The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Spotlight on South Africa

Episode Date: January 2, 2022

In this collection highlighting guests from South Africa, Trevor interviews Zozibini Tunzi, Black Coffee, Nelson Makamo, Nomzamo Mbatha, Thuso Mbedu and Charlize Theron. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. Congratulations. Miss Universe. Has it sunk in yet? I don't think so. I think this is like my almost a week now. And yeah, and I think I'm getting used to it because the first people would be like Miss Universe. Has it sunk in yet?

I don't think so. I think this is like my almost a week now. And I think I think I'm getting used to to the first people would be like Miss Universe and I'll just continue going because that's not me. Miss Universe, you dropped something. Is that me? Jupiter, please, Miss Universe. But it is a surreal experience. I mean, like, because you won Miss South Africa and then you go on this journey to, you know,

to compete for Miss Universe. And I mean, you know, it's amazing women from all all, their, their, their, their, their, their, tha, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. Jupiter, thi, thi, thi, th. Jupiter, th. Jupiter, th, th, th, th, th, th, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, Jupiter, thi, I, thi, I, I, I, I, I, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'ma. thin, I'm, I'm, I'ma. Jupiter, thi. Jupiter, thi. Jupiter, th all around the world. The competition has evolved over the years to become more about what the women are thinking as well as how you look and what you want to do in the world. So it is a challenging experience to be on. Like, what was this journey? What has it been like for you? Oof, it's been interesting since I won Miss Africa and finding out that I got from back home, but it was challenging as well Because I had a new look that people were not used to and so I got crowned and I got a lot of different responses But I was quite excited about it regardless of what was happening in what in what way?

In what way? Tell me tell me about the responses because that's interesting because a lot of people might tell thinne? Because a lot of people might think that would be something. th that happens like in a Western country or another, but this was in South Africa. In South Africa. Yeah, you had won a predominantly black country and yet there were people who said to you, hey we love you but. But yeah so I first won and I got a lot of comments where you know a lot of people said oh is this the one this year? She's so underwhelming. I got comments like she's a downgrade from the others that we've had. And this was only from people in my country as well. And then it got more international as people found out that I was going to do Miss Universe.

And then international people as well started, you know, commenting in. And I think my most interesting one was when I came to New York for the first time, I think about four months ago. I came back to South Africa. It was quite, it was late in the evening and I took a photo from my apartment. And I was like, oh, such a beautiful night and a comment came in.

And I chuckle now, but at first I was like, what? This guy says, oh, it's quite, and I think it was in that moment where I was like, I'm not even mad. I'm not mad because I think it's just how society has labeled beauty to be. It's just how we've been programmed to look at beauty that way. You know, the furthest you are from being fair is the uglier you are.

And I just saw it as an education moment because I remember putting out a post, you know, just speaking about it, speaking about colorism, speaking about racism, speaking about how people need to see things in order to start believing in them. Right. And that was a big thing, especially for you, and I think so many people who saw you being crowned Miss Universe, was a moment where many people,

and this is what really interested me. I was proud as a South African. I was proud as somebody who's grown up on the continent, but what really got me is how universally, I mean for our planet, many people said, to see a dark-skinned woman win an accolade like this, but then to see a woman with natural hair when this, with her natural hair, beautiful. And that's, and that's what a lot of people, that's what a lot of people initially wanted you to change. People were like, why don't you get a weave?

Why don't you straighten your hair? Why don't you just straighten your hair? Why didn't you wear a weave? Because this is my hair? This was the first question I gave people. You know, because I don't think anyone tells other people to put on a weave so why why should I? You know for at first people like was this a strategy? I'm like to what? To wake up and be myself? And I was like no it's not a strategy. I've had you know short hair for three years and I wasn't going to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the th because the the the the their their their their their their their their their their their their people their people their their people like their people like their people like their people like their people like their people their people their people their their their their people their their their their people their their their their people their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their thea.a. thea. thea. Ia' thea' theateatea. people. people like. people like. people like. Ia. Ia. their s. People. People. I was their s. I was like, no, it's not a strategy. I've had, you know, short hair for three years, and I wasn't going to change because I was now stepping into a beauty platform.

Because then that means I don't think my hair is beautiful if I'm going to change it. And so I decided to keep it. You've kept it, and everyone is causes that you've been passionate about, you know. A lot of the time beauty pageants are associated with a superfluous world, but as I've said over the years, things are changing, the focus is changing, what people are trying to do is changing, and you've taken on a really powerful issue and that's been gender-based violence, which is far from like a flowery issue that many people would want to tackle. Why gender-based violence and what would you hope people would understand in and around

this conversation? You know, for me, I think my thing begin when I want Miss South Africa. And famicide and gender-based violence is very big back home. And I realize that it's not only a South African thing, it's a global issue because we have things like the Me Too movement. We have things like the Times Up movement. You know, women are fighting all over the world to be safe again in this world. Which is, you know, it's quite crazy to me to have to have movements where we're fighting just to be alive, just to keep our

lives. And I like to say, you know, women are an endangered species these days. I feel like one day we're just going to wake up and, you know, there's no women anymore. And it was so, I know, right? That's why I'm an ally. That would be horrible. Yeah. And so my thing is about gender-based violence is to bring in the men.

