Aussie Disney star on ‘surreal’ AACTA Award nomination
By Kellie Balaam
Emerging Aussie actor Mekonnen Knife says it is a “surreal feeling” to be nominated for the inaugural Rabanne Breakthrough Artist Award at this year’s AACTA Awards.
The 19-year-old Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires star is up for the award at the prestigious ceremony celebrating the best in Australian film and TV, taking place on Friday on the Gold Coast.
The breakthrough artist award spotlights the nation’s fastest-rising talent with other nominees including Milly Alcock, Felix Mallard, Samara Weaving, Maia Mitchell, Josh Heuston, Odessa Young and Joseph Zada.
The Ethiopian-born but Queensland-raised singer and dancer said all he wanted was to be lucky enough to attend the awards, so to be nominated was “pretty surreal”.