IN CONVERSATION WITH THUSO MBEDU

interview by JANA LETONJA

South African actress Thuso Mbedu first captivated audiences with her searing, Emmy-nominated performance in Barry Jenkins’ ‘The Underground Railroad’, and later delivered a breakout big-screen role opposite Viola Davis in ‘The Woman King’. Most recently, she stepped into another career-defining moment, starring opposite Mark Ruffalo in HBO’s ‘Task’, and is preparing for her highly anticipated turn in Paramount’s ‘Children of Blood and Bone’, the epic fantasy adaptation based on Tomi Adeyemi’s best-selling novel. 

full look CHRISTIAN DIOR

‘Task’ marks your return to television. What drew you to this project, and your role?

In 2021, I watched and fell in love with the storytelling on ‘Mare of Easttown’. I really wanted to be a part of that level of creative genius, and so when I was told that I had the opportunity to audition for a show from the same creators, it was a no-brainer for me. Aleah, on paper, was unlike any character I’ve ever played to date. She’s intelligent, street-smart, no-nonsense, no-emotions, hard to read, and hella skilled.

I knew that she would be a challenge because of her backstory, what she had gone through and the career path she had chosen as a result, as it required a nuanced vulnerability mixed with kick-assness. My excitement in preparing for her started during the audition process, as I did a lot of research that I felt would best position me in trying to get the role. I watched documentaries and interviews on domestic violence survivors, I listened to TED Talks and watched more interviews to understand how they navigated the world post their soul-altering encounters, I read as much as I could, etc. I also knew that, because of her job description, if I got the role, I would have an opportunity to get tactical training, which is one of my favorite things. It really is amazing that, as actors, we get to learn whole new sets of skills as part of our job. It’s a privilege that I will never take for granted. I also felt excited to be able to play a contemporary American character, as I’d never done that before.

left:
top and trousers PRABAL GURUNG
neckpiece PAUME VINTAGE
bangles DINOSAUR DESIGNS
pumps CHARLES AND KEITH

right:
full look CONG TRI

How did working with Mark Ruffalo and the creative team at HBO challenge or expand you as an actor?

Working with Mark Ruffalo and the HBO creative team inspired me more than it challenged me. Everybody led and carried themselves with such a spirit of excellence towards the craft and the story we were telling that I had no choice but to step up to the plate. I was not going to be the one who brought the team average down. Everybody was so kindhearted. Brad Ingelsby, the showrunner and creator of the show, was open to conversations around the characters in the story and their individual journeys. We received numerous drafts of the story because of how much Brad took in from those around him and his environment. The directors were also very collaborative. It was very fun working with Jeremiah Zagar and Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Jeremiah, like Barry Jenkins, always said that the hardest part of directing is picking the talent during the audition process. By the time we get to set, most of his job is done, as he trusts his actors and their choices. He really made us feel like what we had to offer mattered.

You’ve said before that you approach each role as a “responsibility.” What does that mean to you at this point in your career?

I know this might sound very cliché, but, as with most actors, when it comes to acting or performing and storytelling, I really believe that I am doing what I was created to do. So, there is never a desire in me to shortchange myself or the audience members who will willingly give up their time and a piece of their imagination to go on a ride with us. In picking the roles, for me, it’s not about taking on a role for the sake of taking on a role, or for the sake of being famous or making money. I pick roles that I feel will be impactful overall and bring some level of healing to those who decide to consume our material.

And, as one’s career continues to grow, I think there is a greater responsibility because we find ourselves in a time where quality is being compromised for the sake of quantity, as people chase numbers and what is trending. Stories just aren’t the same anymore. Nothing challenges us to do or be better as a society anymore. I would like to believe that I always strive to use my work as a tool for social change because that was the reason why I even got into this industry.

left:
sweater SIMON MILLER

right:
full look CHRISTIAN DIOR

Do you see a common thread between all the women you’ve portrayed—strength, vulnerability, or something deeper?

I think there is definitely a common thread between all the women I’ve portrayed, both here in the US and in my career in South Africa. The women I’ve portrayed are all women who have found themselves in unfavorable circumstances but have not allowed those circumstances to dictate their end. They fight. They open themselves up in different ways, on different levels, and they share their wounds, which could first be perceived as a weakness, but both characters and audience alike come to realize that their weakness was their strength.

