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Cape Town - Local actress Khanyi Mbau takes centre stage in a new thriller, that goes to dark places.
Channel24 reached out to the popular celebrity and asked her all about the movie, her character and more.
During our telephonic chat Khanyi revealed that she had to push herself to dark places to give her character authenticity and how that quest for authenticity brought up some dark things from her own past.
Here's our quick interview with Khanyi Mbau about her new movie:
Can you tell us more about your role?
I play a character by the name of Zama, she is a pregnant, highly expectant woman, who is married to very high profile business man, played by Aubrey Poo. The movie is called the Red Room. It’s a thriller. She loses her world when her husband kills himself. And then she is on the streets destitute, she’s picked up by this ‘American.’ She is then brought into a brothel. Well, it’s not a brothel as such but it’s where men go for their craziest fantasies. And it becomes quite dramatic and it forces the survivor in her to come out. And through this she becomes someone, who no one ever thought she could be. From being a soft woman to being taken to this place where she is kept as a slave; she has to fight for her own survival. It’s hectic it’s quite deep.
How is it different from other roles that you have played?
This is quite dark, it’s about sexual abuse, it’s about physical abuse, and it’s a dark film. I mean, probably just the first 15 minutes of the film are the lightest part, the happiest part then throughout the film it’s just journey of survival. And the roles I’ve ever played are about glamour, beauty, happiness looking fabulous whereas this is the gutter so you can imagine just how hectic it can possibly be.
What is most challenging about the role?
We’re still shooting. I am also a victim of physical abuse, so I am psyching myself up to go into those dark parts of my brain and my psyche. It’s scary to go to those places but it is what is necessary to portray this character. I’ll probably need therapy after this.
When will the movie be out?
The movie will be out in August , just around the corner. It will be in Ster-Kinekor cinemas.
