Thuso Mbedu
- Date of birth: 8 July 1991
- Place of birth: Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Nationality: South African
- Main activity: Actress
Career
Thuso Mbedu is a South African actress who has gained international recognition for her work in film and television. Her career began in South Africa with roles in several television series, including Scandal!, Is'Thunzi, and Shuga. Her breakthrough role came in the American Amazon Video limited series The Underground Railroad (2021), where she played the lead role of Cora. This made her the first South African actress to lead an American television series. Her performance was widely acclaimed, earning her several awards, including a Hollywood Critics Association Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Gotham Award.
In 2022, Mbedu made her feature film debut in the historical epic The Woman King, where she played Nawi alongside Viola Davis. The film was shot in South Africa.
Family
Thuso Mbedu was born to a Zulu mother and a father of Sotho and Xhosa descent. Her parents passed away when she was young, and she was raised by her maternal grandmother. She has a sister, and they are reportedly very close, especially since their grandmother passed away.
Awards (2020 to 2025):
- 2021: Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards - TV Breakout Star (for The Underground Railroad)
- 2021: Gotham Awards - Outstanding Performance in a New Series (for The Underground Railroad)
- 2022: Independent Spirit Awards - Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series (for The Underground Railroad)
- 2023: Black Reel Awards - Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance by Female (for The Woman King)
