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Soweto-born actress Natasha Thahane is taking on many new faces and phases with her career. Not only is she the new dazzling face of the Garnier Even & Matte campaign, she’s also a heart-hardened prisoner in season 5 of prison drama Lockdown on Showmax.
Thahane’s character, Katlego, is Monde’s (Zola Nombona) sister who’s been transferred to Kgotsong Asylum after being framed for the murder of Masabata (Nthati Moshesh) .
Thahane, who we first met as Enhle in the SABC1 soapie Skeem Saam, says she embraces her new role and wants it to be a positive contribution to stopping the stigma of mental illness in black communities.
“It was exciting yet challenging because these are things that actually happen to people.
“Having to tap into that character, I looked at conversations people had on social media about mental health.
“When I first got that role I didn’t think I was going to nail it.
“But having a director like Mandla N [Ngcongwane], who is so supportive and who believed in me sometimes more than I believed in myself, brought out the best in me,” Thahane tells #Trending at the announcement of her partnership with Garnier.
The 24-year-old says the decision to partner with the brand was easy because hers and Garnier’s ideals align strongly, particularly their deep commitment to working with young people, as well as being socially and environmentally conscious.
“I am passionate about students and want to make a difference in their lives. I also genuinely care about our planet and the state that it’s in, and want to ensure that the next generation has a habitable, sustainable Earth to live on.
“So it is important for me to work with brands that are committed to making a difference in our world. Garnier is such a brand; it is innovative, it cares about people and the environment, and it makes excellent products. Everything I do must be authentic for me and my audience, and Garnier is just that.”
So how does Thahane do self-care while juggling the different roles of international cosmetics ambassador and struggling, broken down prisoner?
“You need to embrace every single moment, whether it’s good or bad. Be aware of how you feel. If you don’t feel good, then you don’t feel good. Don’t put on a facade to try and look good when that’s not how you feel. It’s okay to take a day off and close yourself off in a room, cry about it and try again the next day.”
