Hi Cassidy Nicholson! tell us about yourself…

Hey, hello, howzit! I’ve always been a really ‘left-of-centre’ kid who loved the arts. I used to make up dances and skits, and then set up shows for my family. I started acting professionally when I was eight years old. Around the age of 20, I started doing something called ‘horizontal growth’, which is when I became ‘multifaceted’ within the film industry by becoming certified in screenwriting, producing and directing. Over the years, I managed to get some big jobs under my belt, but come 2020, I lost everything. That’s when it happened! I took all the skills I had acquired over the years and started making skits to bring joy to people’s lives during a really scary time. And that’s me: a driven, Cape Town girl who has a passion for the arts and just wants to make jokes.

What inspired your ‘Constantia Mom’ skit?

Constantia Mom is based on my mom! For years I had been making skits of her and whipping them out at family functions. During lockdown, I introduced this character, which I had essentially been working on for years, to the world. Its impact has been incredible… To see how much joy and laughter she brings to people just blows my mind!

What was it like being part of big local and international projects?

It’s been a rush, to say the least. I have always known I was creative, but it has just shown me that I am all about the arts and enabling fellow creatives to believe in their talents and just do it! It has made me fall in love with what I do all over again.

What misconceptions exist about the film industry?

People think it’s super-fake and pretentious, and it can be. But I’m making a concerted effort to stay humble. We shouldn’t become conceited in our achievements, but instead become inspired and grow ourselves further through helping others rise.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring actors?

There is always going to be someone younger, more talented and prettier than you, so stop worrying and just do it! You literally have nothing to lose. Think about it: The worst place you can be is the same position you were before you started.

Words: Thuveshnie Govender |  Photography: Courtesy images