That's always been my message because people will ask women, what do you think we should do to fight this? And I'm like, why are you asking me? You know, I'm not the perpetrator in most of the instances. Why don't we call out on the people that are? And that has that has that has that has that has that has that has that has that has that has that has that has that has tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho the people that are? And that has been really beautiful because you have sparked a conversation, not just in South Africa, but on all the platforms you've taken around the world and saying, hey, we need men to be a part of this conversation, we need to be engaging men and saying, hey, here's

how you can do to be better, here's how men can call other men out in making women women safe because it's the men who are the perpetrators in this case. You are a week in to being Miss Universe, but it is now a journey that is going to take you over the course of a year. It'll feel like a lifetime. It'll be over in a moment. What are you most looking forward to? What are you excited to achieve? What do you just want to do in this period of your reign? I'm so excited to travel the world. I must say, oh New York is so cold.

Oh my God. I cannot. Oh, when I got here, I was like, I'd really love to fill my toes one more time. Yeah, I'm so excited to travel the world. I haven't really had the opportunity to travel before, and I think this is going to be quite an interesting one for me. I'm excited to have my messages and everything that I'm passionate about to just go across the globe. And one thing I always say is I don't want to feel like when I step out of this crown, that it was wasted.

I want to be responsible with it. And now I have a platform of, you know, I have 2.5 million people, thank you. Following me. And yeah, so I want to use that platform and whatever I do, it must just be purposeful work, you know, but also to build my brand as well, because when people ask me, what is this for you personally, for me, I say it's the beginning of building generational wealth for my family, because it's not something that we've had in the process. That is one part of your story that I think a lot of people will be surprised by.

Because, you know, it can often happen with, the first time people see you're wearing a crown, you're wearing a beautiful gown or a dress, and people go like, wow, this has always been you. But part of the reason many South Africans were proud is because of the story that came before your victories. And that was, you came from humble beginnings. Yes, I do. I come from a village, Kutzolo, in the Eastern Cape. Yeah, someone says yes, like the village? Yeah, I come from a village and you would know, but you know, they wouldn't know how it is. The Eastern Cape, I think, is one of the most impoverished places of the country. While I was fortunate enough to have a mother to, school principal and my dad who worked, at least I was able to go to school

but things are quite different for other people who grew up there. Right. And it's quite difficult to make it out of there and so I think because I grew up there and people saw me growing up there now, you know I'm Miss Universe, it's it adds like an element of hope to people who feel like they couldn't have been able to do it before. Welcome to the show. Thank you for having me. This is, you know, it's truly, truly, true, one of my pleasures to have you on the

show because you have taken the world by storm. I remember when you first blew up in South Africa. You know, everyone was just black coffee, black, black black coffee, black coffee, black coffee, black coffee, black coffee, black coffee, black coffee, and I was like, who is it coffee? Is it a drink? Is there a new drink that's out? What is going on? And it's like, no, there's a DJ and it's huge. And then you went from South Africa, and you went into the world and you the world and you the world and you the world and you the world and you tha, and you thua, and thua, and tho, and tho, and tho, and th. And th. And, and th. And, and th. And, and th. And, and th. And, and th. And, thi, thi, th. And, black, black, black, black, black, black, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, and, and, and, and, and, and, th. And, and, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, the the the the the t. that, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, and. And, and. And, and. And, and. And, and. all over the world. Doesn't it sound like your story? My story? Yeah. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Man, it's resilience, you know.

Man, it's resilience, you know, it's knowing hunger and knowing that you have experienced it and you don't want to go back there. Wow. It's working from nothing, knowing that you have nothing to lose. So whatever you gain is something. That is what has kept me going. That is what has gotten me to where I am today. What I also loved about your journey,

and I've always enjoyed, is that in South Africa and in Africa and many countries around the world, there was always an instinct for people to aspire to create like an American or to create like a European. What set Black Coffee apart for me was you made, you made the music of Africa, the music of South Africa, and the world fell in love with that. Was that like a specific choice you made, where you're like, I'm not gonna make European dance music,

