pressure because I love to tell stories truthfully. So I wanted to feel what was meant to be felt during that time. I felt the pressure of being the lead in something like this. I did get a bit nervous, but I felt very safe. Ian [Gabriel] was very protective and also very trusting. To be trusted like that really does put you in a position where you can look at yourself and go, “I’m here for a reason.” I’m clearly the force that should be telling this story. It was really about finding out a lot of things from Ian because he’s one of the people who wrote the script. He has a lot of information on the subject matter.

It opened my eyes because I learned a lot that I didn’t know from playing this character and also telling this story. It gave me a reason to really research the subject and find out more about it and where it comes from. A lot of the things that we speak about like Project Coast and Dr. Death exist and did exist. It was crazy learning all these things that are happening in our world.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that there were qualities of your character that you didn’t know you had inside of you and it was through the collaboration with Ian that you discovered that you did. How was Ian able to bring that out of you? How different is that filming experience when the person who helped create this universe is also at the helm directing?
Noxolo: Firstly, it allows you to trust yourself when you know the person who created this character sees you as them. They believe that you’re the right person to tell this story and move it forward. It helped because he obviously had the initial image and thought of what he wanted this to be. Also, the fact that he trusts Nox to bring her own elements of Nox and however she may see Luyanda to be. After some time, you realize that “I got this. I prepared for it in order to be seen in the audition and I got this far, so clearly that person is there.”

PC: You brought so much nuance to your character’s strengths and vulnerability. So much of her journey is about loss—loss of the people around her and loss of self. How did you create this space for yourself to tackle that really emotional journey throughout the film?
Noxolo: For those particular moments, it was really about putting myself in Luyanda’s shoes and living truthfully in the moment. Because I can’t draw from anywhere where I’m like, “I’ve experienced this.” But as an actor, you’re naturally empathetic and you’re able to see the story and feel. You understand where this person is coming from and you put yourself in their emotions and shoes. At times, it was a bit difficult because loss is so different. Until you’ve experienced it, only then do you really understand where it comes from and what it’s eating away at. But at the time, it was about giving everything that I could and trying to understand that this is what it would feel like to me at that time. Luyanda has gone through this entire journey and I know. I know her past because I’m playing her. I’ve created all of that.

So it’s really going back to that and knowing everything that she’s experienced along the way, and now she’s experiencing all these little losses in her life. They’re all happening at the same time. It’s overwhelming. It’s really putting myself in it and going, “I have to push. I have to give everything that I can until we wrap up for the day. I’ll come back tomorrow. I’ll be rejuvenated and I’ll be ready to give some more.”

PC: You definitely did that. As you were saying earlier, this is your feature film debut as the lead. Congratulations, by the way. Did anything surprise you about the overall experience? What have you learned about your craft?
Noxolo: More than anything, I always feel more stretched at the beginning. When I come into a new role, I have a certain amount of experience. Once I’m done with that role, I have more experience. Each role always leaves a lasting impact on my life and in my career. But as far as my craft, I know how far I can go. I can actually go as far as I went in my last production. Everything is a learning curve for me. I never take it for granted. I always go in with an inquisitive mind, wanting to learn and wanting to take it in. At the end of the day, I win. I win as an artist. I win as a human being because there’s so much to learn about the human condition.

PC: This is such an ensemble piece, and your character is the bridge between all these different characters. What was it like getting to collaborate with everyone? How were you able to bring that chemistry to the screen?
Noxolo: That’s my favorite part. I love to meet everybody. Not just as Nox meeting everyone on set but when Luyanda meets everyone for the first time in the story. It’s fascinating to sit down and hear stories from the other actors. Two of the actors actually experience something similar to this. When I would sit down with them, I’d be like, “Please tell me more about what actually happened.” It’s gruesome. It’s so real. When we’re on set and shooting and they’re telling the story, it’s true. It’s honest. It truly comes from their hearts. This is what happens after they’ve experienced those losses. These stories are real. I’m grateful that I get to sit down with other actors who are so open to sharing these stories. Not everybody gets to sit with people who have these firsthand experiences. They’re so brave to share them. I feel very lucky to be able to be in a room where they are so honest and open.

PC: There’s such a strong throughline about the importance of storytelling and honoring the past, present, and future and those who came before us. Who were the people in your own life who impacted your journey as a storyteller?
Noxolo: Anyone I’ve met in my life who has a story. I believe everyone has a story. I’m the kind of person that really loves to listen to where people come from and everything they’ve experienced. It’s not something that everyone is willing to do, but when someone is willing to do that, it’s so brave. And I feel like they trust me enough to open up like that. I really appreciate that. I carry those stories with me. That’s how I make friends. That’s how I keep connections with friends and other human beings. I feel like we connect through who we are and what we’ve experienced.

The most beautiful thing is always hearing people’s stories and seeing them carry on and being the best versions of themselves, even though they’ve been through the things that they’ve been through. I always love people who try to show the light or are that light. That’s what makes me love storytelling: because I love people’s stories. I’m big on sharing their stories because you never know how it’s going to touch someone else and how it may help someone else. I’m very big on that.

The biggest storyteller in my life is my mother, who told me all her stories. I grew up seeing her as my mom. Now that I’m older, I get to see her as a human being as well. She’s been so giving with her stories. I’ll always carry those stories with me wherever I go.

To keep up with Noxolo, follow her on Instagram. Death of a Whisteblower is making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. For screening details, click here.