Mekonnen Knife

It is difficult at times to feel a sense of belonging. This makes some people soul-search while others feel a need to connect whenever possible. For Mekonnen, there is a freedom of spirit, the privilege of being tied to several places, and the liberty of finding himself in the arts. He moved from Ethiopia to Australia when he was ten years old, and it was there that he began his artistic path, first as a ballet dancer in The Nutcracker. He now plays Vargas in the Disney musical film Zombies 4, a film that showcases his ability to act, sing, and dance, but also his innate nature to “light up a room.”

From Zombies 4, he hopes audiences learn to stay true to themselves, accept and love everyone, and embrace change. It’s a message that he deeply connects to personally as he tells me about his passion toward inclusivity - “I believe everyone’s voice matters.” As he continues to bridge gaps whenever he can, he also firmly believes in making sure everything he does comes from a place of pure joy. He is currently on the forty-six-stop Worlds Collide Tour: Descendants/ Zombies, and is then on to a second summer in Australia.

Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires is now streaming on Disney+, and tickets to the tour are here.

I want to know more about your background and upbringing. What is something important that people should know about you to understand you better?
I'm a big believer in loving one another. I believe in hard work, discipline, striving to achieve your goals, and loyalty to your friends. I'm an advocate for all of that.

That’s nice. You were born in Ethiopia, and then you moved to Australia. Which aspects of both cultures do you think you feel most connected to?
I'm connected to Australian culture. The lifestyle is very different from Ethiopia because of the circumstances and financial situations. Ethiopian culture is very family-oriented and welcoming. You go over to somebody's house, they make you food, and Dabo (bread), and coffee, and it's a very welcoming environment. Australia is similar, but in a different way. I wasn't as connected to my Ethiopian culture just because I was a bit of a slow learner. I didn’t connect as quickly, but I do believe I represent that culture too.

Do you go often?
I haven’t been there in probably over ten years. It’s been a long time.

What's something that people should know about Ethiopia that they probably don’t know yet?
The food is incredible! It’s so good and so filling. The culture, the food, the people. It’s a great country.

I imagine it must be great. Let’s talk about your artistic career. At what point in your life did you decide that you wanted to become an artist?
I learned that I wanted to be in the industry when I got into modelling, which started in Australia.

You started working when you were quite young and performed in The Nutcracker with the Queensland Ballet. What do you think that background taught you, not just as an artist and a performer, but also as a person?
My background in ballet helped with a lot of things. It helped me with style and technique. It was about balance, which is the foundation of all dance styles. Having that foundation was really helpful. Now, when I do other work, it gives me a lot of strength. It became the baseline of everything I do. At the time, I didn’t see it, but now that I look back, I can see that ballet was very helpful.

In both ballet and acting, I think you really need to feel comfortable with your body. You need to know your body very well. How do you think your ballet background helps you with your career as an actor?
I don’t really do much ballet work right now, but for the Descendants/Zombies Tour that I'm currently doing, there’s a lot of dance required. So I guess it just helps me stay focused and pick up dance moves quickly. If I have to jump high, my reflexes are always locked in.

I wanted to ask about Zombies 4 as well. One thing I've always appreciated about Disney stars is that they're often expected to be multi-talented. They’re expected to act, sing, dance, do comedy and drama. Your character does all of that. What was the audition process like for the role of Vargas in Zombies 4?
I auditioned for Victor, who is the main character, but then they came back to me and told me I should audition for this other part. From there, I waited, and I was lucky enough to get the role. There wasn’t much else to it - no callbacks or anything. It was a very quick process, which I was very grateful for, because I know some people did not have a similar experience.

What was the audition like? What did you have to do? Did you have to show that you could dance and sing, or was it just acting?
Yeah, I did. I sent in a video of me singing, and then I sent in videos of me dancing - things I’d done in the past.

Your character is a funny and quirky one. What do you think makes him unique?
He’s very fun, and there’s a really bright energy about him. He’s a very lovable kid, someone you root for when he’s on screen or when he speaks. There’s an energy about him that’s captivating, I guess you could say. I’m super grateful to everyone who loves this character. I also relate to him - he’s loyal, and I’m very loyal to my friends. That’s how I connected with him.

What inspiration did you draw on to create the essence of the character?
I just connected him to any normal teenager - a fun teenager just going through life, going through the motions, and enjoying themselves. He’s not really thinking too much about everything and just enjoying time with friends. That’s the inspiration I took. I just thought about how I am with my own friends.

How much were you able to explore Vargas, and how free were you to put your own touch and creativity into the character?
Towards the end of filming, I was able to play with the character. I definitely felt like there was more room if I wanted to explore him more. If I'm fortunate enough to come back, I would love to keep exploring him, experiment a bit more, and see what else I can do.

The movie mixes a lot of comedy, drama, and music. Can you share a funny or interesting story or moment from the time you were filming with the whole team?
There was so much. One moment I specifically remember - it’s not really funny, but it was really wholesome - was when we were learning our final number. It was just a beautiful day because it was our big finale, and we were all together, dancing, and having a good time. It was a very special moment that I’ll always remember.

