Portraying Jonasi pushed me to my limits – S’dumo Mtshali

South African actor S’dumo Mtshali has opened up about the challenges, responsibility and rewards of portraying Jonasi Gomora, the controversial central character in the hit Netflix series The Polygamist.

On the series, Jonasi is the central character, a wealthy, charismatic, and manipulative businessman who uses “tradition” as a cover for his infidelity and a web of deception.

Mtshali’s portrayal of Jonasi has earned widespread praise from viewers across Africa and beyond, with many fans describing the performance as a standout element of the series. The character has sparked intense debate on social media, where audiences continue to discuss his actions, relationships, and ultimate fate.

Speaking in an interview with TimesLIVE, Mtshali said the series’ overwhelming response exceeded his expectations and reinforced the power of storytelling.

“Prayer has a way of designing things to make them so much bigger. You’ll be unaware, praying for something to happen, yet God has something bigger in store for you. This was Him showing me His power and it’s just so beautiful to see,” said Mtshali.

More than the show’s popularity, he said, he has been moved by the conversations it has sparked among viewers.

“What I’m loving more than anything else is the impact that the series has had on people. It’s starting much-needed conversations around certain social issues. Everybody has a Jonasi somewhere in their lives. It could be an uncle, a husband, a boyfriend or even a father. When I got the role of Jonasi, I understood the responsibility that came with it.”

According to Mtshali, portraying such a deeply flawed and troubled character required extensive preparation and emotional investment. He revealed that he drew inspiration from a range of real-life events and personalities while developing the character, including elements from the highly publicised legal troubles involving music mogul Sean Combs.

“The information was always there. At the same time that we were shooting the series, the Sean Combs trial was happening, so I drew some inspiration from that to enhance my acting as Jonasi. Somehow, everything was just aligning,” he said.

While many viewers have focused on the show’s intimate scenes, Mtshali believes the true strength of the series lies in its exploration of human relationships and emotional trauma.

“I knew it was a great story, and I know that South Africans love a story more than they love the theatrics and explicit scenes. It’s not about the sex; it’s about the complex relationships. The sex scenes are part of the story because he is an addict and a very broken man.”

The actor admitted that immersing himself in Jonasi’s world often took an emotional toll.

“At times, acting as him was so exhausting,” he said.

Beyond its entertainment value, Mtshali hopes the series leaves viewers with important lessons about relationships, accountability, and the consequences of destructive behaviour. He also believes the show’s success has demonstrated the growing appetite for African stories on global streaming platforms.

According to the actor, discussions with Netflix representatives have highlighted a strong interest in adapting more African books and stories for television.

“I was talking to one of the people from Netflix, and they mentioned how they definitely need more books to be adapted into series. We have a lot of great books and stories that hit home in this country,” he said.

Mtshali added that he hopes viewers take away meaningful lessons from the series.

“I hope this series teaches people many things. Even if they don’t listen, I hope they take a lot from it. I fell in love with the story because it deals with serious issues such as diseases and generational curses.”