I'm just gonna make my music, and it's gonna be big in the world? Definitely, and it hasn't been easy, you know, because there's hype that comes with the name, and then you get a big room. Right. Because, because, because, because, because, because, because, the, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, the name, their, their, their, their, th. thi, their, thi, th. th. th. th. th. It, th. It's, th. It's, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th, th, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their, their, their, th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the.a, thea, that, that, that, thea, that, that, that, thi, thi, thi, their with the name and Then you get a big room right because the name is so big and then but the music is So it's so maybe too soulful for the room. Oh, right right. So we've been through different phases trying to build That sound and it took patience. Yeah, you it took a lot of time. It took a good team behind me,

and it took love for what I do, man, to really push. It really is soulful. I remember at Coachella, I was so excited when I saw your name on the list of artists who were going to be performing. And you know, a lot of people think, like, I remember my friends, I was like, thi....... thiiiiiiiii, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, and I was a took, took, took, took, took, took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it took, and it, and it, and it took, and it, and it, took, took, and it's, took, and I was, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took, took a took, took a lot, took a lot, took, was like, guys, let's go to black coffee and they were like, what is, what is, no, I want coffee with milk. I was like, no, this again, no, no. Because everyone thinks that as soon as you say, do you like, do you like black coffee? People are like, ah, a bit of sugar, a bit, a no, it's different. You're dancing to it, but it's not. Because people always think of like,

dig-de-dick-de-dick-de-, dig-de- I know. I know. That's what people think of. Yeah. Whereas your music has a, and I'll. Yeah, no, it was really beautiful. It was really beautiful. You, you've done something really special for me though,

or in my opinion, and that is you've taken the success of your music, and you've used it to inspire a new generation in South Africa. You started a project where you are building a school. But I think more impressive, you're building a neighborhood. Yeah. What is that about and why? We're trying to, and I'm going to say we, because I'm working with other people. It's myself, it's Nelson Magamo who was here before.

Right, the artist, yeah. It's Laduma, Mogolo, who was coming. Right, the designer, yeah. It's Laduma, Nogolo, who was coming. Right, the designer, yes. Yeah, yeah, he's coming, right? What, are you warning me? I'm telling you. He's coming to this show. We, we try to change the narrative about the continent where maybe it is our fault where we, we always seen Africa as an inferior place. All the best things were on TV, which means that we're here in America or in Europe. And it took away so much from the continent, and we try to reverse that and and and create a space in Africa that will inspire Africans to want to stay and create a future. Right, it's powerful. It's really powerful because you have you you have this initiative and it's called

Africa is not a jungle yeah and what I love about it as you say it's about Africans creating for Africans and not always looking to Europe to create for them. Which is a powerful statement to make. When you look at your journey as black coffee, I mean you went out into a very competitive world. Dijing is not like an easy thing to just break into especially when you have a different sound. What happened to you DJing? What, me DJing? Yeah. Yeah, I used to DJ. I actually used to create music as well. And then I sent you a few samples and nothing has. I mean, I'm glad you brought it up not me.

But I mean, I sent a few. No one has ever gotten back to me about my. Is this water? Yeah, I mean, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, there's, I, there's, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I. I, I. I. I. I. I. I, I. I, I. I. I, I. I, I, I. I, I, I, I. I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I'm, I'm, th. I'm, th. I'm, th. I'm, th. th. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. I, th. I, I, I, I, mean, there's nothing in here, but we can act like we're drinking. Just to get rid of the awkward situation. But yeah, what do you hope to achieve with the music around the world? You know, because I've always been intrigued by the message that you have when you're playing your music. We see you collaborating with people like Drake.

We see you, you know, people like Usher, we see, we see artists who you wouldn't even associate with this genre saying, no, I love Black Coffee because of his message and how it pertains to music as an art form. What are you trying to accomplish all over the world with your music? Africa has a voice, and over the years I feel like that voice has diminished because of how the world has painted the continent. You know, one of the things that used to happen with me, when I get bookings back in the day, they would want to put like bongoes and African masks on the flyer.

Wow. You know, because I'm from Africa, so. We all wear masks and have bongoes. It's something that we something that we really fought for from the beginning to say, look, we want to play on the global stage, you know, which is what you're doing. Right, right, right. You know, I would like for the world to see that voice. I'd like for the world to know that we are capable to be on the world stage. This is why I continue to try and collaborate with the greatest artists, being from Africa

though, and still keeping the sound that I believe in. Because we have that voice. So I'm trying to create different platforms that will showcase that, not just conversation, but with action. Art has always felt like it's been like a European thing, you know? It's like, that's art. And then it's like, the Africans make nice things. They'd be like, oh, this is cute? Where did you pick this up? But you're starting to shake that? You're starting to change all of that.

You just came back from your own showing in Paris, you know, where people, like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like like their their the shake that, you're starting to change all of that, you just came back from your own showing in Paris, you know, where people like your artworks all sold out. Who is Nelson Makamo and why do you think you're experiencing this success in the art world? Wow, I mean, I don't even know where to start. I mean, art has always been part of me. Right. Growing up, I was born in a small town in South Africa. It was quite interesting because growing up, twice were never actually an option as a black

child. Right. So you had to create your own choice. So my foundation of art started from there. I started actually making toys from clay. And then from there, studying from primary. It was quite interesting because I, I mean, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, clay. And then from there, studying from primary. It was quite interesting because, I mean, South Africa, as you know, in the 80s, post-apartheid,

yeah. We were limited in terms of choices. Art was never an option. So as a child, you were told to either become a doctor, you know, you become a teacher, a lawyer. Yes. That's what your parents hoped you would do. That's what my parents were actually hoping for me to do. Drawing is not an option for like a young black child.

