Embeth Davidtz (Miss Honey from Matilda) speaks to Carl about her latest project as director

Kfm 94.5's Carl Wastie speaks to Academy Award-nominated actress Embeth Davidtz (Miss Honey from Matilda).

Listen below: 

Millennials, here's a moment to SHINE... Embeth Davidtz popped by The Flash Drive!

The actress is best known for her role as Miss Honey in the film Matilda (1996), where she played the sweet teacher who offers Matilda solace, love, and chocolates before adopting her - yes, THAT one!

So, what's Davidtz been up to since then? Directing in Mzansi and visiting Cape Town, for one.

Davidtz is in South Africa for her first feature film, which was originally a book, called Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight.

Davidtz explains that the movie is a female-centred story from a female writer/director’s perspective and deals with race, history, and she is proud of it, despite some calling it a risky choice.

The movie depicts eight-year-old Bobo's life on her family's Rhodesian farm during the Bush War's final stages. It explores the family's bond with Africa's land and the war's impact on the region and individuals through Bobo's perspective.

South African names like Rob van Vuuren, Anele Mdoda, and Trevor Noah are also involved in the film.

The film has received massive recognition from audiences and critics since it launched earlier this month in New York and Los Angeles. 

"It isn't something I dreamed, I just answered the thing in front of me, which was the call to do it," says Davidtz.

The film sees its South African premiere on Friday, 25 July.

Davidtz explains what she hopes South Africans take away from the film.

"I want every South African to come and see this film because... they're seeing themselves reflected back... South Africans are too often looking to America and they'll look at that as something to aspire to but their own story is so interesting... there's a complexity to our history and Zimbabwe is similar enough... there's a surprise at the end of the film... what I see when I look back at South Africa... nobody wins in the war but the child is the hope and that's what I see and what I want people to take away from the film."

- Embeth Davidtz, Actress & Director

"We should own our history... stop saying, whatever didn't happen... this was the thing that people were frightened of. We're looking at it through the lens of a child... by looking at it like this... it's not too hard or difficult to look at, but it tells us a story and reflects back to us something that we all know... even younger kids... I think newer generations coming up should see it for this reason."

- Embeth Davidtz, Actress & Director

In a magical moment, the award-winning actress also slips back into her beloved Miss Honey role to answer sweet questions from young fans - truly nostalgic and what a treat! 

For those asking, is Davidtz anything like Miss Honey?

She says, yes... a lot of Miss Honey is 'a part of' Davidtz.

Also! Of course, there were selfies so we could memorialise this moment:

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.