Zazi Kunene (Nolwazi)

‘it’s my first television role, it’s global, AND to HAVE this opportunity With other black Women on the rise is mindblowing’

GQ: How was playing Nolwazi?

Zazi Kunene: Nolwazi resonates with who I am because she’s young, bubbly, fun and charismatic. Even when I auditioned, I knew there was something in her that I saw in myself. I was excited to be dancing and acting at the same time, as I love doing both.

ZK: Looking at my character especially, young Black women need to understand they’re valuable. They can make their own decisions and be happy with them. Just because she’s young, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what she’s doing or that she’s juvenile. Her character shows young women can be mature.

GQ: What did you find challenging?

ZK: The hardest thing to do was believe I could be young, carefree and happy. Coming from my background as a teenager with a single mom in a difficult household, I felt like I had to carry the world on my shoulders. We don’t allow ourselves to be young. So, with Nolwazi, I was, like, you’re allowed to live, but that was difficult for me to express as I had no experience of it.

GQ: What’s your dream?

ZK: Hollywood. I appreciate Netflix for giving young Black women a platform to prove Black excellence. I want the entire world to see not only our country but us as Black, beautiful people.