That's exactly that. But I was actually... I was fortunate enough to have a mother who truly believed in my talent that from an early age. Right. And but it was also quite interesting because she never saw that as something that I would also make a living out of it as well. You've made more than just a living now. I mean you've gone from being a successful artist in South Africa to a world-renowned artist. I mean you know people come to South Africa to view

your art to purchase your art and to purchase your art. And I mean, everybody, you know, from Alicia Keys through to Oprah Winfrey. I mean, I remember Oprah telling the story of how she came to your building. Yeah. And you have a building in the heart of Johannesburg in South Africa, and there's no elevator. Actually, that was quite one of the most interesting stories because I was on the fourth floor. Yes. There was no elevator.

So she had to take the stairs from the first, from the ground floor to the fourth floor. Right. She wasn't happy at all. Because my favorite was Oprah, Oprah tells her, she's like, Oprah doesn't climb for anybody. Oprah was like, I'm not going, where's this guy? Why is he not coming with the arts? And Nelson's like, no, this is where the studio is. But she came to you and she fell in love with the art,

and as many people have. Why do you think it connects with so many people from different walks of of. Because so many people would think of thoan a the privileges that I actually had was, I mean I studied in a community-based college. Right. And I applied for residency, which I went to Italy for three months. I think having to have an experience of outside South Africa that has actually helped me to sort of view things not only from an African perspective, but to actually look at things from a global perspective as well.

I started creating work more like a language, a universal language, in a way that it was quite interesting because the first thing that I did was to use a child as a subject in my work. Yeah, we've seen some of those amazing pictures. You've got these images of children, and I think on the cover of time they called it the art of hope. You know, because it showed South Africa and Africanness in a very different way for so long we've seen art that makes it, it's all about poverty, it's all about pain, it's all about suffering and here these images you can, they're open to interpretation but they feel hopeful,

they feel young, they feel like children who live in Africa and the scale of them is also huge. I mean we have some pictures of you you know like working on some of your artworks you you have giant giant pictures that you create. Why the children, why their eyes, why the glasses, what is what does that symbolize? You know I think another thing that I actually realize as time goes I realize that you know and art I mean when you look at art doesn't matter I mean I got inspired by the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the you you you the you the you the the the the you you the the the the you you th th you th you th you know thi you know you know the you the you know you know you you you you you you you you you you you you you you the the the their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the work work work work thi thi thi thi thi. thi. thi. thi. things. I thi. thi. I thi. thi. I was thi. I was thi. th I mean when you look at art doesn't matter I mean I got inspired by Picasso which he was none non African right then you start realizing that and ironically Picasso was inspired by Africans that's that's exactly that as well that then you realize that there was something

there that says that as people we don't necessarily in terms of culture I mean the way we live the world today we all sort of aspires modest to same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same to same the same the same the same the same the same the same to same the same the same the same to same the same the same to same the same to same to same to same to same the same the same to say to say the same same the same the same the same the same same same same the same the same the same the same the same. the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same the same that's the same today, we all sort of aspire more or less to the same thing as well. Right. I had to use a reference that was too close to me, which was a child, an African child. And the reason why I also did that was the fact that if you look at how the image you realize that none of those things it's almost like a taboo. Yes. And I had to go back and actually reintroduce how

the way we are as Africans, to actually say that we are more or less the same as any other person in the world as well. Right. We're inspired by beauty. etc. And we're also inspired by beauty. Right. We follow culture. We love music. Today when you go to Africa you have a child who's got a smartphone. That actually tells you in terms of where we are as people as well. My thing and my view and how I've actually also drawn the inspiration from the world. The advantage of traveling has made me to also look at my environment as a source of inspiration as well. And why did I actually also

had to blow them and make them so gigantic is to actually bring them up close and personal. And when I did that I realized that it actually also created a dialogue that as human beings we experience the same thing. We experience the same joy. We all sort of have, we go through the same experiences in life as well. We go through the same political, we go through the same struggles as well. So as a young African who actually been given an opportunity to sort of like rewrite history

and reintroduce our image to the world, I had to go back and look at myself and say, if I were to sort of represent ourselves globally, what language will I use? I had to actually use a universal language. I had to use a child who is close to me as a point of reference, but that child is like any other child in the world. We don't actually choose to be born in certain spaces as well. Actually for me it was such a blessing to be born in a continent that has so much history

that allowed me to actually tell that history what is actually currently happening as well. Take the very same inspiration that I've actually drawn globally, combine it and putting it in an artwork as well. Nomza Mombata, welcome to the Daily Social Distancing Show. It feels good. It feels good to have somebody pronounce my name and surname, very correctly. I practiced for a very long time, just so you know, okay? It was like, I said the whole day, I was like, Nomzamobatha. And then I practiced, then I practiced, and I practiced, yes. And I just sat there and I was like, I'm gonna practice. How are you?

