Biography
Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu is a South African actress. She was born on 8 July 1991 in Pietermaritzburg and studied Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating in 2013.
Mbedu first gained recognition in South Africa for her lead role in the teen drama series Is'Thunzi (2016–2017), earning consecutive International Emmy nominations in 2017 and 2018 as well as a SAFTA award. She later appeared in series including Shuga and Generations: The Legacy.
Her international breakthrough came with the lead role of Cora Randall in the 2021 miniseries The Underground Railroad, for which she received an Independent Spirit Award. Subsequent credits include Nawi in the 2022 film The Woman King, voice work as Annette in Castlevania: Nocturne (2023–) and Junia in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), and Aleah Clinton in the 2025 series Task.
