Natasha Mutungwazi

I’m known professionally as Natasha Heschélle, and I’m a Zimbabwean born Canadian Actress, Writer and Producer.

Two words to describe yourself:

“Won’t Quit”.

No matter how tough and impossible things may seem, no matter how many times I get rejected, I never give up. From my experience, I’ve learned that failure is just another opportunity for people to explore different ways to get what they want, which not only helps us grow, but also teaches us so many things about ourselves that we didn’t even know about. So really, quitting is never an option.

What inspired you to become an actress?

I think I was born an entertainer, because nothing else ever appealed to me. Even at the age of five, I was entered in modelling contests, dance competitions and numerous school plays and I loved it. I was very shy, and I still am...but being on stage, or on screen brings out my confidence and I’m very comfortable with it.

What pushed you to leave Zimbabwe at the age of 16 on your own?

The need to find opportunities to make my dreams come true pushed me to leave Zimbabwe on my own at such a young age. Sadly, there are limited opportunities for entertainers in Zimbabwe and I knew that if I stayed, I wouldn’t achieve the things that I wanted in life. I wasn’t about to let my dreams slip out of my fingers and not do anything about it, so I decided to leave and move to France whilst waiting for my Canadian visa application to be processed. It was a very big risk because I was extremely young, and I was all alone in a foreign country. Things got really tough, but it all paid off in the end.

How did you feel when you finally got reunited with your family in Canada?

Not only was I happy to be united with my loved ones, but also for the first time, I wasn’t alone in a foreign country and it made me feel really safe. I was also super excited because I knew that Canada had so many opportunities for me that I could chase after my dreams.

How come you studied sciences instead of performing arts?

Well, that’s what my family wanted me to do, study sciences and become a doctor one day. They often discouraged me from doing anything that has to do with entertainment because they believed that it wouldn’t take me anywhere - especially in Zimbabwe. And to be honest, they weren’t wrong. When I realized that they were right, I decided to take their advice, study sciences instead of performing arts. Actually no, I did not. I didn’t know how to. I did however perform as a dancer for big events like Miss Zimbabwe, and unfortunately I didn’t get the exposure that I wanted. I know I should have probably done more to get exposure, but with pressure from my family, coupled with the fact that I was a tad bit naive...it made it hard for me to try and pursue my career.

Describe your journey as a young Zimbabwean in the film industry in Canada?:

In two words, not easy.

At first, I was clueless, and I messed up a lot. For one, as soon as I got to Canada, I submitted myself to talent agencies and for auditions, yet I didn’t have proper headshots, a proper resumé and most importantly, training and experience. I was so driven and determined to achieve my dreams, but I went about it the wrong way. When I got rejected like 90 percent of the time, I realized something was wrong. I did my research and learned what I needed to do. So I studied acting at Seneca College, learned a lot of things about the biz, and things got a whole lot smoother from there on.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

I’ve had to work twice as hard. Apart from the fact that I’m a visible minority which really works against me, I’ve had to work on my accent to sound more “North American”. I was unable to get work for the longest time because of these two factors, but my hard work and determination paid off in the end, and helped me to overcome these challenges.

How supportive is your family when it comes to your acting career?

Right now, my family is actually very supportive of my acting career. My Mom is my number one fan, and I wouldn’t have gotten this far without her. Her company (Dawn of Angels Health) sponsored the web series, Zahara: The Return - because she has so much faith in me and I really appreciate it.

Who is your inspiration?

My Mom is my inspiration. She’s been through hell, but she never gave up on life, never lost her humanity. She continued to care of herself and her family in her darkest hour, and her heart is just filled with positivity and love. I think this is how I learned to not let anything stop me from shining. No matter how ugly things are, there is always hope and room for love and kindness.

Classique Q & A Magazine