Samela Tyelbooi is a South African actress. The 42-year-old is best known for playing Lois Gumede on the SABC1 drama series Society.
The actress is also well known for playing Ayanda in the SABC1 soap opera Generations: The Legacy. She portrays each role with great enthusiasm, making it relatable to viewers.
Samela Tyelbooi was born on May 4, 1981, in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. She fell in love with acting at a very young age.
Though she had shown great enthusiasm for acting, she had her breakthrough at twenty-five. She landed her first role as a supporting actress in the soap opera Generations.
The actress is one of the few in the profession who can portray practically any part. She made her significant screen debut in a minor role on Generations.
Samela Tyelboo appeared as Ntosh, a supporting role, in the SABC1 drama series Intsika, in 2011. Later, she appeared in the TV soap opera Rhythm City in 2012. She portrayed a struggling singer and songwriter, Shado Shilongo.
Tyelboo appeared as Vumile in season one of the SABC1 science fiction series Room 9 in 2013. Samela starred as Ayanda in the SABC1 serial series Generations: The Legacy in 2018.
Samela told News24 that being a member of Society is her professional highlight. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2017 SAFTAs.
Tyelboo is also a talented singer and performs on occasions and at events. She has shared the stage with musicians like Masauko and Nobuntu Mhlambi.
Samela Tyelbooi is the mother of three beautiful children. Her first child is now in her twenties.
Because she was expecting her third child, the actress took a sabbatical from acting in 2021. She couldn’t appear on the screen since her tummy was evident.
In an interview, she acknowledged that being a mother is both hard and gratifying for her. She works hard to be a good mother to her daughter and to make her proud.
Tyelbooi reserves the name of her husband. According to her, being in a relationship gave her good practice in the role. She also says the role helps her appreciate motherhood.
Samela Tyelbooi is a versatile actor with over fifteen years of experience. As of September 2023, her net worth is predicted to be R2.4 million.
