Dineo Rasedile acts her age in legal drama Law, Love and Betrayal

Dineo Rasedile is finally stepping into her first adult role in the new Showmax Original legal drama Law, Love and Betrayal (LLB). 

Since entering the industry a decade ago, the pint-sized 33-year-old has typically played teens, including Yolanda in Ambitions, Andiswa in Saints and Sinners, Thuli in MTV Shuga Down South, Amogelang in The Estate and Itu in Justice Served. 

In Law, Love and Betrayal, Dineo stars as Gugu, a tough township lawyer who forces her way into a slick, family-owned firm in Sandton, where she finds that everyone has secrets, just like her.

Dineo leads a strong cast that includes Nimrod Nkosi (Isibaya, The Queen), Pearl Modiadie (Rhythm City, Generations, Scandal!), Anelisa Phewa (Ithemba, Unmarried) and Siya Sepotokele (The River, Impilo: The Scam).

Watch the trailer for Law, Love and Betrayal

Xabiso Ngqabe sat down with the Secunda-born actress to find out more.

What was your reaction when you first read the script?

I was nervous at first since it's a legal show and I’ve never done anything like that before. The audition involved these lengthy monologues filled with legal jargon. However, once I read through the brief and went through the references, I felt confident. I had a whole weekend to prepare and by the time I went in, I was ready.

Talk us through the character you’re playing.

Gugu Mabaso is an incredibly strong young woman from Thembisa who studied law and is now on a journey of self-discovery. She advocates for those who can't defend themselves while striving to improve her own life. Her mission is to establish herself in her profession and uncover the truth about her identity.

How is this role different from characters you’ve played before?

For the first 10 years of my career, I played characters much younger than myself, which required a completely different type of energy and approach. At the beginning of the year, my prayer was to play a grown-up character, so when this opportunity came, it felt like an answered prayer. The only other time I played a grown-up character was on Scandal!, but even then, she was in her early 20s. I fought hard for this role, all the way through to the chemistry test.

What was your preparation like?

The audition was awesome because the casting director, Keneilwe Matidze, provides extensive information, including character references from familiar shows. This helped me create a picture and starting point. Of course, you still need to make it your own, but I spent that weekend consuming certain content and researching the legal industry. Gugu is trying to prove herself so I needed to understand the legal world. For example, during my research, I learned about certain demographics, such as the ratio of Black female attorneys to white male attorneys. Gugu is fighting in a world where she has her back against the wall.

Gugu gets to tackle different cases and that comes with dramatic twists. How did you dive into that emotional arc?

I had a lot of references to draw from. I watched Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich because, although she isn’t a lawyer, she ends up in the legal field. Her character comes from a disadvantaged background and takes on powerful figures who think they know everything. She’s relatable and understands the struggles of ordinary people. She can speak their language and she’s very intelligent. When she enters a room, the affluent immediately underestimate her, but once she starts talking, they realise she has something important to say. This was a great reference for Gugu because it mirrors her story. She’s from Thembisa, going up against wealthy kids who attended fancy schools and have money. All she has is her knowledge. This perspective helped me tap into her emotional arc.

Do you find any similarities between you and Gugu?

The biggest similarity is that we're both very family-oriented. Family means so much to me, along with the loyalty that comes from long-lasting relationships. I admire her commitment to standing up for the truth. Another common trait is our shared passion for fighting for what’s right, although she is much more intense about it. She tends to act immediately, whereas I prefer to think things through and take my time. 

You worked with Nimrod Nkosi in The Estate and MTV Shuga Down South. How was it sharing a screen with him again?

Mr Nimrod is such a cool person. From the first time I was on set with him, he brought a positive and giving energy. He is warm and eager to work, never displaying an attitude of superiority despite his experience. He’s open and collaborative. We shared many emotionally charged scenes and we really pushed each other.

How was it working with Siya Raymond Sepotokele? How did you ensure your chemistry translates on screen?

I really enjoyed working with him. Siya plays Gugu’s childhood sweetheart; they've been together since they were young. We had a chemistry test, and from that point, it was fun and easy. When I came for the table read, I found out he got the role. We also had an amazing intimacy coach on set. It’s always nice working with someone who has a thorough understanding of how to handle these situations. Siya is very open, and you can discuss what you're comfortable with and what you're not. He is very respectful, very experienced, and made me feel safe.

What excites you the most about Law, Love and Betrayal? 

Currently there's no other show quite like this one. While there are many similar narratives on television, there isn't anything specifically focused on law. This show isn't make-believe; we're quoting real acts and cases. Beyond the storyline and the diverse characters, each episode's cases are fascinating. I learned so much while filming the show, and it was eye-opening to realise how little we know about the law. 

Watch Dineo talking about Law, Love and Betrayal

New episodes of Law, Love and Betrayal land every Thursday from 5 September 2024.