Nomzamo Mbatha from South Africa boasts an impressive acting portfolio.
Three years after her first international breakout role in Eddie Murphy’s Coming 2 America, she takes the lead in the sci-fi thriller Assassin, sharing the screen with the legendary Bruce Willis in his final role.
Her diverse roles include the long-running hit drama Isibaya, the award-winning film Tell Me Sweet Something and South Africa’s most Googled TV show last year, Shaka iLembe, as Queen Nandi, where she also served as the executive producer.
Actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed first with aphasia in 2022 and then about six months later, he received an additional diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia; A group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the brain’s frontal lobes.
She talks about working with Bruce Willis in his last film ASSASSIN
This was Bruce Willis’ last role. How was it to work with him and what lessons did you take from him?
I enjoyed working with him so much.
He still has that amazing smirk …….. the Bruce Willis smirk.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from him is the beauty of humility. The fact that you can be the biggest star in the world but still greet everyone on set, just taking a moment to make people feel seen.
It was beautiful to witness. It stuck with me that you lose nothing by being a global superstar but still have humility as your core.
What drew you to the role of Alexa in Assassin?
I loved the idea of delving into the thriller and sci-fi genres because I haven’t had the chance to explore them before. When I got the opportunity to sit down with the director after completing all the auditions, we realized that with sci-fi, thriller, and action, there’s a lot of emotion and heart involved.
I really wanted to portray a complex character, who also experiences surprise in the end. But more than anything, I wanted to challenge myself in a different genre, to add sci-fi thrillers to the list of films and projects I’ve accomplished.
You were the only South African in Coming 2 America and again, you’re the only South African in Assassin. What does it mean for you to get a lead credit in a Hollywood film?
It’s really inspiring and affirming in the sense that you are on the right path and the universe is saying yes to your dreams. I’m someone who doesn’t sweat the small steps and the small wins.
I always feel that things are moving forward and everything is a building block. That’s a beautiful thing about being South African and being celebrated for achievements, not only in Hollywood but also even on the South African stage.
It’s that warm feeling, support, and love.
How important is it to see Black women diving into sci-fi roles like your role in Assassin?
The more of us there are, the better, because then we break the mould of old Hollywood that says Black people can’t be in sci-fi or that Black people don’t fit well into those kinds of roles.
It was very important to be a representation of something that breaks the mould, and I think we continue to be in the conversation to be considered for those kinds of roles.
What are some of the prominent themes in the film?
The themes of strong and courageous women, identity, love, and scientific exploration are prominent in the film because we incorporate human drones.
What does that even look like to be a human drone?
It implies transforming into something otherworldly and being able to tap into different realms and times.
Stream ASSASSIN on Showmax from May 13