I’m going to talk from my point of view when I talk about Disney. I get a little nostalgic because to me, Disney is my whole childhood. I have so many memories of the Disney Channel growing up. What was your perception of Disney when you were younger?
I grew up watching all the films like Bolt, Lilo & Stitch, Tangled, and Cars. I got into High School Musical, Descendants, Zombies, and Teen Beach. I just fell in love with it.

What is the one movie or show you could watch over and over again, even now that you’re older?
I’d have to say the franchises. I mean, I love all of them - Zombies, Descendants, High School Musical, Teen Beach Movie.

There are so many stars we know now who are leading Hollywood and started on Disney. What do you think makes you a Disney Channel star?
I think it’s about keeping yourself humble. People can let it all go to their head, especially when they grow on social media, and their resume fills up with more projects. I think it can get into their head. I think the star quality everyone talks about comes from your personality, not your resume. It’s about how good a person you are. I think people can pick up on that. So it’s about keeping yourself humble, making sure you don’t let fame get to your head. Thinking that you aren’t a star makes you a star.

I totally agree. How have your fans reacted to the film?
It’s been incredible. I’m so grateful. It’s a big franchise, and I was obviously nervous about how everyone would react. But I’m so grateful that everyone has received it so well and accepted us and our characters. I love how it’s been received.

What’s the message you hope audiences take away after watching the film?
Each movie has its own little message, but the one I hope people take away from this is to always stay true to yourself, accept and love everyone for who they are, don’t judge anyone, and just be an all-around nice person. And embrace change.

I want to talk a little bit about your career in general. With social media, actors can create their own content and connect directly with fans through their platforms. In the past, actors were almost like untouchable stars that we only saw in movies. What’s your relationship with social media? Do you see it more as an opportunity for actors or more as a threat to the film industry?
I think social media itself can be very toxic, especially in this industry. People compare themselves to other actors, like, “Why am I not booking as many jobs? I see they are always getting new roles, but not me.” Social media can be a very negative environment. But it can also be a very positive one. You just have to find the right balance. You have to know not to get sucked into it. The more you grow and the more you book, the more attention you get from social media, which I’ve noticed.

When it comes to social media, I don’t take it too seriously. With my TikTok, I only post because it’s fun. I don’t post because I have to, but because I want to. That will always be my only reason. If anyone ever tells me I need to post a TikTok, I won’t do it. I’ll only do it because I enjoy it and because it’s fun. If it starts to feel like work, that’s not why I do it.

That’s how I keep myself grounded with social media. It’s like a little outlet for me, and people get to watch my content. I never consider myself to be an influencer. That’s my firm belief: if you keep it fun and at a healthy pace, it helps you stay grounded.

I also think there’s a big opportunity for artists in general to use social media to control their own narrative. You can present yourself the way you want to, and you can connect with your fans the way you want to.
Absolutely!

You didn’t grow up in the Hollywood or film industry environment. What was the biggest misconception you had about the industry that, once you entered it, you realised was not true?
I think the biggest misconception I had was that everyone’s fake, which can be the case sometimes. But I’ve learned, especially on this project and through this process, that’s not always true. I’ve created a family, real relationships, and a community. So, while it can be the case, you just have to find the right people who work with you and support you.

You’re quite young, but you’ve been working for a long time. The film industry has evolved a lot in recent years. Is there anything from the old-school film industry that you wish you had experienced?
I think some films now take the heart out of their movies and their messages. Sometimes the industry looks at things from only a monetary perspective. They think, “How much money can this movie make if we get a really big actor?” They think from this perspective, rather than from an audience or fan’s perspective, to see what really connects. The heart and rawness of movies get lost. Some films I used to love watching have kind of lost their niche, their message, and their core values.

On several occasions, you’ve said that you love making people laugh. What do you think that says about you? And why is that trait so important to you?
I think I have charisma. I like to try to light up a room if I see it’s a little down or dim. Naturally, I have a comedic personality, which I love to share with people when they get to know me. I just think it’s always important for people to laugh. I kind of believe that if I didn’t laugh today, it wasn’t really a good day. Everyone deserves to laugh, everyone deserves to feel joy. I love being a person who can share that with people and have that positive effect on them.

As a young actor, every experience is important because you want to learn as much as you can from the industry and your peers. But also, as a young actor coming from a different perspective on life and the industry, what do you think you can offer to the industry?
I think I can offer a positive outlook on things. Coming into this industry, I always try to keep level-headed, humble, and grounded. I keep my life separate from work. I try to always be inclusive, embrace change, and encourage others to strive for that too. I believe everyone’s voice matters, especially in this industry. So, that’s what I bring to the table - an inclusive mindset and everything that comes with it.

That’s great. So, what’s next for you?
After this tour, I will most likely be heading home, and then we’ll see what happens after that. I have some things in the works, but I don’t know if I can share just yet. I’ll keep everyone updated. I’m keen to see what happens. But right now, we’re working on this tour. We’ll be doing forty-six cities, so that’s my summer here in America. After this tour, it’ll be just in time to kick off summer in Australia. So, I get two summers this year! I’ll be hanging out with friends.