More than 26 years after Sophie Ndaba burst onto our TV screens, the actress remains one of South Africa's biggest stars.
Sophie made her debut on the popular soapie, Generations, in 1993 as Queen Sebobe (later Queen Moroka).
The feisty receptionist became so popular, many of her fans still call her Queen. Before landing the role, Sophie starred in Class of 92 and Egoli. Her other TV appearances include Yizo Yizo, Soul City, Isidingo, and High Rollers.
Sophie has won several acting awards over the years. She was honoured with a Duku Duku Award for “Best Soap Actress” in 2003 and a Golden Horn Award for “Best Comic Actor” in 2009.
Here’s a look at Sophie’s biography.
Sophie Ndaba Lockdown Performance
Yes, the queen of the screen is back and she's back with a bang. Season 5 of Lockdown just kicked off and the series already has viewers begging for more. Lockdown is known for its cliffhangers, plot twists and emotional roller-coaster and its all riveting female cast.
This season saw Sophie join the cast and plays the character of Palesa, a broken nurse at the Kgotsong Asylum, who is ready to wreak havoc on the health facility. Sophie had taken a hiatus from the screen to focus on her health, but her comeback has everyone heaping praises on her.
Her groundbreaking acting left the masses emotional and almost reaching for tissues. Many were thrilled to see her back, and they are definitely in for a treat this season.
Fans could stop mentioning how they were happy to see Sophie back on screen and how she nailed that scene.
Sophie Ndaba Age
Sophie Ndaba is 47 years old. She was born in Soweto, South Africa, on June 29, 1972. Birthdays are very special for Sophie. She enjoys giving back on her special day. Sophie spent her 42nd birthday in 2015 with children from Orlando Children’s Home.She is passionate about charities related to children as she once lived in an orphanage. Her mother sent her to an orphanage in Zimbabwe so she could get a better education than what was available in apartheid South Africa.
Sophie Ndaba Weight Loss
Sophie Ndaba shocked her fans with her dramatic weight loss in 2018. She had been steadily losing weight over the past few years, but her slimmer frame caused some alarm with some questioning whether she had anorexia. |
| Sophie Lichaba Biography: Age, Weight Loss, Illness, Husband, Wedding, Children, Business, Awards, Charity, House |
“For people to say it’s too much, I don’t really care. See, I can say I need one more kilo, for someone else they may say, ‘hai this person needs 10 kilos’. No, my decision is that when I am happy, I am happy. I am happy and I feel fantastic,” she told Thando Thabethe during an interview on 5FM’s Thaboothy Drive show.
Sophie Ndaba Illness
Sophie Ndaba’s fans became concerned about her health when a picture surfaced of her looking frail. Some went as far as to say she had an illness, with many speculating that she had HIV or cancer.Sophie revealed in an emotional post that she had diabetes and was heartbroken by the hateful comments she received about her body.
“Some people sadden me because I have lost both my parents through diabetes, I nursed them so I know this killer disease. It's real. No joke. Our fellow sisters and brothers commit suicide because of pressure of what you negative heartless people think. I stopped worrying what any negative person thinks long ago,” she wrote on her Instagram page.
Sophie was the victim of a disturbing death hoax in late 2018. A fake news report claimed the star had died. Given the recent rumours about her alleged terminal illness, many were quick to believe the report. "Someone please tell me Sophie Ndaba is not dead." one Twitter wrote.
The actress slammed the “horrific” hoax.
Sophie Ndaba Husband
Sophie Ndaba’s husband is businessman Max Lichaba. She met Max through his brothers. Sophie initially rejected his advances, because she did not believe he was single. The businessman got his family, including his grandmother, to convince Sophie he was serious about her. He proposed to the actress a few times before she finally said yes. She is now known as Sophie Lichaba.Max is one of Sophie’s biggest supporters and defended when her haters claimed she was dying of HIV because of her weight.
"I admire her for choosing to lose weight, changing her eating habits… I also pray that she keeps fighting for life and never care what people are saying on social media about her… But if she dies they'll post "diabetes is real guys" but they can't support her now whilst alive,” he wrote on Instagram.
Max is hubby number three for Sophie. She was previously married to actor Themba Ndaba (1994–2007) and bishop Keith Harrington (2011-2013).
Sophie Ndaba Wedding
Sophie’s wedding to Max Lichaba tied-the-knot in Italy after eloping in December 2017. They then celebrated their honeymoon in France. Mr and Mrs Lichaba held a traditional wedding for close family and friends in South Africa a few months later.Sophie is also a popular event and wedding planner. She started her business nearly two decades ago. The actress has planned several celebrity weddings include DJ Black Coffee and Enhle Mbali’s fairy tale nuptials in January 2017.
Sophie Ndaba Children
Sophie Ndaba has two children, Rudo and Lwandle with her ex-husband Themba Ndaba. She adopted her niece, Shallon Ndaba, after her sister, Tiny Mphasane’s death over 25 years ago.Sophie Ndaba Business
Besides showing off her prowess on the screen, Sophie is quite the successful businesswoman. She formed a production company Sophla Media where she produces roadshows or Top Brands and also now focusing on producing reality TV Shows, Magazine Show, and small and big-screen movies.Sophie is also a wedding planner and this was inspired by the fact that her wedding was not planned professionally and she saw the a need and an opportunity to start the business. She plans about five weddings a year.
Sophie Ndaba Awards
Her great work on screen has seen her get the recognition that she deserves.2003 - Duku Duku Award Best Soap Actress Award
2006 - Kellogs Star in You Kids Award for Favorite soap Actress
2009 - Golden Horn Award for Best comic Actor
2010 - You Magazine Award for Favorite Actress
2012 - Sunday Times Next Generation Brand Survey Awards as Coolest TV Female Star
Sophie Ndaba Charity
Sophie Ndaba loves to give back to the community and over the years she has been involved in so much charity work. These include Abraham Kriel Children’s Home, Mndeni Children’s Home, Reach for a Dream & Cancer Shavathon.All this work inspired the creation of her own foundation which she named The “Sophie Foundation of Hope”. Its focus is raising funds to ensure Orphanages are beautiful and well maintained homes. This was also inspired by the fact that she grew up in an orphanage herself. She is one who wishes to keep supporting the progression of women and children.
Sophie Ndaba House
Sophie Ndaba’s husband bought her dream house in April 2019. He took to Instagram to share a picture of their new mansion.“It's such a great feeling as Man to buy your Wife her dream Home. She said "this is where I want to live " this is the house I want. I obliged. She deserves it!! Anything for my amazing Wife. She treats Me like a King after all,” he wrote.
