From TV sitcoms, Indie and Motion Picture Films, Writing, and even Producing , Mouna has done it all! Starting back in 2009 Mouna debuted as ‘Essence’ in ‘Da Kink In My Hair’, a Canadian sitcom based off of a play by the same name, written by Trey Anthony. Her one episode role allowed her to delve into the world of acting, and she hasn't looked back. Since then we've seen her in films like ‘Carrie’, and ‘Brown Girl Begins’ , all the way up to more television series, such as ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, and her newest role as ‘Jill’ in the Netflix Original, ‘The Umbrella Academy.

Mouna, I’m so grateful to get to speak with you today. I’m really excited to delve into your acting history and to hear you talking about your passions in everyday life.We know that you attended the Young People’s theatre, graduated from Etobicoke School of the Arts, and later went on to even complete a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Science. So what was your very first acting experience like?

On set? It was great! I played a character named ‘Essence’ on a local television show called Da Kink in My Hair, based on a play by Trey Anthony. It was a smaller production, and I was super green.

I had no idea how to navigate set - I didn’t know to come with freshly washed hair, or to leave my wardrobe in my trailer.

I actually brought it all the way to the costume department at the end of the first day, thinking I was being nice! The cast and crew were very kind and patient with me. It was a great introduction to the industry!

How did that end up evolving into film?

I’ve always wanted to do film. That’s always been my dream. I auditioned for them as often as possible, so I guess it was inevitable that I would eventually book one!

When it comes to acting, there’s a lot that happens when you take on a new role. You’ve got a pretty expansive work history, so you’ve been around the block more than a few times. What are your favorite parts of really slipping into a new character?

I crave novel experience, so I get really excited when I get to venture into something new. I love when a project brings me the opportunity to learn something new - a new skill, new body language, a new understanding of history or a community… that is my favourite part, hands down!

A quick questions about a project you worked on in 2017. You had the opportunity to be a voice actress for Assassin’s Creed! I’m an avid gamer, so I’m really interested in what this process was like for you. Consider this my own selfish personal question.

Hahaha not selfish at all! I absolutely loved working on Assassins Creed Origins! I have to say it might be one of my favourite jobs to date. It was all play! It felt like I was back in drama class fooling around with friends, except we were in a motion-capture studio running around in hi-tech suits with devices on our heads.The directors at Ubisoft gave us so much freedom to build each scene and explore the world and our characters. It was a really unique and special experience. I would love to work on something like that again!

Your most recent coming project is appearing on the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy. How are you feeling about diving into this world of Sci-Fi?

I love it! I’m actually a sci-fi junkie in real life. Anyone who knows me is very aware of my affinity for sci-fi / fantasy themed books, films and television shows. So it’s no surprise that I was very happy and excited when I was cast in the show. It’s totally up my alley. And I love being part of time bending story with reluctant superheroes.

Have you thought about reading the comics to get a bit more in depth about the inner workings of the show?

I’ve thought about it… And hopefully I’ll find a time for the end of this pandemic! The stack of comics I need to read is getting very high!

What do you think of your character Jill? Is she easy to identify with, or has it been a bit more of a challenge to get into her mind?

Jill was easy to identify with because she’s just a version of me. I had to tone down some of my more extroverted, flamboyant, impulsive tendencies. But everything you see in her is me.

In 2013, you and your friend Elizabeth Melanson co-founded a film production company called The Mini Films. Are you able to think back and really pinpoint the moment that you realized you wanted to really dive into being a producer?

I can’t think to exactly the moment, but it was after a long period of time feeling frustrated with the industry, and feeling like I needed to create a platform so I could tell my own stories, and offer an opportunity to others to do the same.

Is there anything in particular that you find that truly gives you an inspiration for your writing? Social issues, historical events, maybe even personal experiences of the past?

Black people. Black history. Black literature. I’m inspired by our stories, our leaders, our creations, and the diversity of our communities throughout the African diaspora. I would like to capture the nuance and complexity of our experience and tap into the more unspoken aspects of blackness and womanhood. .

Are you currently working on scripts or productions for anything? Or rather, were you working on anything before the COVID pandemic really hit?

It was pilot season, so I was focusing on acting and auditions. I had a couple projects that I was slowly developing in the background, but when the pandemic hit, I became very depressed and unproductive. I’m still struggling to find my way out the anxiety and insecurity. I often feel very heavy and unable to access my creativity.

Speaking of being a producer, director, and writer, what was it like to win an award for Adorn at the Black Film Festival? Can you tell me what was going through your mind when you found out?

I was in shock, because I had never even considered we would win. We were just honoured to have been selected to be part of the festival. I actually almost skipped the award ceremony, but decided to attend out of respect for the other nominees. I didn’t dress up or anything because I had to catch a flight that night, and I didn’t expect to be socializing afterwards. It was a complete surprise and such an honor! We were truly flabbergasted and had no words.

I may have been digging and saw an interview where you stated that you’re starting to delve into stand-up comedy. It sounds like a ton of fun, and something that might be a bit easier to keep doing while we’re all stuck at home isolating. Did that end up panning out? Are you enjoying that new adventure?

