This month the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and Netflix presented a panel and early screening of the Netflix original series “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker” in New York. The series chronicles Walker’s life as a single black mother and entrepreneur in a post Civil War America; it presents a riveting portrait of the disenfranchised challenging the status quo and succeeding to an absurdly disproportionate degree. Walker's success is an inspirational display of a fight for day-to-day survival transitioning into a million dollar cosmetics empire. In the same vein, her Walker's wealth emphasizes the demand for innovation within often overlooked and stigmatized market of African centric beauty and cosmetics.

So leaps in Nettie. Played by Zahra Bentham, Nettie Random is a highly educated, wife of ‘Ransom’ played by Kevin Carrol. Nettie is a part of the Indiana Coloured Women’s Club, a non-profit whose efforts later expanded to provide a network and forum for club members to share information on social issues, such as opposition to lynching, racism, discrimination, and inequality, as well as other concerns, including housing, unemployment, education, and healthcare. This is where Nettie and Sarah Breedlove, played by Octavia Spencer, develop a partnership and begin the formal operations of Walker’s cosmetics line.

Actress, singer, Zahra Bentham continues to convey her fervor for equality off-screen. She supports causes close to her heart which include “Black Women Film! Canada”, a leadership program and new collective dedicated to forwarding the careers, networks and skills of filmmakers and media artists who are Black female identified of the Canadian African diaspora. Zahra also teamed up with Karena Evans (award-winning director and actor) to use her voice as a platform for awareness and change amidst fears welling during the 2016 burgeoning stages of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Zahra and her works.

Where are you based?
Toronto..... as of right now.

Having studied Drama, Music Theatre, and Dance formally, did you always instinctively know performing and the arts was your passion? How did you initially develop an interest in acting?
Before all the sports, I sang. I knew I had a good voice. I enjoyed the acting classes I did in elementary school so much that I received the drama award. But, while growing up watching my sister Aisha at Wexford CSA on stage definitely motivated me to audition for the Music Theatre program. Long story short, I got into the program and the real interests started blossoming then. Being on stage is the best feeling ever. By grade 10, I also got into the Drama Focus program where we dug a little deeper in more serious roles and I got to work with Director Rafal Sokolowski. As the years went by, the more I kept falling in love with it.

Do you miss the athlete's life? How did playing AA/AAA Basketball compare to being on stage?
Yes, I do miss playing ball and being in the gym 24/7! I think it most definitely has helped me as an actor. Number one for me has been the concentration and focus. As any athlete would know, when it’s game time your performance level has to be on or your whole game is off. The same goes for an actor — or even conditioning and training. Athletes train. Actors train. We have to mentally prepare for the big game, big show, big play, or a big scene.

Can you tell us about your role on the anticipated Netflix series, Spinning Out?
Spinning Out is like a Riverdale meets I, Tonya meets Black Swan but….. better. I mean, you’d have to watch it yourself to be the real judge though! (hahaha). Spinning Out follows the subjects of depression and mental illness, but honestly and compassionately. Specifically, we highlight Bipolar disorder and the struggles of dealing with that and the everyday lives we choose. Mental health has been such an important topic that it is becoming more normal to discuss these issues within our households and amongst our friends. I mean, the fact that Netflix gave us a platform to talk about this is huge. That in itself shows the progression and how far we can take the information we are learning to heal and get the proper tools we need for ourselves.

I play Alana, an upperclassman in college who works at the Sun Valley Lodge. Raised by a single mom, she was taught to take no L’s and no bullsh*t from people. Especially from love interest Marcus (who leads the Ski team) who has a love triangle going on with Kat Baker and Justin Davis (played by Kaya Scodelario and Evan Roderick). With Alana’s calculated mind, she’s able to win over Marcus for showing him who he truly is. I enjoyed playing Alana as we both have some similarities and it was really dope to play a more grounded character within the show with all the chaos going on.

Can you also tell us about your new show Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J Walker?
In Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J Walker, I play a woman by the name of Nettie Ransom. Nettie is a highly educated, very sweet, intelligent, proper wife of ‘Ransom’ played by Kevin Carrol. She is a member of the Indiana Coloured Women’s Club where she helps Sarah Breedlove, played by Octavia Spencer, start her business. Madam C.J. Walker was an entrepreneur, philanthropist, political and social activist. Being the wealthiest African-American businesswoman and wealthiest self-made woman in America around 1912, the story takes you on the ride of Madam C.J Walker’s life, her struggles, and her many blessings she encountered. The series is written by Nicole Jefferson Asher and A’Lelia Bundles, who is Madam C.J Walker's great-great-granddaughter (wild!). I hope this series is a history lesson for everyone!

