Biography
Who is Thuso Mbedu?
Early life and education
Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu was born at Midlands Medical Centre in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Her mother was of Zulu descent, while her father had Sotho and Xhosa roots. After the death of both parents during her youth, her grandmother raised her in the Pelham area and became her legal guardian.
She attended Pelham Primary School before continuing her studies at Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School. In 2012, she traveled to New York City to complete a course at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. She later attended the University of the Witwatersrand, where she studied Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management. She graduated with honours from the university in 2013.
Television career beginnings
In late 2014, the actress secured a small part during the second season of the Mzansi Magic soap opera Isibaya. She followed this with a role as a journalism student named Kitso on the series Scandal!. Her early television work also included a guest spot as Kheti in the second season of the SABC 2 drama Snake Park, and she portrayed Boni Khumalo in the show Saints and Sinners.
After experiencing six months of unemployment, she successfully auditioned for the teen drama series Is'Thunzi, which debuted in October 2016. She played the character Winnie, a young woman who aspires to marry a professional rugby player but finds her plans disrupted when she moves to Bergville to live with a strict aunt. During the production of a rape scene for the show, she experienced a panic attack. Her work on this series earned her consecutive International Emmy Award nominations in 2017 and 2018.
International breakthrough
Thuso Mbedu reached a wider audience in 2021 when she played Cora in the Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad. Directed by Barry Jenkins and based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, this role made her the first South African actress to lead an American television series. Her performance resulted in several accolades, including the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series, a Gotham Award, and a Hollywood Critics Association Award.
Following her television success, she made her feature film debut in the 2022 historical epic The Woman King. She played the role of Nawi opposite Viola Davis in the project, which was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The story explores events within the Kingdom of Dahomey during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Recent projects
In 2023, the performer became a spokesperson and ambassador for L’Oréal in Sub-Saharan Africa. That same year, she narrated an audio feature titled The not-quite-redemption of South Africa's infamous ultra-marathon cheats for the platform Curio. By early 2025, reports indicated she had been cast in the lead role for the upcoming Paramount film Children of Blood and Bone, joining a cast that includes actors such as Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, and Idris Elba.
Birthday and age
Thuso Mbedu was born on July 8, 1991, which makes Thuso 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Thuso shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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