For Zanele Nyoni’s first on-screen regular character, she joined Series 10 of The Dumping Ground as Izzy Musonda and has continued in the role, with Series 12 premiering tonight on CBBC and BBC iPlayer at 6pm, and Series 13 already announced. Earlier this year, Zanele played Jess Clarke in numerous episodes of Waterloo Road, working closely with Alicia Forde as Kelly-Jo Rafferty. Chatting to us, we found out from Zanele about joining the cast of The Dumping Ground in Series 10, what it’s like having Izzy Musonda as her first on-screen regular character and her time filming numerous episodes of Waterloo Road.

Can you tell us about your character Izzy Musonda in The Dumping Ground and what is she like to play?

Izzy Musonda is a crafty hard-working girl who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. To play her is quite a challenge sometimes as she’s gone through unimaginable things that are sometimes difficult to get into the mindset of.

Had you seen the show before auditioning and how did you feel finding out you’d be joining The Dumping Ground in Series 10?

I had grown up watching The Dumping Ground and my siblings grew up watching Tracy Beaker. To hear the news of getting to play Izzy was so amazing as it was my first cast role and I had worked really hard with the help of my agent and support of my family.

What do you enjoy most about filming for The Dumping Ground and working as a regular character on a hugely-popular CBBC series?

I enjoy getting to explore the different emotions and working with an amazing cast and crew helps a lot.

What is it like reading the scripts for the first time and have you had any favourite scenes/episodes to film so far?

It’s always a pleasure to read scripts to not only see my storyline but everyone else’s. My favourite episode of the series to film so far was the last episode of Series 10 as it was fascinating to see the fire happen and how they would film a really big scene like that.

How is it working alongside the rest of the cast and crew and how has it been returning to film Series 13?

Working alongside the cast and crew is amazing, we have fun moments on set and it’s really nice to work with a team. Returning to Series 13 was honestly so good to see how everyone has changed and it’s nice to hear what everyone has been up to.

Is there anything you feel you’ve learnt from being part of The Dumping Ground and having Izzy as your first on-screen regular character?

Being on The Dumping Ground definitely taught me a lot when it comes to my performance and set experience. It’s honestly amazing what you can learn from a set especially at a young age learning things I know I will absolutely take with me throughout my career as I get older.

What are you looking forward to for the upcoming release of Series 12?

Series 12 is heartwarming and witty. I enjoyed filming a lot of the episodes in Series 12, it’s exciting to see everyone’s reaction for the upcoming release.

Earlier this year, you were seen across numerous episodes of Waterloo Road as Jess Clarke, how would you describe Jess and what drew you to the show?

Jess Clarke is a powerful, sassy and opinionated girl who is very immersed in her culture and background. The show is very different to The Dumping Ground so to do something different was good for the development as an actor.

What was your storyline like to film and how did you find the experience on set?

Jess, while being mentored by a year 11 – Kelly-Jo Rafferty, who is played by the amazing Alicia Forde – helps Kelly-Jo with her identity and culture. Being on set was, again, an enjoyable experience. The crew were very nice and the cast welcoming.

How different was your time filming for Waterloo Road opposed to The Dumping Ground, and how was it meeting the other Waterloo Road cast members for the first time?

Waterloo Road was similar to The Dumping Ground in a way as they both explore sensitive topics. Filming for Waterloo road was a change of scenery and it felt nice to learn things from each job and compare the two characters, especially with their actions and dialogue. The cast members on Waterloo Road were really nice and welcoming, I learnt a lot from the older cast and got to know the rest of the cast members.

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do?

Acting has always kind of been what I wanted to do and this was influenced by my older sister who helped and supported me so much alongside my family. It’s really brilliant to see how going from acting schools and dance classes and doing so much extracurricular has brought me to this stage in my career.

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?

At the moment, I like a lot of rom-coms such as Legally Blonde and A Cinderella Story, but other than them I’m really into Marvel and Disney. My favourite Marvel movie is Wakanda Forever and my favourite Disney films are The Princess and the Frog, Tangled and Moana. As for TV shows, I like The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls and FRIENDS.

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

When I’m not acting, I’m usually at school and my dance classes or going out with friends and family. I am in year 10 so recently I’ve been up to revision to prepare for my mock exams.

What are you hoping the next year brings for your career and how do you stay positive?

I hope the next year brings new opportunities and hopefully new chapters. To stay positive, I always see the good in everything as no matter how many self-tapes or auditions you go for, it will all pay off someday. Before getting my first cast role, I spent a lot of time doubting myself when in reality I just needed to have trust in the process and keep going.

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