I don’t feel very funny right now, so it hasn’t really gone anywhere… ask me again a year from now!

On the subject of new adventures, I understand that you and your boyfriend recently moved to Los Angeles. Moving from one country to another can be fairly tricky, how did that all work out for you?

It didn’t work out very well, I can tell you that! We’re back in Canada now. The pandemic presented us with some unforeseeable circumstances, which has made it much easier for us to live in Canada. Life here is a lot more manageable - there’s more work prospects and we feel a lot safer because the number of covid cases is a lot lower than Los Angeles county. Hopefully we'll be back soon! I really miss it.

While we’re talking about your boyfriend, I understand he’s from the UK and I have to know, how fun is it to find the differences in dialect between here and there?

It’s super fun for me, because I love trying to copy his accent. He hates it! Because I usually come out with some terrible cockney/my fair lady sort of voice that doesn’t even come close to being passable. He has conquered the American accent, and I think he finds it fun do regional dialects… mostly southern, which drives me nuts!

Now I’d like to change speeds to a more serious matter. You’re very outspoken about the current social climate, and even your work in the past (including your first written play, My Vagina is Angry Because I’m black) you’ve had a very clear message to portray. What is it like to be a black woman working in the film industry? People most often just barely see the surface of these ups and downs. At Rival, we feel passionately that it is very important for us, as a society, to try and open our eyes to see what’s really going on around us.

I can’t speak for all black women, especially because my experience has been mostly based in Canada. But I can tell you that for myself, working in the film industry can be extremely frustrating and exhausting. This is an industry that wasn’t built for us, so there’s a lot of change that needs to happen from the ground up. It’s also frustrating feeling like I constantly have to educate people about what those issues are, or how to make the changes needed in order to support black women and BIPOC communities. Google is free. Over the years, many people have clearly identified issues within the industry and offer strategies on how to resolve them. I wish more people would utilize them!

Do you have any specific causes, charities, or foundations that sit close to your heart that you’d like to let us know about?

Yes! Before the pandemic, I got involved with Young Storytellers, a wonderful organization that encourages creative self discovery through storytelling. Their programs offer young people a lot he chance to use their own voice to create their own narratives, and celebrate their unique perspectives. I was placed at a school in east LA, but unfortunately covid disrupted our session. Had we been able to continue, I would have mentored a young elementary school as they developed a story over several weeks, concluding with a final performance of their work in front of their peers.

Inspiration is something everyone seeks out these days. It’s hard to find that motivation when you’re locked up. Who, or what, in your life do you think has been your biggest inspiration either spiritually, or professionally? Is there anyone that you don’t know personally that has influenced you as well?

Right now I would say my ancestors are my biggest inspiration. Although I didn't know them, I think about them a lot. I think about what their lives must have been like, what they must have gone through. What their hopes and dreams for their descendants might have been. I think about honouring them a lot, and whether or not my actions are aligned with their aspirations for me.

Let’s get a little bit into baby Mouna before we go. What sort of things did you enjoy when you were a child? Any specific activities, shows, or hobbies?

I loved playing dress up, and writing my own sketches. I used to use the family camcorder to film myself playing different characters and conduct interviews with my family members. I was also a massive reader and I would consume books by the dozen. I loved drawing and painting, and anything artsy.

We all have our nostalgia about childhood. The imagination of a child is astounding, and playing pretend as a way to achieve your dreams is half the fun! Do you remember what it was that you wanted to be when you grew up, or have you always wanted to be an actress and writer?

I always wanted to be an actor. It was the only thing I ever dreamed of.

Maybe I had ambitions to also sing and dance, but I was never as good or passionate about those things. I think my desire to become a writer came later. When I was around 11 or 12 and under the influence of books like Angus,Thongs and full-frontal Snogging.

Just a random tidbit to bring us to a close. Do you have any hidden talents? Maybe some you might even be interested in incorporating into your career in the future?

Not so much a hidden talent, but I started horseback riding and I really love it. I would absolutely LOVE to play a role where I get to be on a horse. Something period? Maybe a Western? A girl can dream!

Thank you so much for talking with us, Mouna! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you and get a little look inside your head. We’re so excited to see you in The Umbrella Academy and to follow you even farther down the road after that! If you’d like to know more about Mouna Traore, you can follow her instagram and twitter both @_mounatraore

We're so incredibly excited to have this insight, and to follow Mouna on even more adventures in the future. Hopefully when all is said and done with our current pandemic, we can see her even more. It'll be a pleasure to watch more produced films, and to experience writing that will truly reflect this influential time in history. If you’d like to know more about Mouna Traoré, and keep up to date on her daily life and any future projects, you can follow her instagram and twitter, both @_mounatraore

Meet the Author

Kit Sawyer is a 30 year old writer from Austin Texas. She has cemented her career as a journalist with an extensive list of celebrity interviews; all of which have been featured in numerous digital and print publications.
Some of Kit’s recent work can be found on the webcomic ‘Chronically Thriving’, and of coarse here at the Rival Mag Fam!

An Unstoppable Force: Mouna Traore is the Hero we All Need

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