Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu (born 8 July 1991) is a South African actress. She was nominated for an International Emmy for her role in the drama series Is'Thunzi.[1][2][3] She appeared on the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.[4] In 2021, she starred in the Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad.
Thuso Mbedu | |
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![]() Thuso Mbedu sharing her journey in The Woman King, 2019 | |
Born | Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu (1991-07-08) 8 July 1991 (age 31) Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
Education | Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School |
Alma mater | Wits University |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2014–present |
Her other roles include Kitso Medupe in the soap opera Scandal!,[5] Nosisa in Isibaya, and Boni Khumalo in Saints and Sinners.[6][7][8] She stars as Nawi in Gina Prince-Bythewood's historical epic The Woman King.[9]
Mbedu was born at Midlands Medical Centre in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal to a Zulu mother and a Xhosa and Sotho father, which is reflected in her multicultural name.[lower-alpha 1][10][11] She was raised in the Pelham area by her Zulu grandmother, who became her legal guardian after the passing of both her parents at an early age.[12]
Mbedu attended Pelham Primary School and then Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School.[13] She went on to study Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), graduating in 2013 with honours.[14] The year prior in 2012, she took a course with the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City.[15]
In late 2014, Mbedu had a small role in the second season of the Mzansi Magic soapie Isibaya, before landing her role as journalism student and wild child Kitso on Scandal!. She then had a guest role as Kheti on the second season of the SABC 2 teen drama series Snake Park.
After being unemployed for six months, Mbedu landed her first starring role in television in the Mzansi Magic teen drama series Is'Thunzi, which premiered in October 2016.[7][16] In the series she played Winnie, a sassy go-getter who dreams of marrying a rich and famous rugby player only to have her dreams dashed when she is exiled to go live with her strict aunt in Bergville. While filming a rape scene for the show, she suffered a panic attack.[17] In September 2017 she was nominated for an International Emmy Award in the category Best Performance by an Actress for her role as Winnie in Is'Thunzi[18] and was the only African to be nominated that year.[19]
Mbedu made her international debut in the 2021 Amazon Video historical limited series The Underground Railroad, based on the novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead and directed and executive produced by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins.[20][21] Mbedu earned a Hollywood Critics Association Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Gotham Award for the series.[22]
In April 2021, it was announced Mbedu would make her film debut opposite Viola Davis in The Woman King, a historical epic film inspired by the true events that took place in the Kingdom of Dahomey,[23] one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. The film is set to be directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, from a script by Fatherhood co-writer Dana Stevens.[9][24][25]
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Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2022 | The Woman King | Nawi |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2014–2018 | Saints and Sinners | Boni Khumalo | Lead role |
2014 | Isibaya | Nosisa | 3 episodes |
2015–2017 | Scandal! | Kitso Medupe | Supporting role (15 episodes) |
2015 | Snake Park | Khethi | Guest role |
2016–2017 | Is'Thunzi | Winnie Bhengu | Lead role (25 episodes) |
2017–2019 | Shuga | Ipeleng | Recurring role (20 episodes)[26] |
2018 | Generations: The Legacy | Okuhle Cele | Recurring role |
2018 | Side Dish | Phiwe | Miniseries |
2021 | The Underground Railroad | Cora Randall | Miniseries (8 episodes) |
Year | Association | Category | Nominated works | Result | Ref. |
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2017 | DSTV Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress | Is'Thunzi | Nominated | |
International Emmy Awards | Best Performance by an Actress | Nominated | |||
2018 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Actress TV Drama | Won | ||
International Emmy Awards | Best Performance by an Actress | Nominated | |||
2019 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Actress – TV Drama | Nominated | ||
2021 | TCA Awards | Individual Achievement in Drama | The Underground Railroad | Nominated | |
Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series | Nominated | |||
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie | Nominated | |||
TV Breakout Star | Won | ||||
Gotham Awards | Outstanding Performance in New Series | Won | [27] | ||
2022 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie | Nominated | [28] | |
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series | Won | [29] | ||
Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Performance in a New Series | |
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