After almost 25 years building an acclaimed career across international film, television and theatre, Zimbabwean actress Chipo Chung is coming home. It was always part of the plan.
Now, thanks to technology and a career that allows her to work from anywhere, Harare can once again become home. In this conversation, Chung reflects on returning to Zimbabwe, the importance of telling authentic African stories, supporting the next generation and why creativity has the power to change lives.
Q: AFTER BUILDING A CAREER ON INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS, WHAT DREW YOU BACK TO ZIMBABWE AT THIS STAGE OF YOUR LIFE?
A: I never intended to leave Zimbabwe for so long. I thought I was going away for seven years, but it turned into almost a quarter of a century, so coming home is long overdue.
My dream was always to build an international career and then make Harare my base while travelling for work. Today that’s possible because of technology. Actors used to worry that if they took a holiday, they’d miss an audition. Now we can audition through self-tapes from almost anywhere in the world. It means I can finally live where I always wanted to while continuing to work internationally.
Q: HAS LIVING ABROAD CHANGED THE WAY YOU SEE ZIMBABWE?
A: Living abroad has given me perspective, but I’ve never stayed away for very long. I’m back in Zimbabwe every year, often several times a year, so I’ve watched the country through both its difficult moments and its progress.
One thing that never changes is Harare’s trees. It’s a city of trees, and we need to protect our green spaces. Living in London has made me appreciate how important parks and natural spaces are to people’s quality of life. Places like Monavale Wetland are precious and deserve to be preserved.
Q: STORYTELLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN CENTRAL TO YOUR WORK. WHAT STORIES ABOUT ZIMBABWE DO YOU THINK THE WORLD STILL NEEDS TO HEAR?
A: I hope people look beyond the political narrative, because that’s often all they ever see. I hope they see the people.
That’s why we need more Zimbabwean films, theatre and music. The arts tell the stories of who we really are. They reflect our diversity, our creativity and our humanity in ways that headlines never can.
Q: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR SUCCESSFUL CREATIVES IN THE DIASPORA TO REMAIN CONNECTED TO HOME?
A: It’s incredibly important because home shapes who we are. No matter where your career takes you, your roots remain part of your identity.
Remaining connected isn’t just about coming back. It’s about sharing knowledge, creating opportunities and investing in the next generation. Success means much more when you can open doors for others.
Q: BEYOND ACTING, YOU’VE DEDICATED TIME TO CHARITY AND ARTS ADVOCACY. WHY IS THAT WORK SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
A: Growing up in Zimbabwe, I couldn’t ignore the reality that my opportunities came with responsibility. I’ve always believed success only matters if you bring other people with you.
That’s why I founded Partnership on Rape Aftercare Zimbabwe, or PORA UK, which supports the Adult Rape Clinic in Zimbabwe. Through that work, I realised many girls in rural communities never reach the clinic because they’re married before they have the chance.
My film Courage is my way of telling that story. I believe cultural change happens most powerfully through culture itself. If we want to imagine a different future for young girls, we have to tell different stories.
Q: WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ZIMBABWE’S CREATIVE INDUSTRIES?
A: I’m excited that there’s growing recognition of what the creative industries can contribute. More investment is going into film and television than we’ve seen before, and that’s creating opportunities for actors, writers, directors and crews.
Creativity isn’t just about entertainment. It creates jobs, preserves culture and helps tell our stories on our own terms.
Q: WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF ZIMBABWE, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THEY SEE BEYOND THE HEADLINES?
A: I hope they see the people. Zimbabwe is so much more than politics. I hope people see our warmth, our resilience, our creativity and our extraordinary talent.
That’s why supporting the arts matters. They reveal the real Zimbabwe.
Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG ZIMBABWEAN CREATIVES WHO DREAM OF AN INTERNATIONAL CAREER?
A: Believe that your story has value.
Don’t think you have to become someone else to succeed internationally. The things that make you uniquely Zimbabwean are often your greatest strengths.
Keep learning, keep working, stay curious and be patient. Careers are built over time. Stay connected to your roots because they’ll always give your work authenticity
FILMOGRAPHY
SILO (2023-2026)
Plays Sandy, a clerical worker in the sheriff’s department in this hit Apple TV+ dystopian mystery.
BLACK CAKE (2023)
Features as Eleanor Bennett in this multi generational Hulu drama produced by Oprah Winfrey.
HIS DARK MATERIALS (2021-2022)
Portrays Xaphania, a significant angel character in the HBO/BBC series.
INTO THE BADLANDS (2017-2019)
Stars as the formidable, martial arts wielding character simply known as “The Master”.
A.D. : THE BIBLE CONTINUES (2015)
Starred prominently as Mary Magdalene.
DOCTOR WHO (2007-2008)
Fan favourite appearances playing the alien assistant Chantho and a Fortune Teller.
From global hits to award winning dramas, Chipo Chung continues to bring depth, strength and authenticity to every role she plays.
CONCLUSION
Home, for Chipo Chung, was never a place she left behind. It was simply waiting for the right moment. After years spent telling stories on some of the world’s biggest stages, she’s returning with something far more valuable than experience: perspective. And if her next chapter unfolds the way she hopes, the stories the world hears about Zimbabwe may soon be written by Zimbabweans, told through Zimbabwean voices and shared with a world finally ready to listen.
Interview by PAC | Images © Chipo Chung
