Zuko Komisa

South African actress Thuso Mbedu is celebrating her 34th birthday today, marking another significant year in her flourishing international career.
Known for her powerful and nuanced performances, Mbedu has continued to solidify her status as a global talent.
Born on 8 July1991, in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu was raised by her grandmother after the early passing of her parents.
She honed her craft at the University of the Witwatersrand, graduating with honours in Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management, and also studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York.
Her early career saw her gain prominence in South African dramas like Is’Thunzi, earning her consecutive International Emmy nominations in 2017 and 2018.
The past year has seen Mbedu continue to expand her impressive portfolio.
Following her groundbreaking role as Cora in the critically acclaimed Amazon limited series The Underground Railroad (2021) and her powerful performance as Nawi in the Hollywood epic The Woman King (2022), Mbedu has further diversified her work.
Notably, she lent her voice to the character of Junia in the animated feature Mufasa: The Lion King, released in 2024.
This year also brings anticipation for her role as Aleah in the upcoming HBO miniseries Task, where she stars alongside Mark Ruffalo.
Thuso Mbedu’s today celebrated her journey and expressed gratitude for another year with recent photos, and reminisced about past birthdays, including filming Saints & Sinners 2 a decade ago and her fourth birthday, which was her last with her mother, 30 years ago.
“+1 🎈
Grateful to see another year 🥰
8 JULY. THEE MOST PERFECT DAY IN THE YEAR.
Frame 1 & 5
Photographed by @raulromo
Hair by @sharifposton
Makeup by @chilukinz
Dress by @farmrioFrame 2 was exactly 10 years ago. We were on set filming Saints & Sinners 2. I remember being so grateful to be on a job on my birthday. The cast and crew made it an amazing day.
Frame 3 & 4 was exactly 30 years ago celebrating my 4th birthday. It’s one that I will always remember as that was my last birthday with my mom 😅”
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