‘We need to show the Australia we love’: actor calls for diversity
This South Yarra-based actor is excited for the future of Australian TV and film with the wealth of talent in the industry. But she says it is missing one key ingredient to take the next step.
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An award-winning South Yarra actor, creative producer and distribution consultant is calling on the television and film industry to start reflecting everyday Australia.
Ratidzo Mambo thinks it wouldn’t take much for the dozens of successful diverse Australian actors plying their trade predominantly in the US to return to their home country — but only if the roles are there.
Mambo took part in a four-day workshop run by Screen Australia which aims to diversify the pool of professionals developing Australian stories for the screen.
The workshop, in its third year, was initiated after an Australian TV drama analysis between 2011-15 found only 18 per cent of main characters were from non-Anglo Celtic backgrounds, compared to 32 per cent of the population.
Mambo, who was born in Zimbabwe, said a lot of her knowledge of Australia before arriving at school was through television shows.
“I grew up watching Neighbours, The Flying Doctors … that’s what was broadcast, to me that’s what Australia was,” she said.
But those actors she grew up watching, she is now working with — which is both “exciting and sad” for her.
“It’s the same kind of content, the same actors still on television,” she said.
“Halifax F.P. was rebooted, SeaChange was rebooted.
“It’s changing, but it’s not catching up fast enough to the rest of the world.”
Mambo recently returned to the Stonnington community where she has spent much of her adult life after six years in the US, buying and selling Australian content while acting where she could.
This included a spot on Glee, in theatre and many independent films and TV shows.
“With all the knowledge I gained in the distribution world, I want to come home and be part of the change,” she said.
“The Secret Life of Us changed everything for me … seeing Deb Mailman on TV, the love story, the roommates … that was the Australia I was living with at the time.
“All my friends were Italian, Greek, Asian, white Australian, that’s my everyday.
“My reality was being reflected, that was the beginning of being excited, this is happening.
“Now … I want to be part of telling the stories. I have lots to say, my friends have lots to say.
“But there is a lack of diverse people at the beginning of the story, when it’s being made: the writer, broadcaster or producer.”
Mambo said there was no reason why there shouldn’t be roles for an Asian love interest, an Indian or African doctor — “they exist in this country”.
“We need to see people who look like myself with an Australian accent just existing, as a neighbour, worker or friend, somebody you find on Bumble,” she said.
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Mambo is featuring in Stan drama series The Gloaming, which can be streamed from January 1, as well as feature film Escape from Pretoria with Daniel Radcliffe, which is in post-production and expected to be released in 2020.