Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu (born July 8, 1991) is a South African actress. She rose to prominence for her performance in the South African teen drama series Is’Thunzi, for which she was nominated consecutively for an International Emmy in 2017 and 2018. Mbedu later appeared on the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list.
In 2021, she starred in the Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad as Cora, which made her the first South African actress to lead an American television series, and earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series. She then made her feature film debut in the American historical epic The Woman King (2022) in the role of Nawi.
Thuso Mbedu has catapulted to fame through her role in the South African teen drama series Is’Thunzi. Notably, her outstanding talent earned her back-to-back International Emmy nominations in 2017 and 2018. Mbedu’s star power didn’t stop there; she also secured a coveted spot on the 2018 Forbes Africa 30 under 30 list, solidifying her status as a rising young talent in the entertainment industry.
Thuso Mbedu’s career trajectory promises an exciting adventure in the world of entertainment, with one notable award and three nominations already to her name. As she continues to attract audiences both locally and worldwide, it’s worth delving into the specifics of her career and the possibilities that this dynamic go-getter has ahead of her.
As of this writing, she is 32 years old and her star sign is Cancer. Unfortunately, her parents died while she was young, thus, she and her sister Noma Mbedu were raised by her grandparents.
Mbedu attended Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. According to her LinkedIn, she graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2013 with a degree in physical theatre and performing arts. She also studied film and drama at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.
In 2016, Thuso Mbedu embarked on her acting journey in the Mzansi Magic drama series Is’thunzi. It was a remarkable start to her career, and her dedication yielded significant recognition. This, according to Thuso Mbedu’s IMDb, received an Emmy Award nomination in 2017 for her role in the series.
Mbedu went on to star in a number of television shows after her debut role, including Kitso Medupe in Scandal!, Nosisa in Isibaya, and Boni Khumalo in Saints and Sinners. Her spectacular acting career began in late 2014, when she joined the cast of the second season of the soap opera Isibaya, and she has since graced both the big and small screens with her ability in a number of films and TV shows.
The renowned actress has maintained her personal life away from the limelight. As expressed in a tweet in 2022, she said that she was not married, and does not have any children.
Seeing as people like to tweet with their chests💀
Yes, I’m 31
No, I’m not married
No, I don’t have children that have come from my uterus but my nieces call me “mam’ncane” (younger mother) because that’s how we do it in the Zulu culture &I love them like their mineAs you were
Thuso Mbedu’s tweet (2022)
Thuso Mbedu constantly engages her fans across several platforms, boasting 1.5 million followers on Facebook, 2.4 million on Instagram, and 572,000 on X. Her social media feeds highlight her love of travel, as she has visited Paris, Dubrovnik, and Thailand.
In addition to her world travels, Mbedu shows off her luxury lifestyle, frequently travelling in opulent cars with Porsche and Mercedes Benz. She also lives a healthy lifestyle, frequently sharing glimpses of her gym sessions with her devoted following.
