Who is Ruva Ngwenya? The powerhouse that brought Tina Turner back to the stage

If there’s one performer who deserves a spotlight, it’s Ruvarashe Ngwenya. From her early stints as a jazz bar performer when she was just a teenager to playing iconic roles like The Lion King’s Shenzi and most recently TINA: The Tina Turner Musical’s titular songstress, Ngwenya has proven she is an absolute force to be reckoned with. There’s so much more to this Australian-Zimbabwean icon than just star power, though.

"I kind of can’t believe it’s me!”

What makes a “Tina?” You certainly need a triple threat: a singer, a dancer, and a seasoned performer who can act their face off. Ngwenya’s prior credits include The Lion King, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, We Will Rock You, and Moulin Rouge: The Musical, not to mention a blossoming music career that hit the ground running with her 2018 E.P. titled Humble Brag. Suffice it to say, she checked all the boxes with flying colors.

So too did many of the other aspiring Tinas, naturally. So what made Ngwenya stand out?

The actress herself believes her growth throughout the audition process is what gave her the edge, sharing in an interview with Cream Magazine, “...in the end I would say my vocal abilities, along with the growth I showcased in my scene, and the dance auditions were impressive and inspiring.” Deeply grateful and pleasantly surprised, she stated in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, “I kind of can’t believe it’s me!”

Following a show in July, Ngwenya introduced Langer on stage, stating, “We’re gonna go back in time, to 1993,” the year the Broncos, captained by the champion himself, took home the Winfield Cup. Amid raucous applause, Ngwenya led the audience and Langer into a refrain of Tuna Turner’s beloved classic, Simply The Best.

But we’re inclined to believe she had a bit of Tina within her all along, a touch of soul that she brought to the stage, making it impossible to imagine anyone else in her place.

"Ain’t no mountain high enough"

Ruva, for all her stunning performances, should see TINA as a crowning jewel in her career. She may have already proven herself worthy of the role, but she’s exceeded all expectations, playing to standing ovations that erupt before the curtains even come down. It’s almost as if she’s a natural, a veteran in the role, someone who has been playing the part since her childhood, albeit to a slightly different audience.

Ngwenya shared with Cream Magazine, “I actually sang a Tina Turner number in a high school musical for the first time in year 10. River Deep, Mountain High. That was a very special childhood moment that shifted my outlook on music and what I could achieve.”

The love, as it turns out, went both ways. Before her passing, Turner lauded Ngwenya’s talent, telling Woman’s Weekly “Ruva is a beautiful performer who I know will bring her own joy and soul to this role. She joins a wonderful unique group of women that are my Tinas … and I’m proud of each and every one of them.”

We’re not sure how Ngwenya took that, but we’ve certainly been reduced to a blubbering pile of mush. It doesn’t get much more iconic than that, does it?

Though, of course, Ruva Ngwenya’s turn as the icon in TINA: The Tina Turner Musical sure comes pretty darn close.