Thuso Mbedu Biography
On July 8, 1991, Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu was born. is an actress from South Africa. She became well-known for her role in the teen drama series Is’Thunzi, for which she received consecutive International Emmy nominations in 2017 and 2018. Afterwards, Mbedu was listed as one of the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30.
She became the first South African actress to play the lead in an American television series in 2021 when she played as Cora in the Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad. She also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series for this role. Next, she starred as Nawi in the American historical epic The Woman King (2022), her first feature film appearance.
| Stage Name: | Thuso Mbedu |
| Real Name: | Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 08 July 1991 (31 Years Old) |
| Place of Birth: | Pelham, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Gender: | Female |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Education: | University of the Witwatersrand |
Early life
Mbedu was born to a Zulu mother and a Sotho and Xhosa father at Midlands Medical Centre in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Her Zulu grandmother, who took on the role of legal guardian for her after both of her parents passed away while she was a young child, raised her in the Pelham neighborhood.
Mbedu went to Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School after finishing Pelham Primary School. After completing a semester at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City in 2012, she continued her education at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) where she studied Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management. She graduated with honors in 2013.
She has three names that reflect her multicultural background: Thuso (from Sotho), Nokwanda (from Zulu), and Mbedu (from Xhosa). Her paternal grandpa was from Lesotho, and she was mistakenly under the impression that her surname, Mbedu, was Sotho. She didn’t find out these details until she was older.
Career
After securing a small part in the second season of Mzansi Magic serial opera Isibaya at the end of 2014, Mbedu went on to star in Scandal! as Kitso, a wild child and journalism student.18 and 19 Later, she starred as Boni Khumalo in the television series Saints and Sinners and as Kheti in the second season of the SABC 2 teen drama series Snake Park.
Following a six-month period of unemployment, Mbedu secured her first television starring role in the teen drama series Is’Thunzi on Mzansi Magic, which debuted in October 2016. She portrayed Winnie in the television series, a sassy go-getter whose hopes of marrying a wealthy and well-known rugby star are crushed when she is banished to live with her strict aunt in Bergville. She got a panic attack during the show’s rape scene filming. She was the only African to be nominated that year for an International Emmy Award, having received a nomination in September 2017 for Best Performance by an Actress for her portrayal as Winnie in Is’Thunzi.
Mbedu debuted internationally as Cora in the 2021 Amazon Video historical limited series The Underground Railroad, which was directed and executive produced by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins and was based on Colson Whitehead’s book of the same name. Reference For the series, Mbedu won a Gotham Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Hollywood Critics Association Award.
The announcement came in April 2021 that Mbedu would star as Nawi opposite Viola Davis in the historical epic film The Woman King. The film is based on genuine events that happened in the Kingdom of Dahomey, which was one of the most powerful states in Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. Gina Prince-Bythewood directed the movie based on a script written by Dana Stevens, who also wrote Fatherhood.
Mbedu was appointed L’Oréal’s ambassador and spokesman for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023. ‘The not-quite-redemption of South Africa’s infamous ultra-marathon fraudsters’ was narrated by Mbedu in August 2023. on the audio platform Curio
Net Worth
Rich and talented in her youth, Thuso Mbedu has shared the stage with numerous A-list actors. It is estimated that her net worth is approximately $1.1 million.
Thuso Mbedu Personal Life
Despite being unmarried, There have been rumors recently suggesting that Thuso is romantically involved with Musa Mthombeni. In the end, she denied the accusations, saying that they are just friends.
Social Media
Millions of people follow the active Instagram user Thuso Mbedu. She has 1.4 million followers on her verified Instagram account.
Her regular updates showcasing her amazing and gorgeous ensembles along with other alluring content that her fans find interesting are the reason behind this number that keeps increasing every day.
@thuso.mbedu on Instagram.
Thuso Mbedu – Filmography
Film
- The woman King – 2022
Television
- Saints and Sinners- 2014-2018
- Isibaya – 2014
- Scandal – 2015/2017
- Snake Park – 2015
- Is’Thunzi – 2016/2017
- Shuga – 2017-2019
- Generations: The Legacy – 2018
- Side Dish – 2018
- The Underground Railroad – 2021
Thuso Mbedu Awards
| Year | Association | Category | Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Actress TV Drama | Is’Thunzi |
| 2021 | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | TV Breakout Star | The Underground Railroad |
| 2021 | Gotham Awards | Outstanding Performance in New Series | The Underground Railroad |
| 2022 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series | The Underground Railroad |
Who is Thuso Mbedu?
Actress Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu from South Africa. The multi-award-winning actress is most renowned for her parts in the epic movie “The Woman King” in 2022 and the Amazon Video limited series “The Underground Railroad” in 2021.
How old is Thuso Mbedu?
Thuso Mbedu will be 31 years old on May 2023. Her birthday is July 8, 1991. She is under the sign of Cancer.
What did Thuso Mbedu study?
What was studied by Thuso Mbedu? From Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School, she graduated. She earned her physical theater and performing arts degree with honors from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2013. In 2012, she also studied drama and film at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.
What is Thuso Mbedu’s net worth?
She makes her living as an actress in popular television shows and movies and as a model. An estimate of her net worth puts it at $5 million. The current salary of Thuso Mbedu is not known.
Is Thuso Mbedu married?
The actress is linked to someone. The identity of Thuso Mbedu’s partner is unknown to the general public, nevertheless. On November 5, 2014, Zenny Zen, her daughter, was born. She keeps her romantic life private and doesn’t appear to be with her child’s father either.
How tall is Thuso Mbedu?
Thuso Mbedu weighs 125 pounds (57 kilograms) and stands 5 feet 4 inches (163 centimeters) tall. Her eyes are dark brown, and she has black hair. Her dimensions are 81-63-91 centimeters, or 32-25-36 inches.
Where is Thuso Mbedu now?
She works as an anchor, producer, and junior production coordinator for Johannesburgtoday.tv in Gauteng.
Her most recent acting performance was in the historical epic film The Woman King, which was based on actual events that happened in Africa in the 19th century. She starred with such notable performers as Sheila Atim, Lashana Lynch, and Viola Davis. Additionally, Mbedu was listed among the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30
Thuso Mbedu is renowned for her superb acting abilities and has won various awards. She is regarded as one of the most gifted and promising actresses in the business and is still making progress in her career.
