Pearl Thusi
- Birth name: Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi
- Born: 13 May 1988
- Place of birth: Hammarsdale, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
- Nationality: South African
- Main activity: Actress, model, and presenter
Pearl Thusi is a multifaceted and gifted performer who has appeared in various films and television shows, both in South Africa and abroad.
Career
Pearl Thusi began her career as a model when she was 13 years old. She later participated in the Miss South Africa Teen pageant in 2003 and was crowned first runner-up.
Pearl Thusi has hosted several shows on various platforms, such as Lip Sync Battle Africa on MTV and e.tv.
Pearl Thusi made her international debut in 2009 when she starred as Patricia Kopong on the BBC / HBO comedy-drama The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. In 2016, she co-starred as Dr Nandi Montabu in Tremors 5: Bloodlines and joined the cast of Quantico as Dayana Mampasi, a human rights lawyer turned CIA recruit.
In 2020, Pearl Thusi became the first African actress to lead a Netflix original series when she starred as Queen Sono on Queen Sono, a crime drama created by Kagiso Lediga. The show received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike and was renewed for a second season. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was cancelled in November 2020.
Children
Pearl Thusi has two daughters: Thando Mokoena and Okuhlekonke Thusi. Thando is her biological daughter from her previous relationship with sports presenter Walter Mokoena. Okuhlekonke is her adopted daughter whom she welcomed into her family in 2018.
Family
Pearl Thusi has two sisters: Prunella Sanelisiwe Thusi and Pamela Nomvula Thusi. Prunella is an actress who has appeared in shows such as Generations: The Legacy and The River. Pamela is a singer who goes by the stage name Pam Jikwa.
Dating timeline
Pearl Thusi has been romantically linked to several celebrities over the years. Here is a brief overview of her dating history:
- Walter Mokoena (2006-2009): Pearl Thusi dated sports presenter Walter Mokoena. They have a daughter together named Thando.
- Quinton Jones (2010-2012): Pearl Thusi reportedly dated media personality Quinton Jones.
- Da L.E.S (2013-2014): Pearl Thusi reportedly dated rapper Da L.E.S from 2013 to 2014.
- Robert Marawa (2016-2017): Pearl Thusi dated Robert Marawa from 2016 to 2017. They got engaged but called it off in 2017 due to personal issues.
- Serge Ibaka (2018-2020): Pearl Thusi dated NBA player Serge Ibaka. They kept their relationship private and only confirmed it in 2020.
Top 15 best Pearl Thusi movies
Here is a list of the top 15 best Pearl Thusi movies, ranked by IMDb ratings:
- In 2009, she played Patricia Kopong in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
- In 2011, she played Samkelisiwe in Zone 14
- In 2011, she played Mbali in Jacob’s Cross
- In 2012, she played Palesa in Rhythm City
- In 2013, she played Palesa Motaung in Isidingo
- In 2014, she played Zinhle in Soul City
- In 2015, she played Dr. Nandi Montabu in Tremors 5: Bloodlines
- In 2015, she played Nandi in Einfach Rosa: Wolken über Kapstadt
- In 2016, she played Brenda Riviera in Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu
- From 2016 until 2017, she played Dayana Mampasi in Quantico
- In 2017, she played Samkelo in Catching Feelings
- In 2018, she played Tala in The Scorpion King: Book of Souls
- In 2020, she played Queen Sono in Queen Sono
- In 2020, she played Jo in Bulletproof 2
- In 2022, she played Zama Zulu in Fistful of Vengeance
Thusi also featured in several TV productions, including Isidingo (2013), Queen Sono (2020), and Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (2023)