The characters always grow. How we meet each character in the beginning is different from how we know them by the time the story concludes. I always admire the women that I’ve had a chance to play. I think they’re the coolest thing on earth, and I can confidently say I’ve always hoped to be as cool as the characters I’ve played.

jacket and skirt WIEDERHOEFT
top BATSHEVA
shoes DOLCE & GABBANA

You’ve become a leading figure in bringing African stories and perspectives to global audiences. How do you see your role in shaping that narrative?

Honestly, I’m still figuring it all out. My desire is to be a kind of bridge, connecting authentic, multi-layered, and complex stories—dressed in people who look like and sound like me—with the rest of the world. By creating stories that highlight the richness and diversity of the African experience, I hope we can normalize our narratives globally and make space for the next generation of storytellers to do the same. The reminder is this, no matter how big or small the role is that we secure, we are not an afterthought. We are undeniable.

As a South African actress working on an international stage, how do you stay connected to your roots?

Growing up, there was an advertisement whose tagline was “Home is where the heart is,” and I really can echo those sentiments because I carry South Africa wherever I am in the world. Also, I quite literally have video calls with my sister and/or friends every day, as that affords me an opportunity to ramble on in my mother tongue. It gets tiring speaking English nonstop. Then, on the rare occasions that people visit, they always bring me snacks from home.

In addition, Gabriela Mclain is my personal trainer. I work out with her three times a week, and she has on rotation different South African music playlists because she knows that’s when she’ll get the best out of me. Finally, I’ve been fortunate enough to find a community of South Africans in Los Angeles.

left:
full look CHRISTIAN DIOR

right:
top and trousers PRABAL GURUNG
neckpiece PAUME VINTAGE
bangles DINOSAUR DESIGNS
pumps CHARLES AND KEITH

Your performances often carry a deep emotional honesty. How do you take care of your own mental and emotional well-being after such intense projects?

Taking care of my mental and emotional well-being after intense projects really is a case-by-case study, as it depends on the emotional load of the character. In the past, I’ve sought professional help in terms of debriefing for my character. I also have an inner circle of trusted friends who I can be completely vulnerable with and let them know when I’m not OK. They are able to walk me back to myself with care, sensitivity, and humor, when necessary.

I also pray a lot. Again, acting for me is me living out my purpose, and so I cannot remove the spiritual experience that acting is to me. Praying always grounds me and helps me separate that which is imagined or created by my mind and that which is real.

full look CHRISTIAN DIOR

You’ve built a career on purposeful storytelling. How do you choose which stories to tell next?

Choosing which stories to do next happens in conversation with my team. They have an idea of what excites me, what I would love to do, what I consider a good challenge, and what I would be indifferent to. They know that I’m always looking to stretch and grow myself. They know that we don’t do substandard, and so we don’t entertain any substandard submissions. There is no set formula, so it’s hard to say. You know it when you see it.

If I read a script and my heart cries or sings or dances with the character, then, for me, that is a story worth telling. And whether it’s a happy or sad ending, if I feel moved by the journey of the character, then I know it’s a story I want to explore. If it can move me on paper, I can only imagine how it will move those who view it.

Outside of acting, are there other creative avenues you’d like to explore, likewriting, producing, or directing?

Outside of acting, I definitely would like to explore producing, directing, and writing. I try to write in my in-between-work moments. I challenge myself. Writing is a daunting task where you really have to put ego aside and give voice to the most fearful and hopeful parts of you. I’m hoping that one day some of the projects that I’ve written will get picked up. The ideas range from romance stories to stories about fast cars and new technologies. It’s free to dream, and so I never hold back.

When it comes to directing, when I first applied to university in South Africa, the plan was to have one of my majors be directing. I’ve loved it since high school. When I am on set, I try my best to spend time behind the monitors, if I am able to, so I can see the goings-on of all the different departments. Directing is a lot of work, so I’m not sure when I will go in that line, but it’s something I would really love to explore one day.

full look CHRISTIAN DIOR

TEAM CREDITS:

talent THUSO MBEDU
photography ASHLEY CHAPPELL
styling JANELLE MILLER at A-Frame Agency
makeup SHANNON PEZZETTA at A-Frame Agency
hair SHARIF POSTON at A-Frame Agency
set design YARO BANDURO
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA