These African jewels have been showcasing great acting skills on screen and deep soul ties to their homeland. In television and film, most recently, multi-faceted talents like Pearl Thusi and Nomzamo Mbatha have given mind-blowing performances, bringing African actors much-deserved attention.
Pearl Thusi
Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi is known for her portrayal of Patricia Kopong in the comedy-drama seriesThe No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and Dayana Mampasi in the ABC thriller Quantico . The South African star later landed a lead role in the critically acclaimed Netflix series Queen Sono. The streamer’s first African original series was renewed for a second season.
Thuso Mbedu
Thuso Mbedu has been labeled ‘the first South African to lead an American series’. The 29 year old was cast as Nora in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video’s Underground Railroad, produced and written by Barry Jenkins. Mbedu was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the telenovela Thunzi, “one of the most compelling television programmes on South African television”(The Guardian).
Yvonne Orji
Yvonne Orji is a Nigeria-born American actress and comedian, known best for her performance in the hit television series Insecure on HBO, which earned her Emmy and NAACP Image Award nominations. Orji’s comedy special, Mama, I made it is currently streaming on HBO.
Sibongile Mlambo
Sibongile Mlambo is best known for her role in Netflix’s series Lost in Space, Starz’s Historical thriller series Black Sails, MTV’s Teen Wolf , and Freeform’s series Siren. The Zimbabwean actress’ film credits include Honey3 and The Last Face.
Wunmi Mosaku
Wunmi Mosaku is a force! The Nigerian-born British actress gave a fantastic performance as Ruby Baptiste in award winning HBO series Lovecraft Country. She was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Actress and also won the 2020 British Independent Film Awards for Best Actress for her role in His House.
Nomzamo Mbatha
Nomzamo Mbatha is another talent proudly representing South Africa. The human rights activist, TV personality, actress, and business woman is fresh on the nation’s mind as she played Mirembe, one of the major characters in Coming 2 America.
Lupita Nyong’o
Although Lupita Nyong’o was born in Mexico city, both of her parents are Kenyan. Her accomplishments expand all the way from winning an Academy Award for her debut performance in 12 Years a Slave (2013) to publishing a children’s book on self-love. Nyong’o has starred in several box office hits such as Queen of Katwe, Us, and Marvel’s record-breaking Black Panther.
Singer and actress Cassie Ventura, known artistically as Cassie, announced her pregnancy on Wednesday. The announcement was shared via a touching social media post featuring a series of intimate photographs with husband Alex Fine and their two daughters, Frankie, 5, and Sunny, 3.
The “Me & U” singer began dating Fine shortly after her split from Sean “Diddy” Combs. They made their relationship Instagram official in December 2018. The couple announced their first pregnancy, got engaged, married, and welcomed their oldest daughter the following year. Their second child, Sunny, was born in March of 2021.
The most recent pregnancy announcement comes more than a year after the 38-year-old filed and subsequently settled a lawsuit against her ex, Diddy, alleging various forms of abuse during their relationship. Fine has been incredibly supportive of his wife during this time.
The soon-to-be father-of-three also expressed his excitement in a post captioned “Best gift I could ask for.” In his Instagram stories, he revealed that Cassie is six months pregnant.
Preacher and producer DeVon Franklin is engaged to his girlfriend, celebrity trainer, Maria Castillo.
Franklin, who announced his split from Meagan Good in December 2021, proposed to Castillo on a Hawaii holiday vacation.
“Finding Maria has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life, so I wanted the proposal to be as special as our love,” he told PEOPLE magazine. “We went to Maui for vacation, I told her we were gonna do a photo shoot and during the photo shoot I surprised her with the proposal! It was truly a magical moment and I can’t wait to spend a magical life with Maria!”
The couple reportedly met a year ago when Castillo’s business partner, also Franklin’s friend, introduced them to one another. The two connected over their love for fitness and since that meeting, they’ve been inseparable.
See the gorgeous engagement photos below, courtesy of People magazine.
Viola Davis and Angela Bassett are set to take on roles that are not only groundbreaking but also reflect a vision of leadership that has been historically underrepresented. Both actresses, known for their extraordinary talents and impactful performances, will portray Black women presidents in two upcoming projects: “G20” and “Zero Day.”
Viola Davis in ‘G20’ on Prime
Viola Davis stars as President Danielle Sutton in the action-packed thriller “G20,” produced by Amazon MGM Studios. Set to premiere on Prime Video on April 10, 2025, “G20” unfolds during an international summit in Cape Town, South Africa, which is suddenly besieged by terrorists. Davis’s character, a former war hero elected on a liberal ticket, must use her military acumen and diplomatic skills to protect her family, her nation, and the world leaders in attendance.
Viola Davis in ‘G20.’
This film marks a significant moment as Davis, who has already achieved EGOT status, steps into a role that showcases her as a leader and an action hero. The story emphasizes her character’s resilience and strategic thinking under duress, offering viewers a thrilling yet grounded portrayal of a Black woman navigating the highest office during a crisis. The film’s director, Patricia Riggen, praised Davis for bringing an unprecedented depth to the role, turning her into a “weapon of mass destruction” in her efforts to combat the threats at the summit.
Angela Bassett in ‘Zero Day’on Netflix
Meanwhile, Angela Bassett takes on the role of President Evelyn Mitchell in Netflix’s “Zero Day,” a series that delves into the aftermath of a catastrophic cyberattack on the United States. Scheduled to stream from February 20, 2025, the film explores themes of technology, politics, and power, with Bassett’s character navigating the complexities of leading a nation in crisis. In “Zero Day,” the Commander-In-Chief teams up with a retired president, played by Robert De Niro, to unravel the truth behind an attack that claims thousands of lives.
Robert DeNiro and Angela Basset in ‘Zero Day’. Courtesy of Netflix
Bassett, known for her powerful performances in films like “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Black Panther,” brings a nuanced portrayal of the presidency, highlighting the challenges of leadership in a modern, tech-driven world. Her role in “Zero Day” is about commanding authority and the moral and ethical dilemmas that come with such power.