Brian Mathenga says he can relate to his Shortland Street character. Brian Manthenga came here from Zimbabwe to study massage therapy and ended up as a TV doctor. His name means heart or soul in Swahili. Or breast in Mapanzugun. And in the wilds of the Congo, it can be used as a friendly greeting to say hello.
Dr Xavier Moyo is Shortland Street 's first African resident, and just like his multi-meaninged name, he is a complex character. Dark and brooding, the Zimbabwean doctor joined the hospital staff in December last year and is the latest bloke to fall for the Street's resident man-eater Alice Piper. Played by acting newcomer Brian Manthenga, Moyo is torn between enjoying his new life here and responsibilities back home.
Something Manthenga can relate to all too well. With no acting experience behind him, his natural storytelling ability and love of a good yarn soon saw him land a gig on the local music channel Alt TV.
From there, he made his acting debut with the Auckland Theatre Company before a Shortland Street scout spotted him and enlisted him for the show. That was absolutely fabulous. And then suddenly I became a doctor," he laughs.
Despite no formal training as a thespian, Manthenga's background in massage and a family history of storytelling have put him in good stead to play Moyo.
