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Bruce Ndlovu .
After her praise-worthy portrayal of a man despite the fact that she is a woman herself, Zimbabwean Generations actress Chi Mhende says that the soapie not only taught her how flexible she was in front of the camera but also the importance of earning as much as she could from her talent.
Mhende, who has an extensive background in theatre, shocked small screen lovers when it was revealed that Wandile, the character she portrays on the Mfundi Vundla production, was in fact being played by a woman.
When asked how she was balancing her business and artistic side on the sidelines of the recently held Zimbabwe International Film Festival, the talented actress said that before her stint on the soapie, she had not been paying attention to the business side of her craft.
a�?Balancing my artistic self and the business of my art is something that Ia��m learning right now and getting into solidly. That just comes with being a television actress because ita��s mass media. Because as a theatre performer youa��re telling your stories everyday and each day in the theatre that youa��re in.
a�?People come and see and support we dialogue about it and we move on and youa��re not really thinking about what exactly is the PR behind a character that youa��re playing. Ita��s something that I have learnt a lot about. Being a television actor over the past two years allowed me to understand the promotion of self, of being an actor as a business and also the celebration of your work,a�? she said.
Mhende said that being at the festival was also a way for her to give back, as she was back among people who played a role in her rise to stardom.
a�?Coming home has been an incredible feeling especially to come home in an artistic space and to work with people who were the biggest supporters at the beginning of my career. To be back with ZIFF who were the sponsors of the first film I ever worked on. It just feels so right because you know there is no place like home. The blood just feels cool here,a�? she said.
Online Reporter