The South African actress and model Thuthuka Mthembu is one of the fast-rising actresses trending in recent times. The 26-year-old actress came to the limelight for her role in the popular, award-winning South African soap Uzalo. In the drama series, she played the role of Nonka after she got cast in the long-running show back in December 2018.
Prior to this role, Thuthuka had only appeared in commercials and had only featured as an extra. Nonetheless, today fate has smiled on her as she is now living her childhood dream and hopes to make something of herself in the entertainment industry.
Facts You Didn’t Know About Thuthuka Mthembu
1. The Uzalo Actress was Raised by Her Mother
Unlike most of her peers, Thuthuka had quite a challenging childhood as she was raised by a single mother; this has been and continues to be a significant factor that has impacted her life. The Uzalo actress had no idea what her mum had to go through to provide for her as a single mother until she became a little older and wiser.
Although there is no information about her mother’s identity and what she does for a living, it is evident from the series of interviews that the actress’s mother is a strong woman who made sure to give her daughter the best she could afford.
Moreover, the actress has often described her early life journey as one saddled with unfilled dreams and instant gratification on her mother’s side, as she always put her daughter’s needs first.
What’s more, Thuthuka’s grandmother also played a major role with regard to her upbringing though just like her mother, there is not much information about her grandmother, apart from the fact that the actress had mentioned being raised by two strong women, which makes it obvious that it was her mother and grandmother. There has also not been any mention of her being raised alongside any siblings which makes many believe she might be an only child.
2. Thuthuka Mthembu’s father died when she was very young
The Uzalo star has suffered the loss of her father while at a very tender age. Thuthuka has revealed that the pain of losing him was the darkest time in her life. This obviously explains why her mother had to take up the sole responsibility of catering for her. However, again details about her father, including his name and profession, still remain a grey area.
From the way she talked about her father’s loss, it is obvious that he was quite a good man during his lifetime.
3. She is a Trained Entertainer
Born and bred in Johannesburg, Thuthuka attended Durban High School, before enrolling at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she majored in Theatre. She was in school when she got accepted into AFDA to study Writing and Directing.
Being excited about the development, the actress took to her Instagram account to share the good news in an effort to motivate other young people who might be interested in such an opportunity.
As it is, her training at the University and at AFDA have helped to hone her acting skills placing her in a good spot to showcase her talents.
4. The Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic had a Toll on Her Studies
Following the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the actress admitted that it was difficult to complete her studies during a Covid-19-ravaged year, yet the pandemic and its effects on the industry made her realize the importance of education. She stressed that it forced her to develop time management skills, and foresight, as well as balance all aspects of her life.
Eventually, in 2021, Thuthuka was among the people who graduated from AFDA, including the likes of Amanda du Pont, Thapelo Mokoena, Vuyo Dabula, Eric Macheru, and Khanya Mkangisa amongst several other famous people.
5. Thuthuka’s Fame Came With Her Role In Uzalo
Thuthuka has been keeping a low profile prior to her role in Uzalo. All the same, it was her role in the award-winning series that made her famous.
Uzalo is a South African soap opera produced by Stained Glass Productions and owned by Kobedi “Pepsi” Pokane and Gugu Zuma-Ncube. It began airing in 2015 and quickly became a blockbuster due to its top-notch production and appealing storyline.
According to reports, the budding actress received a call to join Uzalo after auditioning a few days earlier, in 2018. Hitherto, Mthembu plays the role of Nonka in the soap who is a typical 18-year-old girl. Her character in the series is that of a young girl whose attention is in between various aspects of her life such as studying and falling in love. She has a very strong and unwavering personality.
Thuthuka has over the years been able to interpret this role in an impeccable way. For that, she has won the hearts of the show’s fans and kept them glued to the screen. In a media chat, she admitted that what drew her to the character of Nonka was her story’s complexity and how it was a reality for many South African households. Recently, the Uzalo star landed a role in the second season of eHostela as Sthandwa, a local drama series produced by Stained Glass TV, the same owners of Uzalo.
6. Is the Actress Married?
From what we gathered, Thuthuka is not married as of the time of writing this report. Yet, there are speculations that the actress may be dating someone. She was linked to her Uzalo co-star, Sandile Mfusi who played her onscreen lover. Reports about their relationship were first made in 2022 and from what we gathered, they are taking things slow and staying away from media attention.
See Also: Jen Van Epps: Everything To Know About The Actress
7. Thuthuka has a Good Taste for Luxury
Despite her onscreen struggles, her real-life script is quite a different one as Thuthuka is living in luxury, reflecting her new social and economic status. It is safe to say the actress knows how to slay and show off in different stylish outfits.
Starting from humble beginnings, the 22-year-old Thuthuka Mthembu is doing exceedingly well and always standing tall among her peers. Her current net worth has been valued at R 9.6 million, a major improvement from her R 2 million net worth in 2020.
She has acquired her wealth mostly from her acting career. She also has business interests in Real Estate and Visual Arts, her businesses are all startups and the potential for high revenue and returns is inevitable.
Speaking in an interview with IOL, in the words of the Uzalo star, after studying Drama and Visual Arts, she doesn’t intend to act for the rest of her life. Also, the Uzalo actress mentioned that she hopes to start her own production company and bag another international qualification, citing her role models to include powerful women such as Oprah, Ava Duvernay, and Dawn Thandeka King.