Why is it important that we have a show about America's first female self-made millionaire?
The fact that I had no idea who this amazing woman was disheartening because she did amazing things for women and the world. These stories need to be told. People need to know the true history — to be inspired by it, to live out their own dreams like Madam C.J. Walker did.

Jejune loves that you work with “Black Women Film! Canada”. Can you tell us a little bit about them, and your involvement with them?
Before we closed out 2019, I had the opportunity to work alongside the “Black Women Film! Canada” at the Canadian Film Center (CFC) grounds (where I was a part of the Actors Conservatory back in 2015). I was asked to join by CFC on helping the directors and writers with the material they had created. The whole purpose was to get them out of their heads and see their material on actors. It was really dope to see my people create stories or direct me in such a way that I felt familiar. We had a shorthand, an understanding. With “Black Women Film! Canada” being dedicated to helping to push the careers and skills of filmmakers who are Black female identified of the Canadian African diaspora. I will forever and always support my own and my sisters.

Women, especially women of color, filmmakers are extremely underrepresented. What do you think needs to happen to help change this?
It's so easy to point the finger and say "she's not doing enough" or "he needs to do more" than to look at ourselves and just step up. At the end of the day, it has to come down to us to make that change. There's definitely been a change and shift within this industry, but we've only touched the tip of the iceberg. I can probably count on one hand who's really pushing the envelope in the development of projects. We need to be in those rooms having our voices heard and advocating for our people and women of colour. It's up to all of us to tell our stories. Women of colour, we need to be not only pushing for on-camera, but we need to be in those writing rooms, producing, directing, calling the shots on what we know that needs to be heard, seen, felt — our stories. There's enough room for all of us, so let's take up that space.

Do you have any favorite African American female filmmakers?
Yes, there are so many women doing great things in this industry that may not be getting a light shined on them, so here's my due diligence of showing y'all what’s up.
Stella Meghie
Marsha Green
Wendy "Motion"
Ava DuVernay
Dee Rees
Channing Godfrey Peoples
Kira Kelly
Demane Davis
Kasi Lemmons
Nicole Jefferson Asher
Karena Evans
Gina Prince- Blythewood
Lena Waithe
Nzingha Stewart
Melina Matsoukas
Halle Berry
Regina King

You are a triple threat — you can act, are athletic, and can sing. Jejune would love to hear about your involvement with the Black Lives Matters movement and a music video you worked with them on? Are you still involved with Black Lives Matter?
Hahaha, ah thank you thank you! I wasn't involved with the movement, but felt at that time I could use my voice. I teamed up with Jordan on the music front to get it all sorted. If some of you don't know, Jordan Evans is superhuman. He's a diamond-selling Canadian record producer, songwriter and talent manager from Toronto. He's worked with major recording artists like Jay-Z, Eminem, Drake, John Legend, Ellie Goulding, and Toronto's very own Daniel Caesar. He also manages recording artists Charlotte Day Wilson, Daniel Caesar, and Sean Leon. Jordan and I go way back. Back to like diaper days - no lie. My sister Aisha grew up with Jordan's oldest sister Reisa from JK/SK, and so we all grew up together, considering each other family. Back in 2016, when a lot of the ''documented'' gun violence was happening, along with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, I teamed up with Karena Evans (award-winning director, actor and Jordan's youngest sister) to use my voice as a platform for awareness and change. Jordan gracefully blessed us with his abilities in producing the full piece. This was my first time working with Jordan on this level and hopefully not the last.

How do you feel about the current state of race relations in the US? Do you feel there has been any change since the Black Lives Matters movement started six years ago?
I feel like citizens are continuing to stand up for justice and the lives of African Americans and all minority groups in the US and across the globe. I feel it's a worldwide movement of awareness over racism and it's something that cannot be stopped. The future is colourful!

As a Canadian, do you feel Canada handles its race relations better? Is there anything the US can learn from Canada?
Canada is a very multicultural place. Every country has its issues, but growing up in Toronto I always felt very welcomed by every ethnic group. I guess it's just too cold to care about race here.

What is your motto in life?
"No one cares. Get it done.”

To learn more about Zahra Bentham please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @ZahraBentham
Twitter: @ZahraBentham

Zahra Bentham Envisions a Colorful Future