Thandolwethu Zondi gives a standout performance in the new Netflix series Go!

Thandolwethu Zondi has all the traits of a rising star. Despite having no formal acting training, the former soccer and rugby player was discovered by a producer after a video of him went viral on social media.

Now, at just 23, he takes the lead in the show as high school track runner Siya “Bolt” Gumede. In his breakout role, Zondi shares the screen with big names like Dawn Thandeka King, Vusi Kunene, Katlego Danke, Wiseman Mncube, Ntobeko Sishi, and Shalate Sekhabi.

The series, directed by Doug Liman, follows the story of a young sprinter who gets a second shot at life with a track scholarship to a prestigious Johannesburg school. But, in a shocking twist, his dreams are thrown into turmoil after a tragic event.

The six-part series has topped the charts in several countries, including South Africa. Its gripping storyline, standout performances, and stunning cinematography keep you hooked from the first episode to the last.

GQ had a chat with Thandolwethu to chat about his breakthrough role and how he landed this exciting role.

GQ: Can you take us back to that moment when you got the call that changed your life? What was going through your mind? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: The call came in at a very unexpected moment while I was driving from church on a Sunday afternoon. When the call came in, my mom and brother who were in the car, celebrated before me because my mind was still buzzing and spinning, trying to make sense of what was happening. It was such a surreal moment! I couldn’t believe it one bit. 

GQ: You prayed for this role—how does faith play a role in your journey as an actor? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: Prayer has always been at the forefront of my life. In everything that I do and endeavour towards, I lead with prayer, be it in the industry or elsewhere. As an actor however, it is imperative that I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ to keep me focused and excel in the spaces He puts me in. 

GQ: With no formal acting training, what was the biggest challenge in transitioning from sports to acting?

Thandolwethu Zondi: The biggest challenge in the transition was learning the ins and outs of acting itself, and the industry as a whole in a short period of time. Although my directors had discovered what they called “raw talent”, it still needed work which sometimes required for me to be pushed beyond my limits and work outside of my comfort zone.

GQ: How did you react when the producers asked you to go blonde for the role? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: Well, they asked me to go pink first which I did and I couldn’t stop laughing at myself when I looked in the mirror. I would walk around with a cap and a hoodie because I looked so funny. A few days later, they said I should change to blonde which was such a relief because I actually liked the blonde better than the pink. I think the reason I liked the blonde was because I had been pink before so anything but that pink sufficed for me.

GQ: What was it like acting alongside industry heavyweights like Katlego Danke, Wiseman Mncube, and Vusi Kunene? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: At first it was pretty overwhelming. When I heard Mam Dawn King was going to play my mother and Wiseman my brother, I freaked out! When I met all of them I had to keep pinching myself so hard to keep myself calm. However, when we started working together, I took those moments to sponge in information. I would ask them questions regarding the industry and also ask them for help when it came to acting. So it went from being overwhelmed to learning, watching and taking in anything I could’ve taken in. 

GQ: What aspects of your past as a professional athlete helped you in bringing Siya “Bolt” Gumede to life? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: Athletes often share similar experiences and characteristics. As an athlete, I would never think about losing, I would always step onto the field with a mindset to win. Winning wasn’t always about me but everyone in the team as well. Like Siya, he had to run as fast as he could to win races, however, sometimes winning wasn’t about him, it was also about the people around him. He had to win for everyone around him. Also, being an athlete meant I needed to always think on the spot and make quick and accurate decisions. Siya shared the same sentiments. We see him having to get himself out of situations by thinking fast while making calculated decisions.

GQ: What was it about the script that made you feel connected to this character? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: The script drew my attention when I discovered the lengths someone can go to chase their dreams and also the sacrifices someone has to endure to make the people around him happy. I love this because I’m sure so many people can relate and resonate with that feeling. The feeling of chasing your dream “at all costs”. Many of us have been caught between a rock and a hard place and needed to make extremely difficult decisions to get ourselves out of those situations.

GQ: How did it feel to play the waiting game after wrapping up filming in December 2023? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: The waiting game was the hardest part of this whole journey. With Go! being my first role, I was so excited for people to see it but the waiting game almost made me lose hope. On some days, it really felt like the day was never going to come. I’ve never been a very patient person, but this process felt like God was teaching and instilling patience in me, and I think I’m a much more patient person now than I ever have been. 

GQ: What was the toughest part of shooting “Go!” and how did you overcome it? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: The toughest part had to be the constant “imposter syndrome” I kept feeling. I would often feel like I was out of place and feel like the other actors could see right through me.  I felt like I wasn’t doing well and I wasn’t selling the character well enough. It got to extent that I even had a dream of them recasting me. Although I didn’t necessarily get over it, I prayed about it and put it at the back of my head. Every time it came into my thoughts, I’d tell myself that God placed me here for a reason, so I need to execute as best as I can. 

GQ: How did you land your first audition after being spotted on social media?  

Thandolwethu Zondi: It was pretty nerve wracking! I didn’t know what to expect because a part of me thought it was a prank by my friends, the way it all happened. When I got the call, after they had spotted me on social media, I almost dropped it because it didn’t sound real at all. A part of me was just like “go with the prank dude, it’ll be a good laugh anyway” only to find that it was true. They offered a zoom audition and when I jumped onto the zoom, I realised that it was real, that’s when I got super nervous. I listened to the director and followed with the directions, and I guess the rest is history.

GQ: You mentioned working on other productions while waiting for “Go!” to be released—can you share a bit about those projects? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: Well of course I can’t give away too much because of confidentiality reasons, however they were pretty big projects in my eyes. I’ve worked on 3 other film projects and 1 theatre project since shooting Go!. The theatre project is called My Children My Africa (by Athol Fugard) and was showing at the Opera Theatre in the South African State Theatre, Pretoria. I played the character of Thami Mbikwana on it. But all I can say about the others is that they were huge opportunities for me. From the 3, I’m playing one of the leads in 2 of them and a supporting in the 3rd one. 

GQ: Now that acting is your new path, what kind of roles do you hope to take on in the future? 

Thandolwethu Zondi: I’m open and willing to take on almost any kind of role. I’d also love to land action, thriller and sci fi roles, something like your Maze Runner and Divergent movies for example. In one of my previous productions, I did a lot of stunt work, which I fell in love with, so I would love to do more of those kinds of roles. I’ve also grown up learning different accents from around the world so I’m also hoping to work outside the country where I can put my different accents and acting skills to work. 

GQ: Looking back, do you think your background in sports prepared you for the discipline required in acting?

Thandolwethu Zondi: It definitely did! 100%! The film industry reminds me a lot of the sporting industry because you need to really show up! You need to show up everyday, for every scene and for every single line, like you’d show up for every practice session, every match day down to every single pass you make. As much as you’re at the forefront of the production (being in front of camera) there is tons of work being done behind you so you need to respect everyone and work as if you’re gunning for a SAFTA or an Oscar, because you may just be!