Episode 8: We're All Superheroes (with Blessing Mokgohloa & Arka Das)

Pretty For An Aboriginal

In a perfect world Miranda Tapsell would be the star of a wildly successful rom-com, or a franchised superhero film. The Frances Ha or Jessica James of Australia, or an Aboriginal Storm in the next edition of X-Men. But in order to be Australia’s favourite romantic lead, Miranda has to write her own feature film because…let’s be honest — lead roles for Aboriginal actors in a rom-com aren’t all that common. But is there a shift afoot?
Australian actors Blessing Mokgohloa (who was born in Zimbabwe), and Arka Das (Bangladesh), are increasingly being cast as the “hot guy” and the “best friend” in Australian films and on television. In this funny and honest episode, Miranda and Nakkiah unpack the layers of race and racism in Australia, and consider how TV is (or is not) reflecting their lived experience. And they explore the differences between the black immigrant experience and the black Indigenous experience. Is there a point of connection, or just layers of difference and hardship?