Diving into the lives of actresses and actors and experiencing them on a personal level enhances the admiration we have for them on screen. This upcoming session includes an informative behind the character chat with Ayakha Ntunja, where we explore the journey of the actress and share any tips on how aspiring actresses and actors can break into the industry.
By: Lesego Kgatle
From appearing on “MTV Shuga Down South”, “NTASH”, and currently killing her role as “Amo Mosweu” on the Showmax series “Youngins“, Ayakha has navigated her space in the industry, and is only going uphill from here. Read more on who Ayakha is and enjoy the gems she dropped during our interview.
Read More: Mihlali Ndamase Posts At The FentyBeauty Soft Glow Launch.
How would you describe yourself and tell us a few hobbies that you enjoy doing.
Outside of acting, I believe I’m truly a person who seeks so much adventure and peace. I love writing, exploring art with galleries, swimming, watching movies, reading and just learning more about myself and life.
What inspired you to become an actress?
I think the passion of storytelling and feeling made me realize that if I can be a vessel for someone else’s reflection or life, so why not give hope and take away pain by creating something so beautiful and special like acting.
Can you describe your acting training and background?
I began my acting training with theatre when I was thirteen years old, and I then emerged in doing movement. I also did directing and writing for theatre and from there I became more involved in learning about film and television.
What challenges have you faced in your acting career, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I’ve ever had to face was knowing that the work truly starts within and from home, because being a character is all about studying the character’s environment. I have learnt the work truly goes beyond set and it is something you have to take time for each day.
Tell us about a memorable role you’ve played and how it impacted you personally.
My most memorable role to date was the role I played of “Aphiwe” on NTASH. I really got to explore the world in an environment I was never used to, but I played it to the best of my abilities and understood the world differently.
How do you prepare for auditions and immerse yourself in a character?
I prepare by understanding the story around the characters and also try and place myself in their realities to see how and what they would do. I immerse myself by writing to the character as often as I can, like an open dialogue to understand the characters’ thinking and movement.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors trying to break into the industry?
The advice I would give is to never stop believing in who you can be, as it is true that sometimes you need to be the only person that sees the dream and vision for your life. You should also never stop learning from different reliable sources around you get the work done.
Learn more on breaking into the industry by catching up on the Media Industry 101 With Tiisetso Masike