Names in the African context, mean so much more than just being called somebody, they carry a family’s history, culture, heritage and feeling at that moment. Following the footsteps of fellow international stars such as Thandiwe Newton formerly known as Thandie, British Born actress, writer, director and humanitarian – Tanya Fear also reclaimed her full name, Tanyaradzwa, which means we have been comforted in the Shona language.
“I was named Tanyaradzwa because I was born the year my grandfather died.“
Born in London to an English father – Andrew Fear and a Zimbabwean mother – Yvonne Zolisa Marimo, Tanyaradzwa studied towards a BA Honours degree in Comparative Literature at one of the UK’s top universities, King’s College London. While studying for her degree, she was also forging a busy acting career which gave her a lot of confidence in her abilities.
“It showed me I could push through and follow multiple interests if I showed diligence and patience“
The stunning actress has been seen on productions such as Kick-Ass 2, Netflix’s Spotless and A Moving Image. In 2019, Tanyaradzwa was named one of 25 rising stars by the British Academy of Film and Television in Los Angeles (BAFTA LA). In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she wrote, directed and starred in the viral comedy series Shoot Your Shot, a romantic comedy exploring pandemic era love. This project garnered attention for its innovative use of AR filters and remote filmmaking, along with an all-star cast.
In a conversation with GLAMOUR, Tanyaradzwa Fear reminisces on her dreams as a young girl and how she was always the performer in her family. At a tender age, she would put up dancing and singing shows for her cousins and at every given opportunity. She describes acting as something she always loved but wasn’t sure if it was possible to pursue as a career. It was only at the age of 19 when she was in an acting school in Los Angeles, that she considered film and television as her pathway.
“I was very curious and I always read a lot. Growing up, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world through the transformative power of kindness, the emotive power of performance and the unique power of my own personal light.“
Her first Hollywood film was Kick-Ass 2, a movie she acted alongside acting titans Jim Carrey and Morris Chestnut, in 2013. Not too long, in 2016 she landed her first lead role in A Moving Image, a feature film challenging people to interrogate how the process of gentrification can have detrimental effects on existing communities with people that are unable to live in spaces they have built over the past decades. The film celebrates the African and Caribbean communities in South London and was directed by acclaimed director, Shola Amoo.
Tanyaradzwa’s acting career led to her joining British long-running, iconic, science fiction television programme – Dr Who, where she played Dr Jade McIntyre on BBC. She also has featured in major theatre productions.
“One of my favourite jobs was a play that I performed in at the Tricycle Theatre (now called the Kiln Theatre) in London. It was called “The Epic Adventure of Nhamo the Manyika Warrior and his Sexy Wife Chipo”, it was the first time I played an African/Zimbabwean character, which was a huge source of pride for me. The play was hilarious and I remember it as one of the greatest experiences of my life! It was written by Denton Chikura and directed by the legendary Lucian Msamati.”
Talking about some previous experiences prior to fully embracing her name, Tanyaradzwa mentions that growing up being of mixed-race was a challenge in the sense that society assumes things about you and tries to tell you who and what you are. Part of her personal challenges was accepting that she could be many different things and be nurtured by many diverse cultures, all at once. It hasn’t been an easy journey for the actress who mentions that her full name was always made fun of during her school days in the UK, leading to her being affectionately known as Tanya. Through her work, she aspires to build a kinder society, with justice and rehabilitation at the core of her interests.
“All of it is valuable”, by that I mean all your interests, your goals, your aspirations, shape who you are, embrace them. My dissertation in college was an exploration of Pan African themes and I studied the novels: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. It was an opportunity for me to explore what it means to be black in the diaspora versus on the African continent”
On reclaiming her full name, Tanyaradzwa mentions that It is important for her to join the chorus of African artists embracing their heritage. Working in Hollywood and on international productions, it was always easier for her to use the short version of her name in the efforts of accommodating everyone and facilitating easy pronounciation. But she reached a level when she realised that everyone around her could learn to say her full name if they are interested enough, above all, it was important for her to fully embrace everything about herself.
“It’s an exciting moment to embrace my full name publicly. I have always felt pride in this side of my culture: after all, I have a strong Zimbabwean mother who inspires me. I feel very privileged to be spreading the message of cultural pride, it’s been an honour receiving so much support from people all over the world.”
Photographer: Tinashe Charleson
Creative Producer: Gilmore Tee
Styling: Paper Bag Africa
Production Ass: Noel Goliath x William Simpindi x Jessie Mujuru
Production Venue: 14th Avenue Digital
MUA: Opulent Allure ZW (Amanda Dube)
Designers: Ganu by Ganu | Leverange | Sozinio | Bakhar
Twitter: @TanyaFear | Facebook: Tanya Fear | Instagram: @TanyaFear
Words by: Gilmore Tee
