Mzansi always beams with pride when Thuso Mbedu is mentioned, and rightfully so, as she always flies the South African flag high.
The KZN-born actress has received her second of two consecutive international Emmy Award nominations for her role Winnie in the South African teen drama Is'thunzi and she has been making waves ever since.
Recently she bagged a life-changing role and became the first South African woman to play the lead role in a TV series in the United States. Mbedu's breakout role is Cory Randall in Barry Jenkin's The Underground Railroad- a limited series based on author Calson Whitehead's novel of the same title.
With the star's recent accolade, every publication wants a piece of her. Having graced Elle Magazine and Vogue, Thuso has now been featured on the May/June issue of Essence Magazine and she looks stunning. Needless to say that the theme "New Face to Watch" is befitting for the issue.
When asked about the importance of choosing her roles in productions she has been a part of, she said: "I'm not acting for the sake of being on TV. I'm doing it to a voice that can help people in the future. Even with the characters that I choose they are people who have to be strong, who are saying something that is adding value to people's lives."
She also said that the viewers can expect to see growth in her acting, as her role The Underground Railroad is the latest test of how far she can push herself and best serve her character.
"I have to step up. I can't drop the ball, you know? South Africa as a whole is waiting to see me represent them as a country."
