Thuso Mbedu

Actor, Writer, Director

Birthdate: July 8, 1991 (35 Years Old)

Birthplace: Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Thuso Mbedu (birthname: Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu) is a South African actor who broke through in the movies in 2022 in the powerful role of Nawi in director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s acclaimed The Woman King, for which she became an instant Best Supporting Actress Oscar contender. Starting in 2014, Mbedu’s professional career (after graduating from Wits University) began with a successful, four-season run in the South African TV series, Saints and Sinners (2014-2018), followed by long-running performances in other South African TV series including Scandal! (2015-2017), Is’Thunzi (2016-2017), and Shuga (2017-2019).

Mbedu’s American debut was in the lead of director Barry Jenkins’ acclaimed Amazon Studios adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel, The Underground Railroad (2021), starring Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mullan, and Sheila Atim. Mbedu stayed in period drama with The Woman King, starring Viola Davis and Lashana Lynch.

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Personal Life
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Personal life

Thuso Mbedu was born and raised in Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, by a Zulu mother and a father of mixed Xhosa and Sotho tribal origins. Her parents died when Mbedu was young; she was then raised by her maternal grandmother. Mbedu’s schooling included Pelham Primary School and Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School. She graduated with honors from the University of the Witwatersrand (also known as Wits), where she studied the disciplines of Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management. Mbedu also studied theater and acting at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.

Known For

The Woman King

Nawi (2022)

The Underground Railroad

Cora (2021)

Castlevania: Nocturne

Annette (2023)

Task

Aleah (2025)

Awards

Winner, Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series, Independent Spirit Awards (2022); Two-time Nominee, Best Actress, International Emmy Awards (2017, 2018); Nominee, Individual Achievement in Drama, Television Critics Association Awards (2021).

Critics Choice Award

Critics Choice Award

Critics Choice Awards

Independent Spirit Award

Independent Spirit Award

Film Independent Spirit Awards

Thuso Mbedu Movies

Actor

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Upcoming (1)

2027 |
Children of Blood and Bone
Children of Blood and Bone
2027
Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
A woman, blessed with magical powers by the gods and living in a place where she is forbidden to use them, teams up with a princess to summon the gods and bring down the oppressive regime.
asZelie

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Previous (1)

2022 |
The Woman King
The Woman King
2022
Action, Drama, History
A historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Facts About Thuso Mbedu

What’s in a Name?: Thuso Mbedu’s full name reflects her multicultural and multi-tribal origins: Thuso is a Sotho name; Nokwanda (her middle name) is a Zulu name; and Mbedu is of Xhosa origins.