Nosipho Pehlo's candid take on the financial pressures of being a freelance actress

Nosipho Pehlo, a South African actress known for her role as Nolwandle Biyela in the Showmax series “Outlaws”, recently opened up about the financial struggles freelancers face in the entertainment industry.

Taking to social media, she shared: “Just a gentle reminder: please don’t assume someone is financially okay based on what you see on TV or how they show up in public. I’m a freelancer. Work comes in seasons, not monthly guarantees."

"Just because you see me looking fine, smiling, or enjoying a moment doesn’t mean life is easy behind the scenes. We don’t always look like what we’re carrying.

"Projects you see today were often done long before they aired, and whatever came from them has already gone into surviving the in-between. So seeing me now doesn’t mean there’s money ‘still coming in.’”

Pehlo added that this reality also applies to friendships.

“Being visible or doing well in one area doesn’t automatically mean someone has the capacity to financially support others. Sometimes people ask without realising the pressure that puts on a person who is also just trying to stay afloat."

"There’s a saying that reminds us not to desire or assume someone else’s life - because you never know what it took, or what it’s costing them. Please be kind, be mindful, and don’t make assumptions. We’re all just doing our best.”

The post drew support from her followers, many of whom related to the message.

Mike Andile wrote: “I have given up explaining to my relatives that if they see me posting at hotels and restaurants, it's often paid for, and if a brand sends me a brief, more often I need to spend a portion of it booking nice places and buying clothes so that I produce good content.”

Summa_Ry added: “We are going through something, and for as long as you are not a business that employs hundreds of people, we are just barely getting by. Even then, having a lot of employees means that you still have to pay them. So money is an issue for all of us.”

Naleli Masoabi said, “TV isn't as glamorous as people think. Enter at your own risk, and again, don't enter thinking there's money because shame, wow.”

Pehlo’s candid post highlights a broader issue in South Africa’s entertainment industry. Several actors have spoken about similar struggles.

Thuso Mbedu, who is now making waves internationally, has said that early in her career, she often took roles that barely covered living expenses.

Siyabonga Shibe has also spoken about periods without consistent work and the pressure of freelancing in a competitive industry.

And Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa once revealed that even visible success on screen does not always translate into financial security, particularly when work is project-based.

Freelancing in the South African television and film industry often involves navigating long gaps between paid projects.

Actors must manage personal expenses, professional costs and sometimes support others, all without a guaranteed income.