I'm so good. All the more better for being here. Oh, are you kidding? Are you kidding? This is an amazing day for me because not only do I get to celebrate you as a fellow South African, I get to celebrate your success in the most successful movie, I'm the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most most most most most most most, the most most, the most most most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most, the most successful.s.s.s.s, the most successful.s.s.s.s.s. the most successful.s. the most successful, most successful, all most successful, most successful, most successful.e. the most successful. the most most most most successful. the most successful. the movie that broke Amazon Prime coming to America. Congratulations on not just being part of the biggest film, but also being one of the breakout stars. I mean, do you ever take a moment to think about how amazing that is? Eddie Murphy, James Old Jones, Wesley Snipes, you know,

Leslie Jones, Jermain Fowler, and so many people are like, man, that nomzamo, she's amazing. It is crazy. I mean, honestly, it's been an out-of-body experience for the longest time, but I think you would be able to let me know, you know, how to, you know, go about this Hollywood thing because having to call Eddie Murphy, yeah. You know, when Eddie came on to set or Assinio, and it's not a senior hall or Wesley, so, yeah, it's been an amazing amazing journey journey, and a very incredible, out-of-body, coming together, like a full circle moment for me. Your coming to America's story was almost as crazy as the original coming to America's

story, because you had to audition for this movie. You went in the country when you were doing it. Walk me through the story of how you came to be one of the stars in the movie. So it's crazy. I'm in the UAE. I literally flew from New York to Switzerland to the UAE. By the time that I'm in the UAE, I'm supposed to fly back to South Africa because I was supposed to go and host the South Africa Music Awards. Yes. Right. I get a call the night before this one. You can send a self-tape but you want to be in the room. And I was like, listen, I've spent so much money flying in and out. These auditions are not working out

and I'm not going to spend another penny. And he said, well, it's for a lead in coming to America. And I'm like, well, I don't know. Why, let's say it. So I literally changed my flight from flying out of Abu Dhabi to South Africa to a new flight from Dubai to LA and so I canceled that and I drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, caught a flight from Dubai into LA and I made them to, onto the offices of Leah Butler and I did my audition. It is quite a feat, you know, because I mean getting into an American film is already a big jump. Getting into a, you know, a major marquee film is another jump, but I mean to be seen as one of the breakout stars of it is the ultimate, ultimate, ultimate celebration of what you have done.

And you know, like Eddie, for instance, even said, he's like, you have the most authentic accent. He's like he loved how you were doing the thing. You know, you play Germain Fowler's barber in the story, you know, and the love interest, and what's cool about the story is you don't, you don't know which way it's going. You're like, are we gonna stay in Zamunda? Or are we gonna go back to America? But here, but here you're and they work, you know, you can go to another country and you can work. And then if you're British, you can just go to another country and then you work. But as a South African, there's such a big process behind, like, you had

to go to get a visa and everything, right? They had to approve you to come and do the job. I mean, first of all, you're coming into America, to, to, to, to, to, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the, their, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, is, the, the, th... their, you're, their, their, the, theirist to being somebody that's employed in America. So it's a whole process. I mean, I remember even when, you know, I got a call to make it back to the States, it was like you need to come back, you need to sign papers so that we can give you, you know, your official 01 visa and go back to thetell you, I was like, I really genuinely deserve this movie. Because I've worked pretty hard for it. Did anybody say anything to you at the visa place? Because I remember one of my favorite things about the process, Americans don't realize

you do this. So to everyone who's watching, who doesn't understand, this is how it works for a lot of in for the interview, and then Americans can accept you for the job, but then you have to go back to your country so that Americans in your country can stamp your passport and put a visa in your passport so that you can come back to the country, which is America so that you can get the job. And what happens in between is you get, you get like, you meet some of the process. So on my side, I'll never forget. The guy who was working, you know, immigration, he looked at my visa and he's like, yo, your visa says you got an O1. And I said, yeah, and he said, oh, one means you the best of the best. And I said, yeah, oh, one means you the best. And he's like, oh, one means you the best. And he's like, oh, oh, well, I don't know about things. Like, what do you do? I said, I'm a comedian. You to Michael Jordan of comedy? I was like, I don't even know what he's like,

A man, if I see your jokes and they're not funny, you're going back to your country, you hear me? And then he stamped my passport and I came in. So I wanted, like, did you meet, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. th. th. th. th. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they, they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they. they a threat as well. She saw my own one and she said, hmm, it says paramount. And I said, yes, she says, well, what do you do? And I said, I'm an actress, oh, which movie? And I said, oh, coming to America. And she was already, you know, I said, coming to America. And she stopped writing, she looked up, she said, don't mess it up. So, no one wants to.

