Thuso Mbedu’s year started on a high, and it is ending just the same – the only difference is that she has multiple magazine covers, several accolades and a successful feature film in the bag. And, with new and exciting projects lined up, it looks like the new year will only get better for the South African actor.
Here is a look at Thuso Mbedu’s year in review:
Starting the year in South Africa Filming for The Woman King took place on location in South Africa and kicked off in November 2021. This meant that Mbedu rang in the new year with her family, friends and cast mates in her home country. Reflecting on 2021, the actor shared an Instagram post giving thanks for her award-winning role in Barry Jenkin’s limited series The Underground Railroad.
Thuso Mbedu as seen by the Black Image Center collective | Dazed
“Looking back at the year 2021, and I have to be grateful for every single moment,” she wrote alongside photos of herself in the show. “I have no words. Thank you.” Two months later, in February, she shared a carousel of her working family on what would be her first feature film. “Today with the loves,” she wrote alongside snapshots of the cast of The Woman King. “It’s going to be so quiet without you guys,” she added in a second post, posing alongside Viola Davis and John Boyega.
Spirit Award win
Less than a month after wrapping filming of the historic epic, Mbedu won Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series at the 37th annual Independent Spirit Awards for her leading role in The Underground Railroad. The Spirit Awards – usually held a day before the Oscars – is the premier awards event for the independent film and television community. “They told me a number of times to prepare something, and I really didn’t,” Mbedu said in her acceptance speech. “First and foremost, thank you to Film Independent for this recognition. Barry Jenkins, thank you for absolutely everything.” She continued to thank her family and the entire cast, crew and production team for their “guidance” and “support” in making the Amazon show.
Style Crush | Thuso Mbedu | TrueLove
A content deal with Paramount’s social impact division
In April, Mbedu announced that she had signed a content deal with Paramount’s social impact division. News24 reported that the International Emmy nominee will create, develop and produce exclusive scripted and documentary programmes for Paramount+ outside the US. Mbedu said in a statement: As Africans, we have so many unique and diverse cultures, histories and experiences that the world needs to see and hear about and, as an African woman, to get an opportunity to tell stories that will uplift, empower and shape new ways of thinking and seeing the world, is absolutely amazing. Sharing the news on Instagram, she added: “Thank you to Viacom and Georgia Arnold for giving us a chance to collaborate with our peers in crafting important and impactful stories.”
Toronto International Film Festival’s Rising Star
Shortly before The Woman King first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on 9 September, the charitable, cultural organisation named Mbedu as their Rising Star for her leading role as Nawi, a new recruit of the Agojie, an all-female unit of warriors that protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. “Thank you, TIFF, for this beautiful recognition,” Mbedu wrote on Instagram in August. “I look forward to learning and having an incredibly awesome time at the Toronto International Film Festival, where everyone will get to see The Woman King for the very first time!”
A press statement explained that the “TIFF Rising Stars programme provides actors on the verge of making big waves on the international stage with an exclusive opportunity to experience and engage with the festival”. “By providing participants with mentorship from industry professionals, access to insider knowledge and tools to develop their projects, TIFF aims to play a key role in supporting the most exciting new voices today who will shape the industry of the future,” Anita Lee, chief programming officer of TIFF, added in the statement.
The Underground Railroad’s Thuso Mbedu Had Other Plans
Women’s Health magazine cover
In the same month, Mbedu unveiled her Women’s Health SA magazine cover while sharing a letter dedicated to her grandmother. “Dear granny,” Mbedu wrote on Instagram. Your girl has achieved a lot of her goals but never did she ever imagine herself being on the cover of Women’s Health magazine. She’s on there with her abs and booty cheeks on the cover, and she looks great (the ‘Thuso Mbedu bikini’ google search will finally have results). In the cover interview, Mbedu opened up about her health and strength journey while preparing for The Woman King. “I’m not letting go of the discipline I built while shooting The Woman King. I don’t want to start afresh and motivate myself again with the next project,” she said.
Sources:
https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/tv/thuso-mbedu-movies-new-comic-fantasy
https://www.news24.com/channel/celebrities/thuso-mbedus-dreams-of-working-on-a-comic-come-true-with-new-stranger-comics-deal-20221223