By Darren Gilbert

Growing up, did you always dream of becoming an actress?

Not at all. I thought I was going to be a writer or nurse or go into IT like members of my family. I even considered journalism or advertising.

I tried out for an Eisteddfod in Grade 9 and the drama teacher at the time told me maybe acting wasn’t for me. That crushed my spirit.

It wasn’t until House Plays in Matric when I won best actress and got nominated for best actress in the 2006 RAPS Festival that I thought ‘maybe I can do this’.

You moved overseas two years ago to attend the New York Film Academy (NYFA). What was that experience like?

It was so daunting. I was alone. No friends and no family in the country. To pick up and leave everything you’re certain about is hard. But I would do it all again if I was faced with the same decision.

NYFA was so rewarding. All the instructors are working or retired filmmakers, actors, and theatre practitioners so I got to learn first-hand what it takes to make it in the industry and to hone and redirect all the skills I learnt back home.

What is the acting scene like in New York?

In South Africa, I found it wasn’t so much about what you know but who you know, so unless you were already part of the network, getting someone to give you a chance was going to be difficult. I find the same to be true here.

One of the lessons I learnt at the Academy is that casting directors hire people who they know, like, and trust. There’s a lot of money at stake and the whole world is watching. So, of course, it’s only logical to want to hire someone you know to be reliable, trust to be able to produce the required results, and is pleasant to work with. My job is to prove that I am that person.

So I have to become a business. These productions are looking to fill a vacancy and I happen to supply a service that fits their demand. It’s that simple. It has very little to do with talent. I’m sure we’ve all seen actors on TV or in a movie who we thought to be complete hacks. It all comes down to economics.

Can you tell us more about Dueling Voices and your reaction to being cast?

Dueling Voices is a Caribbean play written by Zeno Obi Constance and directed by Merlina Rich of Banana Boat Productions. It’s about the relationship between a high school student and her teacher and focuses on the affect their relationship has on them and the community surrounding them.
I play Ingrid, the students’ mother, who is trying to unscramble the mess her daughter has gotten herself into.

I was so excited when I got the part. I was finally a working New York actor. Failure isn’t an option, especially after watching so many of the South Africans I met here. I can’t let myself become a statistic.

My family has been nothing but supportive, so to finally tell them I had a part, especially in such a cutthroat environment, felt like I had won the lottery.

How was the audition for Dueling Voices? And how has the preparation for the production gone?

The audition was tough. It was an open casting call, so I didn’t really know how many people I was up against. I think my saving grace was the fact that I only got the audition material a couple of hours before I went in. Sometimes I overthink things and I get in my own way, so cold reading the material was very freeing.

The cast and crew are amazing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across people who were untrained or self-indulgent, and so to be around so many hard working, giving thespians who want to honour the work and know what they’re talking about is a blessing.

Furthermore, I’m in a part that I really enjoy. Ingrid is such an emotional character that it’s been such a pleasure to play her. The range of her emotions I need to bring to life are so vast and varied that I get to flex my muscles in a way that only the theatre can accommodate.

What does the role of Ingrid mean for you and your career going forward?

Ingrid is the springboard I needed straight after school. It’s given me the courage to continue and follow in the footsteps of NYFA alumni such as Camilla Luddington and Issa Rae.

It’s also helped me realise that I still have something. Moving here was not for nothing.

Any advice for aspiring actresses or actors back home?

What you’re doing is important. Don’t give up on yourself. Regret is a bitter pill to swallow, so if you think you can, you owe it to yourself to try. Effort will never betray you.

For more information, visit www.denisemosiana.com. Alternatively, connect with her on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.