Nomzamo Mbatha (born 13 July 1990), is a South African actress, television personality, businesswoman, accountant and human rights activist.[2]
Nomzamo Mbatha | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nomzamo Nxumalo Mbatha 13 July 1990 KwaMashu, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Citizenship |
|
| Education | Bechet High School |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Organizations |
|
| Agent | CAA |
| Known for | Isibaya Coming 2 America Assassin |
| Television | Miss South Africa 2020 One Night With Mzansi SAMA Awards 2019 |
| Relatives | Zamani Mbatha (brother) |
| Awards |
|
She portrayed the character of Thandeka Ndlovu on Mzansi Magic Sopie era Isibaya which she starred in from 2013 to her exit in 2020. Her exit from Sopie introduced her to Hollywood where she was cast as Mirmbe in Eddie Murphy's sequel to Coming to America, which was stylized as Coming 2 America.
In 2021 April it was announced that she was cast in Saban Films new movie Soul Assassins alongside Bruce Willis which was later filmed under a new name Die Like Lovers but was released as Assassin and became Bruce Willis's last movie.
Early life
editNomzamo Mbatha was born on 13 July 1990 in KwaMashu Township,[2] approximately 21 kilometres (13 mi), by road, north-west of the city of Durban, in KwaZulu Natal Province[3] and is of Zulu ethnicity.
She attended Rippon Primary School in Durban and Bechet High School, where she obtained her High School Diploma. In 2018, she graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Commerce degree specialising in accounting.[2]
Career
editMbatha auditioned for a television show in July 2012. She has also started acting on Isibaya in 2013 and also became the main character, this marked her acting debut and was praised by critics for playing Thandeka Zungu.[4] The search, which was held at Cape Town, attracted over 600 contestants. She placed in the top 70 and later the top 10. She was one of the three top finalists. In 2015, she made a film debut in Tell Me Sweet Something with Maps Maponyane which was released in September 4, of that same year, and a television show Umlilo from 2015 to 2016. That same year, she began hosting a reality travel show called "Holiday Swap", on South African Broadcasting Corporation.[2]
In 2015, she was selected to represent Neutrogena, being the first South African in that role.[5]
In 2021, she appeared in the film Coming 2 America.[6]
The previous year, Mbatha signed with talent management agency Creative Artists Agency.[6] Mbatha starred on Assassin, as Alexa an American sci-fi thriller film in May 2023.[7]
In September 2022, Mbatha took the role of Nandi and also as an executive producer of Shaka iLembe aired on Mzansi Magic. [4][8][9]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Jake's are Missing | Page | Film debut role |
| 2014 | Tell Me Something Sweet | Muratiwa | |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Mirembe | |
| 2023 | Assassin | Alexa |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013—2020 | Isibaya | Thandeka / Thandeka Zungu | 7 Seasons |
| 2017 | Umlilo | Khwezi Simelani | 4 episodes |
| Holiday Swap | Host / Herself | Television documentary | |
| 2023 | Shaka iLembe | Nandi | 12 episodes |
Other achievements
editIn 2018, Mbatha was recognized as one of the OkayAfrika 100 Women 2018 Honorees, by OkayAfrica Digital Media.[10]
In 2018, she spent time touring Kenyan refugee camps, in her role as UNHCR Ambassador.[11]
She received an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for playing "Moratiwa" in Tell Me Sweet Something (2015).[12][13]
In January 2019, she was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.[14] In October 2019, she was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society as one of its Honorary members.[15]
Awards and nominations
editSimon Sabela KZN Film & TV Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Shaka iLembe | Best actress | Nominated | [16] |
South Africa Film and Television Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Herself | Best Actress In A TV Drama | Nominated | [17][18] |
National Film and Television Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Herself | Celebrity Personality of the Year 2024 | Pending | [19] |
Personal life
editAs of 2019, Mbatha resides in Los Angeles, California. She has a younger brother, Zamani Mbatha, who's also an actor.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Under 30 Creatives - Forbes Africa". 4 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d CUT FM Radio (10 November 2018). "Nomzamo Mbatha Biography". Bloemfontein: 105.8 CUT FM Radio Station. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Globefeed.com (13 January 2019). "Distance between Durban, eThekwini, Kwazulu Natal, ZAF and KwaMashu, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, ZAF". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ a b Tjiya, Emmanuel (7 August 2023). "The evolution of Nomzamo Mbatha". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Ayanda Molefe (23 June 2015). "Nomzamo Mbatha has every reason to smile as it's just been announced that she is the new face of Neutrogena". Elle Magazine South Africa. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (9 July 2020). "CAA Signs 'Coming 2 America' Actress Nomzamo Mbatha". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ Ngqabe, Xabiso (13 May 2024). "Nomzamo Mbatha on working with Bruce Willis in Assassin". Showmax. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Becoming Queen Nandi". DStv. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Nomzamo Mbatha is both actress and executive producer of historical drama 'Shaka Ilembe'". The Namibian. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ OkayAfrica (23 March 2018). "100 Women: Nomzamo Mbatha Wants Black Women to Know That They "Don't Have to Be Polite"". Okayafrica.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Sowetan Live (27 February 2018). "Nomzamo Mbatha gets hands on as UN refugee ambassador in Kenya". Sowetan Live south Africa. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Channel 24 (13 June 2016). "Nomzamo slays at the African Movie Academy Awards". Johannesburg: Channel 24 South Africa. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Daily Sun Reporter (2 June 2016). "Nomzamo Mbatha nominated for AMAA!". Daily Sun. Johannesburg. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Catherine Wachiaya (28 January 2019). "Nomzamo Mbatha becomes UNHCR's newest Goodwill Ambassador". UNHCR. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Nelly Mhlanga (23 October 2019). "Nomzamo Mbatha made an honorary member of the Golden Key Society". ZambiaNews365. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ Birjalal, Alyssia (13 June 2024). "LOOK: Nominees for the 11th Simon 'Mabhunu' Sabela Film and Television Awards revealed". Independent Online. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Ferreira, Thinus (5 September 2024). "2024's SAFTA nominations announced: See all the dominators and new categories at this year's event". South Africa: News24. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Ferreira, Thinus (26 October 2024). "18 SAFTAs full winners list: Shaka iLembe crowned king with 12 wins". South Africa: News24. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ Khanyile, Nokuthula (1 October 2024). "SA's 2024 National Film and Television Awards: Lawrence Maleka leads nominations list with four nods". South Africa: News24. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Liam Karabo Joyce (10 February 2020). "Nomzamo Mbatha speaks to us about LA life, Coming 2 America and giving back". IOL (Independent Online). Retrieved 24 March 2021.