BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– It seems Eswatini is fertile ground for talent taking over the international showbiz!
Taking in the footsteps of Richard E. Grant, a liSwati based in the United Kingdom, who has landed main roles in historic films is Eswatini-born actress Noma Dumezweni, who plays a main role in the live-action remake of the The Little Mermaid.
Dumezweni is also based in the United Kingdom and her acting career picked when she was made part of the Harry Potter cast.
In The Little Mermaid, Dumezweni plays the role of Queen Selina. Selina is an original character written for the film. According to some sources, she is a human queen and the adoptive mother of Prince Eric. She might have a connection to Ariel’s father, King Triton.
Not much else is known about her role or personality, but she is a supportive and wise figure for her son and his love interest. She has dark skin and curly hair, and she wears elegant gowns and jewelry. She appears in some scenes with Prince Eric and Ariel, as well as in the royal palace. She might have some influence on the plot, as she could help Ariel adjust to the human world or protect her from Ursula’s schemes.
According to MSN, The Little Mermaid is arguably Dumezweni’s biggest role to date, too. However, it isn’t her first time appearing in a Disney project, and some people will have spotted her on a couple of notable TV and streaming series as well.
When contacted for commented, Eswatini rennowed theatre actor Nqaba Tsela said Dumezweni’s role on The Little Mermaid deserved huge recognition.
“EmaSwati creatives are increasingly being mentioned in the international space and this is good for the country. It is showing the world that there is so much talent in Eswatini.
“The likes of Dumezweni and Richard E. Grant ought to come back to the country to impart knowledge and encourage Eswatini actors,” said Tsela.
According to Wiki Disney, Noma Dumezweni is a British actress who was born in Swaziland (Eswatini) to South African parents and went to England as a refugee when she was seven years old. She has won two Laurence Olivier Awards for her performances in A Raisin in the Sun and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, in which she played Hermione Granger. For Disney, she portrayed Penny Farthing in Mary Poppins Returns and will play Queen Selina in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. She is known for her versatility, charisma, and powerful presence on stage and screen.
