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This September, rising star actress Thuso Mbedu will be seen as the lead of Sony's The Woman King opposite Viola Davis. In the historical epic feature directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Mbedu plays Nawi, an ambitious recruit who fights within the all-female military unit lead by Nanisca (Davis). The film was shot in Mbedu's home country of South Africa and also stars John Boyega and Lashana Lynch.

Mbedu recently won an Independent Spirit Award, Gotham Award, and Hollywood Critics Association Award, and was nominated for a Critics Choice Award, for her starring role as "Cora" in Barry Jenkins' The Underground Railroad, making her the first South African leading woman of a US television series. The limited series is based on Colson Whitehead's bestselling Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which the Oscar winner Jenkins adapted and directed. For her performance, USA Today called Mbedu the "series' stunning standout, imbuing Cora with a deep humanity and empathy in her every scene, even when she has no dialogue."

An established actress in South Africa, Mbedu was nominated for her second International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in 2018 for her breakout performance on the series Is'Thunzi. She won a SAFTA (South African Film & TV Awards) for Best Actress - TV Drama for her work on the series. That year, she was also featured on the cover of the Forbes Africa "Under 30" issue highlighting African leaders.

Mbedu currently splits her time between Los Angeles and South Africa.

Debs Howard was born on February 10, 1989 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa and moved to Canada in 1991. In 2009, she attended a year long Acting For The Screen Program at the Victoria Motion Picture School in Victoria, British Columbia, from which she graduated with distinction. She continues to train and act in Vancouver, BC. She is an actress known for The Evil In Us (2015), Day For Night (2013), 1000 Things (2011) and Eaux Troubles Du Crime (2007).

Thandolwethu Zondi was born on 5 July 2001 in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. He is an actor, known for Go! (2025).

Graham Hopkins was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is known for Eye in the Sky (2015), Ali (2001) and The Lab (2006).

John Wright was born in 1906 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is known for The Tales of Hoffmann (1951), Supersonic Saucer (1956) and Billy Bean and His Funny Machine (1953). He was married to Lyndie Wright. He died in March 1991.

Alan Paton was born on 11 January 1903 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He was a writer and producer, known for Cry, the Beloved Country (1951), Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) and Lost in the Stars (1974). He was married to Doris Olive Francis. He died on 12 April 1988 in Lintrose, Botha's Hill, Natal, South Africa.

Hayden Griffin was born on 23 January 1943 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. Hayden was a production designer, known for Wetherby (1985), Intimacy (2001) and Conquest (1998). Hayden was married to Carol Lawrence and Fiona Williams. Hayden died on 24 March 2013 in London, England, UK.

Eileen Molyneux was born on 26 August 1893 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. She was an actress, known for The Key of the World (1918), Adam As a Special Constable (1918) and Eve in the Country (1918). She died on 13 April 1962 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA.

Shahir Chundra is an Actor, Director, Writer and Producer based in South Africa. He was also the lead singer of the rock band, MadLove. He started acting at the age of 5 after falling in love with the arts through movies television and plays.

By the age 17 his love for the film led him to begin a filmmaking degree at AFDA in Johannesburg. After qualifying as a Director Of Photography, it took him a few years to make his inevitable step toward Directing. Early in his career, he directed groundbreaking South African SABC youth culture shows like Street Journal and Kasi 101 and Noted

Shahir then involved himself in writing and copywriting, being part of the writing teams for South African sit-coms like "My Perfect Family" and "Majakhatata Records". Shahir was also the lead singer of South African rock band MadLove with 3 online number 1 singles.

Shahir has been a content director on Survivor South Africa Champions and Philippines, Masterchef Season 3 and was the Head of Content on Power Couple South Africa. As a Series Director, Shahir has helmed etv's 'Reality Check and Bootcamp Msanzi Celebrity Edition and Zavion S1. In 2019 he is Series Director on The Bachelor South Africa Season 1.

In 2011 he attended the New York Film Academy to study acting. As an actor, he has appeared in Isidingo, 7de Laan and Entabeni on South African Television. He also appeared in the Emmy award-winning international series 'Homeland' and played the lead villain, Raj Pillay in SABC 3's Bedford Wives. In film he has acted in An Act Of Defiance, 2017, the critically acclaimed Mayfair (2018) and 3 days to go (2019).

He resides in Greenside, Johannesburg.

A South African actor, comedian and voice artist best known for his starring role as Ravi Chetty, the head bartender of the Kings Casino bar who specializes in cocktails and "flaring" for the customers, in the SABC 3 telenovela High Rollers, and for his recurring role as Mr Govender on the SABC 1 sitcom Thandeka's Diary.

He hails from the little town of Secunda where he spent most of his childhood locked away in his bedroom embracing his introvertism and perfecting his programming skills. However, working in the real world of IT didn't quite stimulate all his pleasure zones, so Jai'prakash developed a personality, promptly announced that he would be an actor and hasn't been taken seriously since.

In 2004, he spent a year studying Musical Theatre at the Tswane University of Technology, and followed that up with numerous workshops and short courses within the industry. Also credited as Jai Prakash, he subsequently performed in a variety of stage shows, public park performances, physical theatre pieces and children's theatre shows. In fact, his physical performance skills in particular were well received in the children's theatre shows Aladdin (2008) and Charlotte's Web (2008), the seductively naughty School of Whoredom (2009), and the more controversial The Tragic Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (2008).

2012 saw his first major TV gig on the popular South African soap opera, 7de Laan, and by 2015 he landed his first starring television role when his character on High Rollers was upgraded from recurring to regular for the second season, when the show format changed from a weekly drama series to a three-day-a-week telenovela. In the same year, he secured a regular role on the sitcom Thandeka's Diary, featured in a couple of commercials, and secured roles in the movies Free State, The Deadline (a short film), and My Father's War.

Apart from plying his trade as an actor and writer with the occasionally splurges of bodywork therapy and web programming, Jai'prakash can be found hiking, climbing, playing video games, traveling and generally adventuring. He enjoys socializing in the natural outdoors and being active, constantly working on maintaining that perfect tan.

Mhlengi Makhaye was born on 3 June 2001 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa.

David Miller was born on 10 June 1989 in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

David Jeffery was born on 16 December 1991 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. He is an actor, known for 12 Days of Terror (2004).