No, we want to make a good movie. Movies on your shoulders, girl. You don't, if I'm watching that movie and it's how I'm going to come find you and take your passport and you're going back home. Please don't. Please don't. Please don't. I like it.

No, it's only, and they're just like, oh, no Zamo, you've done it for us. It's a new journey now, and I know it's scary and it's a crazy time to come to America during a pandemic, but you have dreams, you have hopes, you have aspirations. What are you hoping to do now do the work that I do, to continue to work with the United Nations, the refugee agency, to continue to make more films. Right now I want to get into producing as well. I think I'm in that space, just like that creative. What are

you doing for life though? Because this is a question I love asking people who've just to a new country. Like so do you have any favorite things?? I I to you have like because it's pandemic plus a new country. So what is what is your like normal life now? Do you have any normal? You know honestly it you when you come to America I think you've you've said this before about the eating so there's the first couple of months of just eating and thinking that it's not going to go anywhere and then you want to go home and everyone says to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. I. I. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I.... I. I.. I. I... I. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. t t t t the t the the the the the the the the the the the the the their. their. their. their. their. their. their. thinking that it's not going to go anywhere. And then you want to go home and everyone says, my goodness. I'm not a kind of so good to you. You're cheats. So I try not to eat a lot. But also, you know, I love chicken sandwiches.

I didn't think I love chicken sandwiches as much as I do. I enjoy chicken sandwiches. What's the most American thing that, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, tho, thi, thi, thin, thin, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I'm, I'm, the the the the the the tough, they....... And, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, the, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I do. I enjoy chicken sandwiches. What's the most American thing that, oh, oh, the crossing of the street was kind of very hard for me in the beginning, honestly. Looking the wrong way? Yeah, definitely. I was trying not to die in America. It's very expensive to transport a body home. So yeah, there was just those kind of things that I was going to, but honestly, it's very hard to come in to come to come to come to come to come to come to come to come to come to come to come to come... th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. the kind thi. thi. thate. the kind the kind the kind that. th. th. th. thi. the kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind the kind the kind th. the kind the kind the kind of the kind of th. th. the kind of the kind of th. the kind of the kind of the kind the kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind of to come, to kind of to kind of to kind of to kind of to kind of to kind of to kind of to kind of to to to kind of th. th. th. thoooooo. th. th. th. th. th hard to come into a new country as a person who's on the other side. So I had a lot of culture shock, a lot of culture shock, but there's a lot of learning as well. So, I mean, what do I do?

I haven't hiked. I haven't done, I haven't done the normal, umoristy things. I haven't gone to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, so, you know, I'm taking it slow. Oh, I love it. So what you need to do is, I'll give you a few tips for LA, what you need to do. You need to get like a really nice dog, and then you need to go for a hike. But then you need to dress as if you didn't care, but you have to dress as if you're on a runway. And then you go for the hike. I need to have a bottle of water as well. But it must be like a special type of bottle. Like it must be a bottle that says something about you as a person. Very natural, but not too natural. Very, very natural.

And then like, yeah, and then just enjoy LA. Be yourself, but just be who you thrown. Just be who you think you should be. And you'll have a I tell you the thing for real though is that's the great thing about what you're doing. What a lot of people do is you are you and people are loving you for that. I think that's why you're successful in the movie. You play the character fantastically. And I think when people meet the real nomsum-zamo in real life somebody taking away that passport. Thank you so much for joining me on the show. And I call way to see you when the lockdown

ends. Yes, yes, yes, yes, please. Stay safe, okay? All right. And we're so proud of you. So I'm bad. Yes, Encours, in cures. Yes. Thanks, Trevor. Bye. Bye. Tues. Thank you. Thank Trevor. Bye. Thank to the Daily Social Distancing Show. Hi, Trevor, how are you? I am fantastic because I'm speaking to somebody who is not just from my home country, but somebody who is also moved to America and is making a name for themselves. I'm less happy for your success and more happy that I have somebody to share South African stories with and eat South African food. That's that's really

what I'm excited about. But congratulations, first of all, on not just making it into the industry, but making it in such a big way. What has that journey been like? And please tell me, how on earth did this happen for you? I don't even know where to start, but I heard of the Underground Railroad in November 2018. I was in New York for the International Emmy Awards and I did like the first audition then. And I sort of just forgot about it because I didn't think anything of it. I was like, this is my first international audition.

I don't even have the accent right. It's just like, go there, do your best. And then I came to LA and top of 2019. And then I was I was I was I was able I was able I was able I was able I was able to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make the to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to make to the the the the to make to make to make to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the their. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their. their. the the the the the th.o. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their.o. their. their. Topov 2019 and then I was able to make it into a room with Francine Maesler who was the casting director for Underground Railroad. And then at the end of that night, I got a call from my manager telling me that it was a callback and that Barry wanted to meet me the next day. Barry Jenkins. Barry Jenkins.

