Tell us a little about your upbringing?
I am an only child and I grew up with my mom, dad and gran. The foundation phase of my life was such a blessing. My family and friends, who I am still close to, were extremely supportive. I grew up having a very intimate relationship with my gran and a lot of the things that I now cherish and care about are from her, because of the way she treated and cared for me. I was very much encouraged to be myself and to stand out. I was never insecure growing up!
When did you decide that you want to be an actor?
My family and friends are my greatest inspiration. They have always reminded me to hold onto my faith and believe in myself and my dreams. I also had an amazing drama teacher, Mr Christo Potgieter who made me realise that if I really wanted to pursue acting and drama, I needed to put time and dedication into it. It’s not just fun and games and I took that seriously. So, every day at school I’d be working on a monologue, reading books and understanding the craft. I then studied at Rhodes University where I continued to fall in love with acting and theatre.
You're also a theatre actor and director, please tell us more about this?
I love directing and writing. I really enjoy writing various South African stories. While I was at Rhodes, I was part of so many different kinds of plays from all around the world, and it was really interesting and fun to be able to understand different genres and ways of telling stories. But I really resonated with the South African way of telling stories. It’s so rooted in our history and I think it makes us understand ourselves better as black people and people of colour. A lot is not written down, it’s spoken and passed down to different generations through voice and music and I really enjoy that.
The last play I was in is was called Shoes and Coups and was written by a South African writer and director, Palesa Mazamisa. She wrote a play that was one of my favourite ones to act in and the process was great in that it was collaborative. Even though I was acting in it, there were moments where we could co-direct one another. It was sort of a workshop theatre and that’s what I love about theatre. I like to write about stories that are relatable and about things that people are feeling right now, and then try to bring in interesting critiques and arguments.
Who are your biggest influences?
I’ve always loved Johnny Depp. He has always been my number one from when I was very small. I really enjoy his portrayal of off-beat characters, which is kind of like my acting style in that I like to change my voice and accent. My other influences include Viola Davis, Shonda Rhimes, and Tessa Thompson. There are so many other actors that inspire me for different reasons. This is because you realise that everyone has had their own experiences in life, and those experiences shape the way you are and how you approach the craft.
How do you tackle the pressure that comes with your work?
I’ve always valued doing things that I enjoy, and I think that sometimes it’s difficult to do that when you have a family to look after and so many things going on. But I understand the value of taking care of your mind, you heart, and doing the things that you love. I think with the whole pandemic it’s even more imperative to be present, thoughtful and mindful of what you do and who you do it with. I enjoy taking time to do things that make me feel good. I workout every day and pray every day. I try to put good things in my body, and if I don’t feel like exercising then I’m not going to. I think it’s just about listening to your body and trying your best.
How do you boost yourself emotionally and physically?
Emotionally: The foundation once again is my faith. One example of what I mean by this is that I can wake up at whatever time and go workout, which is such a blessing, and I see that as something that I should be so grateful for. I see everything like that. I’m always in touch with my emotions. My mental wellbeing is imperative to me so I think about what I’m feeling and I try to write about it, and always ask questions like 'why did I react like that'? I think being aware of this has helped my mental wellbeing a lot.
Physically: I really enjoy feeling like I’m doing the best for my body. I’ve had issues with my gut health and it’s been challenging. What I've realised once again is that this is something that God is trying to show me and instead of being consumed by it, I figure it out. I went to doctors and I did it all the Western way, but I realised this is not the way for me. Now I’m only putting good things in my body, drinking as much water as possible, taking all the supplements, and staying conscious of what I’m doing and thankful for that fact that I can do it. Essentially, it’s all about being mindful and aware of what you’re doing to yourself – why you’re doing it and what you want – and then making the necessary changes one step at a time.
Catch Michelle in the film Silverton Siege on Netflix, out 27 April.