by Dov Kornits
With an eye-catching role in the acclaimed legal drama The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer, young actress Nashy MZ is well and truly one to watch.
A Muslim, South-East Asian actor with Indonesian heritage, Nashy MZ has moved to Sydney from Perth to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, after making major inroads with a role in the acclaimed Australian TV drama series The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer. Nashy plays the feisty, fiery but deeply vulnerable Salma in this classy crime drama, and she more than holds her own in a cast of veterans that includes big names like Sam Neill, Danielle Cormack and William Zappa.
When did the acting bug first bite?
“I was super shy growing up, but I was always pretending. I made little characters out of toys and slipped into my own worlds. The love for acting was always there; I was just too shy to claim it. I started off in artistic gymnastics and dance first — things I thought I’d pursue after school — but when life nudged me away from them, I found my way back to acting. There was this moment in an English class where we did a table read, and I committed so hard that everyone looked at me like, ‘Wait… where did that come from?’ That stuck with me. As I explored the craft more and actually trained, it started to feel less like something I admired from afar and more like something that fit and felt right. It’s been a steady, personal kind of growth — getting to know myself through the craft — and it’s been pretty special seeing all that work slowly turn into real opportunities.”
Can you tell us about the character that you play in The Twelve?
“Salma is this fiery little chaos-angel — smart, driven, a talented young cellist, and someone who will absolutely call you out if she thinks something’s unfair. And she doesn’t just talk; she takes action. Sometimes, she goes about it the wrong way and ends up hurting people without meaning to, but it always comes from a place of justice and heart. What I love most is her contradiction. She’s loud about her principles but so quiet about her feelings. She’ll argue like a tiny lawyer, but underneath it she’s just a tender, slightly lost girl who wants to be understood and acknowledged. Her loyalty is intense and very pure. She was such a joy and a gift to play — cheeky, emotional, stubborn, idealistic, misunderstood, and full of heart. She kept me on my toes. And she taught me something too: she stands firm in what she believes, without apologising for it. Playing her left a mark on me. I just adore her.”
What led to you landing this part?
“I honestly don’t know — that’s probably a better question for McGregor Casting and our director, Madeleine Gottlieb! What I can say is that I felt a real connection to Salma from the moment I read her. I think they saw that I understood her mix of fire and vulnerability, and that I really cared about bringing truth to her. I tried to show up with honesty, groundedness, and my own lived experience in the audition. I’m grateful something in that clicked. And I just feel very lucky to have been trusted with the role. The whole team was incredible. And Phoenix Raei, who plays my on-screen dad, was a huge support. I learned a lot from him.”
What sort of training do you do?
“I didn’t go to a formal arts institution, but I majored in Theatre and Drama and I’ve taken acting workshops over the years — and still do when I can financially. Scene study, screen technique, movement, voice, whatever I can access. I’m always trying to keep learning and sharpening the craft.”
How was the audition for The Twelve?
“It was a quick turnaround! I first sent in a self-tape after seeing the open callout, and a few days later my agent called saying I had a callback. It was an early-morning Zoom audition, and I remember feeling excited and nervous — hoping I understood the context of the scene and Salma well enough, while also trying not to overthink it and just have fun. It happened so fast, it’s mostly a blur. When my agent called a few days later to say I got the role, I tried to keep my cool… but I definitely shrieked.”
What sort of research did you put into the role?
“I connected to Salma on a personal level, so a lot of the research started within myself and in honouring experiences similar to hers. The big practical part was the cello — I’d never played it before, so that was nerve-wracking because I really wanted to do it justice. I have some musical background in piano, and a bit of ukulele for a theatre show, but the cello is a different world. Production organised a few cello lessons for me, mostly focusing on posture, bowing, coordination, and looking natural on screen. A cello double (Grace Doulas) was used on set, but I still spent time listening to the cello repertoires, watching videos of cellists’ body language and facial expressions, and even asking my brother (who played viola) for tips on finger movement. It was really cool seeing how it all came together in the final edit.”
What motivated you to move from Perth to Sydney?
“I moved to Sydney because I wanted to pursue acting more seriously, and Sydney felt like the place where I could grow. There’s a bigger industry here, more diversity, more opportunities to train, audition, collaborate, and be part of communities that reflect different stories and backgrounds. I felt like I needed to be where things were happening if I wanted to push my career forward.”
Can you discuss your hopes for the sorts of roles that you would like to play in the future?
“I love roles that challenge me — characters who are layered, contradictory, emotionally complex, funny, messy, all of it. I want to explore characters driven by their humanity rather than just their culture or identity. Anything youthful and chaotic, or soft and intimate, or even genre-bending really pulls me in. I’d love to do more grounded drama, psychological stories, thrillers, and even high-stakes stuff like dystopian or action-led pieces. And if the character has depth, I’m totally open to fantasy or sci-fi too. If I ever get the chance to lead a project, I’d jump at it. Big or small, I want to tell stories that move people and let characters exist beyond labels or boxes.”
What’s next?
“I’m excited to keep reaching for bigger, more challenging work and to collaborate with creatives and changemakers who see potential in characters we haven’t seen yet. I’m also working towards a vision that expands my work internationally. So ‘what’s next?’ is staying open, growing my craft, and saying yes to opportunities that feel aligned. I’m excited and curious to see what the universe throws my way.”
The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer is available to stream now on Binge and Foxtel.
