Zandélle Meyer on graduating from Trompoppie to Wyfie

South Africans met Zandélle Meyer in her first TV role as Riekie in Binnelanders, before she being cast in Suidooster, and later as Chandré in Trompoppie on Showmax. In addition, earlier this year she made her writing and directing debut at Silwerskerm with the short film O, Griet! Sy’s droog.

Now she’s back on Showmax in the groundbreaking university telenovela Wyfie, which won two Silwerskerm acting awards at the end of August, a MIP Africa Inclusive Lens award at the start of September, and was up for Best International Series at The Seoul International Drama Awards yesterday. At the National Film & TV Awards South Africa on 9 November 2024, Wyfie is nominated for another five awards: Best Scripted Series, Afrikaans Series, Newcomer (Mienke Ehlers, who won the category at Silwerskerm), Actress (Beáta Bena Green, also nominated at Silwerskerm), and Supporting Actress (Marguerite van Eeden, who won the category at Silwerskerm). 

Watch Wyfie’s S2 trailer

Roz Els talked to Zandélle about her character, Jessie, who joined the Wyfie cast for Season 2. 

What did you think of Wyfie before joining the show? 

I watched Wyfie before I acted in it, and from the get-go I thought it was so cool. When I think back, there was never anything (on local TV) that reflected my university years. Many of the things that I was ashamed to talk about, I could now watch on Wyfie and relate. There are many things that you struggle with at university in terms of your faith, your sexuality, your longing for acceptance, your identity as a person. It was wonderful to then see that in Afrikaans. 

How did you become part of the Wyfie cast?

I’ve auditioned for a few other roles in Wyfie, but when I received the brief about Jessie, a naive first year in the Pantera residence, I thought there was a good chance it could work out because I usually get roles as the younger girl, even though I’m 24 now! (laughs) 

At Wyfie, things happen very quickly. I did the audition, the next day I went for a callback, and then the same day I heard, “Oh, you got the part! And we’re shooting next week.” (Laughs) It’s actually much better that it’s so fast; it takes the anxiety out of the process, instead of waiting and wondering if you have the role.

You mentioned that Jessie is somewhat naive. How does she fit into the world of Wyfie?

Jessie epitomises a first year at university. She is placed in Pantera, and one of Pantera’s traditions is that you get a dorm mom. So she becomes the dorm daughter of all the Grot-otters. In her eyes, it’s a win-win: four for the price of one! (laughs)

All of the Grot-otters look out for her, but it’s Mia and Shay who take a special interest in her. Mia becomes a mentor to her. It’s quite funny because they are two completely different people. Jessie calls her Mamma Mia (laughs). 

Because she is still so new on campus and everything is still very strange, she is looking for that feeling of acceptance.  

She tries to understand the girl code between the Otters. She’s actually the first one to notice it, to see that there are certain things they do for each other, and that they would do anything for each other. 

And she then tries to do the same, but her naivety gets her into trouble. Not to give too much away, but most of her storylines are somewhat chaotic because she is so naive and blindly tackles things without thinking about the consequences. 

Was it strange to try to put yourself in the shoes of an 18-year-old again?

It’s easier to play a younger character than an older character because you’ve already been through some of those experiences. I studied drama at Stellenbosch and I could definitely see parts of myself in Jessie, especially how I was in my first year. I was also naive. I came to Stellenbosch from Potchefstroom, so I was from a small town and didn’t know much. You feel a bit like an outsider, but then you also realise what res is like and how it invites you in. You are part of a sisterhood. But like Jessie, I sometimes found myself in situations I didn’t want to be in! 

What about your time on the Wyfie stands out to you?

I mostly worked with Johan (Cronjé), Emilie (Badenhorst) and Ben (Heyns) as directors. They have a very calm energy, which helped a lot. It was the first time this year that I was in front of the camera again and they understand all those nerves you have and they help to calm you down.  

There is also more time for creative freedom. I have more experience with soap operas, which are very much like a sausage machine. With Wyfie, there was more time and more space to explore and play. Emilie always said, “We’re doing a take for Justin… Just in case…” (laughs) And then sometimes beautiful things come out.

They have a very realistic approach and an organic way of playing and creating. Sometimes I’d think I had made a mistake in the scene, like accidentally dropping a book, and then Johan would be like, “No, that’s actually cool; that’s how stuff really happens.”

What did you learn about your own way of acting that you can apply going forward?

I learned to trust myself a little more. On Wyfie, the actresses talk to the director and say, “I don’t agree with my character saying this. Can I change it?” Before, I couldn’t talk to a director so openly. But now I have more confidence and feel much more comfortable having a conversation with the director when the scene doesn’t feel right. Right after Wyfie, I went back to shoot on Binnelanders, and the experience was already different for me. 

What else can we see you in?

I’m shooting my first feature film next but I can’t reveal much about it yet. After that I’ll go back to Binnelanders again and then we’ll see how Riekie’s storyline unfolds. 

Binge all 45 episodes of Wyfie S1 now, with new episodes of S2 every Tuesday until 7 January 2025: 

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