Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Correspondent
AFTER pulling off the monumental task of portraying a man despite being a woman herself, actress Chiedza Mhende has grown tired of the unwanted attention of people who stare at her breasts, trying to confirm her gender.
The Zimbabwean actress, who moved to South Africa 11 years ago, has stolen the show on Mfundi Vundla’s long running television production as, Wandile Radebe.
The role has earned the Zimbabwean actress plaudits, with many praising her sheer skill in pulling off the hard act of convincing viewers that she is a man.
So convincing has her display been on the revamped Generations that some are still in disbelief, with many turning their eyes to her breasts to confirm her gender.
“I don’t ever have to take off my top (to confirm my gender) because people stare at my breasts anyway. All the time. It has really empowered me and my body because I often have to say to people ‘you know you’re staring right?’. My face is there. That is what defines me,” she said in an interview.
As an actress on one of SABC’s flagship shows, Mhende has had to get used to people easily picking out her face from a crowd. However, she feels that the attention is overwhelming sometimes as some people virtually undress her with their eyes.
“I like people wondering whether I’m a male or a female. I shouldn’t have to say anything. Because we don’t walk around Adam and Eve style we don’t know what people’s organs look like.
“That’s what annoys me when people want to ask me questions because in my mind I’m like ‘if you could take your clothes off then maybe I would understand. What you’re doing to me is stripping me,” she said.
A woman playing a man brought a new dimension to the small screen, a fact that is not lost on Mhende who said that the groundbreaking role had also taught her a lot about herself.
“It has taught me that there’s a lot of learning that we still need to know about each other, definitely. There’s obviously the invasion into the lives of celebrities or popular figures. That just comes with the job.
“But with the sexual element to my character it really taught me so much about my own understanding of sex and the lack of understanding and discussion of sex that we’re not sharing with each other. I think it’s such a wonderful topic, a rich topic,” she said.
The role has also expended Mhende’s understanding and appreciation on the controversial subject of sex. By indulging regularly, she claimed, one could get to know themselves better.
“This might be difficult for parents or even my own parents but I will say proudly that the more you engage in sex gives you a deeper understanding of yourself. Even if the sex is happening with yourself I think then you know what makes you tick and what makes you grow because it’s a mental game too. So if your brain is on power then your life is on power too,” she said.