And I'm like, wait, I'm, you know, I of all, Colpeg Howe when I don't, I didn't even know, I wasn't rather like emotionally, mentally, you know, like just, yeah. And so I met Barry the next day. At the end of it, he actually looked at me and he said, you are the character. I'm not saying you got the role, but Cora is true. And then in those two weeks between meeting Barry and the tissue. I read the book like twice in preparation for that. And I was like, you know what? I want to do this, but I don't know if I have it in me

to serve the character as authentically as she needs to be served. But I'll just do my best, and then the rest is up to Barry. So what makes the story so difficult to tell is you're talking about one of the most painful periods in American history and that is slavery. When you're playing this character, it must have felt strange and yet familiar to be an African woman playing a story about Africans who are displaced and put into America. What was that journey like for you in building and creating that character? So for me, most importantly, I realized very early on that I had a lot of unlearning to do in order to learn the truth and the same that what I knew about the enslaved body in America was shaped by media and a very white male

gaze so that serves a particular agenda. So I have to throw all of that away and completely you know be open to new information. Barry sent me stuff to read. He sent me audio tapes to listen to audio tapes of former enslaved people. And it's when I heard them like the sound and how they spoke that something in me really shifted. Because here I was listening to people who are 75 years old, you know, 90 years old, but they sound 16. And the English that they speak is broken. And it made sense because they were being taught English for instruction and not English for conversation.

Right. And it really struck me is that the broken English that they spoke in English that if you went to South Africa to day, that's how people in the rural areas or in the townships speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, told, told, told, told, told, to, too, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, to South Africa today or parts of Africa, that's how people in the rural areas or in the township speak today. So when that hit, it stopped being an African-American story and became a story about Africans in America. And so it would hit much closer to home for me. What was the hardest thing for you to do in playing the character and trying to tell that story as authentically as possible? You know, man, I think the hardest thing to do was actually outside the world of the character, which was keeping a balance and, you know, being aware of who Tuso is and who the character was.

Because it's very easy to take on what the character is feeling and have it bleed into your everyday life, especially because what's happening in the story is still very relevant to what is happening today. And the character is shaped by this huge sense of loss, rejection, abandonment, and she kind of has to fight to get that what she wants, which is ultimately her freedom. And you know, being a black woman, being a black body in the world today, I'm not even going to say just America, those are the same type of struggles that we see. You know, it's just, it happens to be in a different time.

So I had to be very, very self-aware. Babps. aware, oops, babes, when you're feeling this way, that's the residue of the character and not just... Yeah, but otherwise on set I always felt protected. I completely trusted Barry. When he pushed me, I knew it's because he knew I was capable of doing it. You are now pushing yourself to explore new horizons in the US. I mean, you are already lining up projects and one of the most exciting that we've seen is that you are going to be teaming up with none other than Viola Davis herself. Tell me a little bit about that and how that came about and what you're going to be doing in that. In the very first audition I

was already working with the director Gina Prince by the wood. She was, you know, it was a whole working session stretching me, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, the, the, th. th. th. the, th. th. th. th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the thi, the thi, thi, the thi, the thi, thi, the the the thi, the the the th. thi, the the thi, the thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, the th, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the thi, thi, the thi, the thi, thi, thri, thri, thri, thri, thri. theeean, thri. thean, they, thei. theeean, then she did something to me she said at the end of it she says good luck and I said no you can't say good luck. Because now imagine going to an interview and then they say good luck with all your other interviews it means no hope for me and I was like but I want you to be my good luck we must work right right yeah and then I think a few days later we had a meeting and I got a chance I was like, but I want you to be my good luck. We must work. Right, right, right. Yeah. And then I think a few days later, we had a meeting and I got a chance to meet, oh, Viola. And I absolutely loved it because from the interviews I've seen up her, her process is my process. And I was like, I'm going to learn a lot from her if I get to work with her. And then eventually we were able to to learn a to to to to to to to to to to the to to the to to the to to to to they. to work to work to work to work to work to work to work to work. to work. eventually we were able to do the test shoot and then tada we're shooting it in South Africa it's gonna be awesome I'm excited. Oh well they they I feel like you've achieved the ultimate goal you come to

America you make it in America and then you find a way to make the American production go shoot in South Africa and look at that you've just got a free round trip. Congratulations. I am so happy to be here. I don't think you understand how excited I am. I am not afraid to share this. When you won your Academy Award, I remember I was sitting and I owned a tiny little Foxwagen Golf and I was in it and they had announced that you won the Oscar, and I started crying, and I was like,

she's so good. She's so, like all of South Africa, and I was like, she's so amazing, she's so amazing, and I was like, she's so amazing, so gold. And so go, and I you got this time. You cried as well? And I said he's so amazing, he's so so guled. Thank you very much for being here. Wonderful to have you here. So happy to be here. You are a bona fide action star. I mean, Atomic Blonde is based on a graphic novel. You spend, what, five years developing this story? For those who have no clue what it's about, real real quick what is atomic blonde all about? It's, it MI6 agent who gets sent into Berlin five days before the wall falls. And she's supposed to just go and recruit a colleague's body and bring the body back,

and then she gets kind of caught up trying to find this list, and all sorts of action ensues. Yeah, action ensues is an understatement. I have never seen more people being kicked in my life. Like, this is just excessive kicking. It's amazing. And you are kicking them, by the way. I, like, I've seen you kick ass in a movie, but not like this. You, you, uh, you did a lot of your stunts?

