Mekonnen Knife on rejecting perfection and ZOMBIES 4 on-set chemistry
Mekonnen Knife
Styling: Marquise Miller & Aaron Christmon
Mekonnen Knife is an up-and-coming Australian-Ethiopian actor kickstarting his career with a role in the latest instalment of popular Disney franchise ZOMBIES.
As you might expect from a Disney talent, Mekonnen is a triple threat: in addition to his acting prowess, he’s an accomplished singer and dancer. Turns out that’s a helpful skillset to have when your first feature film involves perfoming alongside the likes of Milo Manheim, Malachi Barton, Meg Donelly, and all the other regular cast members and long-standing Disney stars!
With the recent release of ZOMBIES 4, Mekonnen Knife, or MK to his friends and family, is celebrating not just the release of a new project but, arguably, the apex of a career in its relative infancy. Getting cast in such a major international production is obviously still a “pinch me” moment for Mekonnen, and it represents the culmination of years of hard work. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the rapid surge of followers and swarm of media attention might have gone to his head, but instead Mekonnen comes across as an exuberant but grounded young man – a quality undoubtedly instilled in him by his upbringing in a family that holds helping others close to its collective heart.
We spoke to Mekonnen Knife about the chemistry on the set of ZOMBIES 4, his rejection of perfection in favour of mental health advocacy, and the next steps in his nascent career.
FAULT: You’ve been working in the entertainment space for a few years now but your role as Vargas in ZOMBIES 4 is undoubtedly your “big break” moment. How does it feel going from uncredited and/or smaller roles in series and limited release films to landing a significant role in such a popular franchise at such a young age?
Mekonnen Knife: It honestly still doesn’t feel real sometimes. For so long I was auditioning, training, taking whatever came my way just to get experience. Now, suddenly, I’m part of a huge Disney project. It’s wild. I feel really grateful that I got to learn and grow in those smaller roles first. They taught me how to stay humble, stay focused, and not take any of this for granted.
Other than the scale of production, what were some of the biggest differences working on set as part of ZOMBIES 4 compared to what you’ve done previously?
Definitely the energy. Everything on ZOMBIES 4 was bigger — not just the sets or the stunts, but also the vibe. There’s this mix of pressure and excitement because the franchise already means so much to people. Also, the cast felt like a real family. We had daily dance rehearsals, meetings, social time off set, all of that, so we became really close. That kind of chemistry doesn’t always happen, and it made a big difference on screen.
From flying under the radar as a talented aspiring entertainer, you’re now a part of the Disney publicity machine! How are you coping with being in the spotlight?
I’m learning as I go. But at the moment it’s all really exciting and a lot of fun. Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming, but I’ve got a great support system – my family, my team, my friends — and I try to remind myself why I’m doing this in the first place. At the end of the day, I’m just MK, someone who loves performing, and I think keeping that mindset helps me stay grounded.
I’ve read that, among several causes that are close to your heart, you’re a big advocate for men’s mental health. There’s a huge amount of pressure nowadays – especially in the entertainment industry – for people to show a curated view of their personality. Social media and interviews like this one are supposed to give fans an insight into what entertainers are really like but, instead, they often serve to bolster an image which, if not outright false, is at least very selective. How hard is it to strike a balance between being Mekonnen Knife the Disney star and MK the individual?
It’s definitely tricky. There’s this pressure to ‘show up’ all the time — to smile, to say the right things, to fit the brand. But the truth is, I have bad days too. I get anxious. I overthink. And I think it’s important to say that out loud, especially as a young guy in this space. Advocating for men’s mental health isn’t just something I talk about — it’s something I experience. I want people to know that you can be both — joyful and struggling, confident and still figuring things out. I’m not perfect, and I don’t want to pretend to be.
What’s one thing you wish people didn’t know about you (that you’re comfortable sharing)?
I’m really scared of snakes. Even if I see one on a screen, it freaks me out. I don’t know why exactly — something about how they move just gets to me. I had to do a TV segment one day a few years back where I had to hold a snake and act really interested and calm. People always joke about it because I’m usually pretty chill about other things, but snakes? Nope. I’m out of there fast.
Your parents co-founded the Grace Center Foundation in Ethiopia. You, your twin sister, and two of your other siblings were born in the country before moving to Australia after being adopted. How involved are you in the Grace Center Foundation, or other non-profit organisations, in Ethiopia? Do you spend much time in the country now, and/or is that something you’d like to do more in future?
The Grace Center will always be close to my heart because my parents poured their lives into building it and it’s part of my identity, my story. I haven’t been back to Ethiopia as much as I’d like to in recent years because of political unrest, COVID, etc, but it’s a goal of mine to spend more time there and give back in a hands-on way one day. Whether that’s through volunteering, fundraising, or just being vocal, I know I’ll return when the time is right.
Your parents’ work in international aid and development puts great emphasis on building healthy, empowered and sustainable communities. I wonder if, working in kids and teens entertainment, there are any lessons you can take from their approach and apply it to a fandom and online community which, at its worst, has the potential to be toxic and divisive but, at its best, can act as a source of education and support for young people all over the world?
Absolutely. One thing my parents always talk about is treating every person like they matter, no matter where they’re from or what their situation is. I think that’s something we really need in online spaces. The ZOMBIES fandom is passionate, and that’s beautiful, but I also think there’s space to encourage kindness and inclusivity. I’d love to use whatever platform I have to help build that kind of environment — one where people feel seen, safe, and inspired.
Do you have a favourite scene from ZOMBIES 4, or something that you were most proud of working on?
The closing song is one of my favourites. It just finishes the movie so well – the music and dance moves – it brings all the feels. Watching it back now, I’m like, “We really did that. We made a movie!” I’m super proud of how it all turned out.
ZOMBIES 4 is out, then you’ve got the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour – a series of live concerts taking place across North America. Have you given any thought to what you’ll do after that? Have you even had time?!
It’s been so busy, but in the best way. I’m trying to stay present and enjoy each moment as it comes. That said, I’d love to keep exploring different types of roles — maybe something dramatic, maybe an action movie or some serious. But who knows? The goal is to keep creating, keep challenging myself, and keep growing.
What is your FAULT?
I overthink everything. Like… everything. Whether it’s a scene I just filmed, something I said in a conversation, or what shoes to wear. It can definitely stress me out and distract me sometimes, but I’m learning to trust myself more.