The Story ⚡
Jesse Suntele is set to return for the second season of Savage Beauty, premiering on Netflix on June 28, 2024.
In an Exclusive interview with Shock Newsroom, Jesse Suntele discussed what fans can expect in the new season of Savage Beauty and whether his character, Phila, will become more like his father, Papa Benghu.
He hinted at more action, drama, and backstabbing, along with an increase in production value that gives the show a more cinematic feel. Suntele noted that viewers can expect shifts in character dynamics and the introduction of new faces.
He shared that Phila’s relationship with his father will experience ups and downs, as he tries to figure out what works best for them. When asked about his preparation for the role, Suntele mentioned that embodying Phila in the second season came more naturally to him, as he now has a deeper understanding of the character. He highlighted that Phila becomes more serious this season compared to the first.
Suntele expressed his excitement upon learning about the second season, noting that he is a fan of the series as well as an actor in it. However, he mentioned that there is no information yet about the possibility of a third season.
Key Background
Jesse Suntele is a dynamic South African actor, model, rapper, and television personality. He gained widespread recognition by winning the second season of the BET reality competition series Top Actor Africa in 2016. His career began in 2013 with an audition for the SABC 1 reality competition U Can Do It, where he made it into the Top 10. In 2014, he secured his first credited television acting role in the SABC 1 documentary drama Ngempela.
The following year, he appeared as a guest star on SABC 1’s Generations: The Legacy and obtained a recurring role on the e.tv soapie Ashes to Ashes. His major breakthrough came in 2016 when he won Top Actor Africa and debuted on the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen as Tuelo (“Officer Bae”), a policeman by day and serial killer by night.
Suntele’s talents extend beyond acting to hosting and music. In 2017, he co-hosted the entertainment show BET A-List and participated in the Vuzu Amp reality competition series The Hustle as rapper “J-Flo,” reaching the Top 6. That same year, he was nominated for Hunk of the Year at the Feather Awards. In 2018, he joined the e.tv soapie Rhythm City as Nqaba.
By 2022, he had landed a significant role as Phila Bhengu in the South African Netflix drama series Savage Beauty. In addition to his acting career, Suntele has pursued music under the name J-Flo, releasing singles like High by the Beach and Outta Town, and featuring on Kelly Khumalo’s single Jehova. He released his debut EP, What Did You Expect, in May 2021.
In Summary
The first season of Savage Beauty premiered on May 19, 2022, and quickly captivated audiences, amassing 10,630,000 viewing hours within its first week. It secured a spot in Netflix’s Top 10 TV shows across 13 countries during that period and was top 30 most watched TV shows on Netflix Naija.
With a new season made after 2 years, it will be interesting to see the performance metrics of the show on Netflix. premiering on Netflix on June 28, 2024.
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