Yeah. Is this like a new thing? You just don't like how you look? It's kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind an old thing. I feel like South African girls are just tough. There's something in the water in South Africa, right? Colera. No, that's not true. That's not true. We actually have some of the best water in the world. That's not true.

Some of the rivers have a problem, but the water is good. Let's change the gears for a moment and to the to to to to to to to to to to to to to to talk, You have a foundation that has been really successful working in and around South Africa and in Africa, the Charlest Theron foundation that you work with people to help and fight the scourge of HIV and AIDS. I mean we joke about that all the time and it's funny because back home we joke about it more than people are comfortable with in America. Oh, because I think part of it has been like, we're trying not to stigmatize. You want to turn the light on in the black room.

Yes. Yeah, we don't want it to feel like the thing that people are whispering about or nobody's talking about. So I get that, I think, I think, I think, sometimes you have to to, the work, the work, the work, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, the, to, to, to, the, to, to, the, to, to, to, to, the, to, to, to, to, to, the, to, the, to, the, the, too, too, too, the, the, the, the light, the light, the light, the light, the light, the, the light, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, they... they. too, too, tooomroomr. tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, too, too, too, they world countries or do you think now that Trump is turning America into a third world country people are more focused on what here? Do you still have attention in what you're doing? I might have to bring my work back here. The foundation moves. Look South Africa is unfortunately the hardest hit when it comes to HIV AIDS still today but we're also, you know, it's a virus and it's still very much alive

in America. It kills a lot of adolescents in America. And so I think it's a big mistake to think that we've come this far and you know we have medications and ARVs and everything's going to be okay. It's a virus and if it comes back, it might come back roaring and our bodies might not be taking to those ARVs anymore. So I think that it's a big mistake to kind of be complacent right now when it comes to AIDS. Let me ask you one final thing.

As a fellow South African. I love it when you say that. As a fellow South African. As a fellow South African, I've always wondered, you know, you came to the US at a different time, but I always wondered if you had a similar experience of people wondering what South Africa is and Africa is. I know that I had some people look at me and go like Africa, Africa, and I'll be like, yeah, I'm from Africa and they're like, huh, not like Egypt or Alger? And I'm like, no, Africa, like, you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you, you know, you, you, you know, you know, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you, you, Africa, and I'll be like yeah I'm from Africa and they're like, huh, not like Egypt or Algeria? And I'm like no no Africa, like just Africa. But you don't look like what many people would think they would find in South Africa. Yeah I get the, not Sweden? Sweden? Yeah I mean I think it's strange for people to see a white girl say she's from Africa. Right. There are white the white girls in Africa too. And we have I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I they they they they they they they they they they they they they have I they have I they have I they have I they have I they have I they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're like like like like like like they're they're they're like they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're their their their their their th. th. I their their their their their their their their th. their their th. I th. I they're they're they're they're they're There are white girls in Africa too. And we have the

booties to prove it. But I always get, I don't know if you get this, a lot of times I get, so did you grow up with zebras in your backyard? Yes. Did you get that a lot? I did. And then one day I fumed it. I was like, that's not what it is. We don't just have zebras running around and we don't have. And then the next day in the news, there was a story of a zebra that was blocking traffic on the freeway. And I was like, that's an isolated incident. That's never happened before. We are about much more than that.

Yes. Exactly. but not all the time. Yes, exactly. Not all the time. Of the two things, I just have to ask for those back home, what would you say is the biggest thing you miss about South Africa? Because I mean, we get that you're a Hollywood star, A-list, the work is where you are. But what is the one thing you go like man, South Africa. One thing is tough. I mean, it's most like I miss. I miss milk thart. I. I. I. I. I. I. I miss all. I miss all. I. I miss all. I miss all. I. I. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss all. I miss the the the the the the the the the biggest. I miss. I miss the biggest. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss the biggest. I miss the biggest. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I miss. I the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. dish and bracht a broi. See, see this is going deep. Yeah, and pop and sauce and all of that. I miss all of that. But you know, I think, I'm lucky. I get to go back at least once a year, if not twice a year, because of my foundation.

And then I just pig out. But, you know, I, there's something in the soil there. There's something in the air. There's something in the people that you just can't find anywhere else. Watch the Daily Show, weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes any time on Paramount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central podcast.