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Pearl Thusi

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Pearl Thusi
Born
Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi

(1988-05-13) 13 May 1988 (age 36)
Hammarsdale, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
EducationPinetown Girls' High School University of the Witwatersrand
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • radio personality
  • television host
  • businesswoman
Years active2003–present
Known for
Children2 [1]
Websitewww.pearlthusiofficial.com

Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi (born 13 May 1988) is a South African actress, model, and presenter. She is known for her roles as Patricia Kopong in the BBC/HBO comedy-drama series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Dayana Mampasi in the ABC thriller Quantico and Samkelo in the romance film Catching Feelings.[2] In 2020, she starred in the title role of Netflix's first African original series, Queen Sono.[3]

Early life and education

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Thusi is from townships of KwaNdengezi and Hammarsdale just outside Durban. She has two sisters.[4] She attended Pinetown Girls' High School.[5] She began her studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, but pulled out to make time for her career. In 2020, she resumed studies at the University of South Africa.[6]

Family and relationship

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Thusi has two daughters. Her first daughter, Thando Mokwena, who is her biological daughter and an adopted child called Okohlekonke Thusi.[7]

Career

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Thusi is the host of Lip Sync Battle Africa on MTV and e.tv, as well as the talk show Moments, on EbonyLife TV.[8] She has starred on the SABC 3 soap opera Isidingo, as Palesa Motaung, co-hosted Live Amp with DJ Warras and Luthando Shosha, and the SABC 1 celebrity gossip magazine show Real Goboza.[9]

In 2009, Thusi starred as Patricia Kopong on the BBC/HBO comedy-drama The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.[10]

In 2015, Thusi co-starred as Dr. Nandi Montabu in Tremors 5: Bloodlines. She also appeared in a music video entitled "Pearl Thusi" by rapper Emtee.[11]

In 2016, Thusi was cast as a series regular in the role of Dayana Mampasi on the second season of the ABC thriller series Quantico, opposite Priyanka Chopra.[12][13] In the same year, Thusi was cast as Samkelo in the romantic drama film Catching Feelings.[14] The film was released in theaters on 9 March 2018.[15]

In 2017, Thusi starred as Brenda Riviera in the drama film Kalushi.[16]

In 2018, Thusi became the new host of the third season of MTV Base's Behind the Story.[17] In the same year, Thusi was cast in the lead role of Queen Sono on the Netflix crime drama series Queen Sono.[18] The series premiered on 28 February 2020 and was widely acclaimed by critics, and Thusi's performance in particular was singled out for praise.[19][20][21][22] In April 2020, the series was renewed by Netflix for a second season.[23] However, on 26 November 2020, it was reported that Netflix has cancelled the series because of the production challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] On 15 December 2020, She became a co-host of 1st KZN Entertainment Awards alongside Somizi Mhlongo.[25] [26][27]

In February 2021, Thusi was cast as Zama Zulu in the Netflix film Fistful of Vengeance.[28] It was released on 17 February 2022.[29]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Tremors 5: Bloodlines Dr. Nandi Montabu Direct-to-video
Einfach Rosa: Wolken über Kapstadt Nandi TV movie
2017 Catching Feelings Samkelo Comedy/Drama/Romance
Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu Brenda Riviera Biography/Drama/Thriller
2018 The Scorpion King: Book of Souls Tala Direct-to-video
2020 Bulletproof 2 Joanna "Jo" Schmidt Direct-to-video
2022 Fistful of Vengeance Zama Zulu Action/Crime/Drama

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Patricia Kopong Episode: "Beauty and Integrity"
2011-2012 Zone 14 Samkelisiwe
2011–2016 Live Amp Co-host
2012 Real Goboza Co-host
2013 Isidingo Palesa Motaung
2013 Tropika Island of Treasure Host
2015 Moments Co-host
2016–2017 Lip Sync Battle Africa Co-host
2016–2017 Quantico Dayana Mampasi Series regular (season 2)
2018–present Behind the Story Host Fourth season
2020 Queen Sono[18] Queen Sono Lead role
1st KZN Entertainment Awards[26] Co-host
2023 Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire Maadi (voice) 1 Episode: "You Give Me Heart"

References

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  1. ^ Mbayimbayi, Asanda (10 October 2023). "'She confuses some letters' – curriculum specialist on Pearl Thusi's daughter". The Citizen.
  2. ^ "Pearl Thusi Films and Shows – Apple TV (EE)". Apple TV. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. ^ Kanter, Jake (28 April 2020). "'Queen Sono': Netflix Renews Its First African Original Series". Deadline. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. ^ Jordan, Andrea (17 January 2017). "Why South African Actress and Beauty Expert Pearl Thusi Is The One To Watch". Essence. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  5. ^ Madu, Golden (8 April 2022). "Pearl Thusi Biography: Age, Marriage, Husband and Children". DNB Stories Africa. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  6. ^ Ngenyane, Andiswa (28 January 2020). "Pearl Thusi goes back to school". Daily Sun. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ Mbayimbayi, Asanda (10 October 2023). "'She confuses some letters' – curriculum specialist on Pearl Thusi's daughter". The Citizen. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  8. ^ Zeeman, Kyle (2 July 2015). "Pearl and Lerato K make their Ebony Life TV debut". Channel24. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Pearl Thusi - TVSA".
  10. ^ Naik, Sameer (26 January 2019). "A Typical Interview with Pearl Thusi". IOL. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  11. ^ "Emtee Pearl Thusi". YouTube. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  12. ^ Petski, Denise (12 July 2016). "'Quantico' Casts Pearl Thusi As New Series Regular For Season 2". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  13. ^ "South African Actress Pearl Thusi Joins 'Quantico' Cast as Series Regular - Her Stateside Debut". Shadow and Act. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  14. ^ Stidhum, Tonja (19 June 2017). "LAFF 2017: 'Catching Feelings' Starring Pearl Thusi Navigates the Journey of Sex, Marriage, & Love". The South African. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  15. ^ Andersen, Nic (28 February 2018). "Catching Feelings: South African release date, cast and latest trailer". The South African. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Pearl Thusi Says Kalushi Shoot Took Her Back To Apartheid". Marie Claire. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Behind The Story with new host Pearl Thusi is back on MTV Base!". MSN Entertainment. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  18. ^ a b White, Peter (10 December 2018). "'Quantico' Star Pearl Thusi To Lead 'Queen Sono', Netflix's First African Original Series". Deadline. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  19. ^ Queen Sono: Season 1, retrieved 13 August 2020
  20. ^ Queen Sono, retrieved 13 August 2020
  21. ^ Isama, Antoinette (11 June 2019). "Production for 'Queen Sono,' Netflix's First African Original Series, Is Underway". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  22. ^ Winifred, Chisom (10 December 2019). "Queen is coming: Queen Sono premieres February 28th, 2020". Glam Africa. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  23. ^ Kanter, Jake (28 April 2020). "'Queen Sono': Netflix Renews Its First African Original Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  24. ^ Eloff, Herman (26 November 2020). "Queen Sono's second season cancelled amid 'current trying times'". Channel24. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Somizi and Pearl Thusi to co-host the Kwazulu Natal Entertainment Awards". 8 December 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Pearl Thusi and Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung score a dope new hosting gig". 9 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Somizi Mhlongo and Pearl Thusi to host KZN Entertainment Awards | Fakaza News". 8 December 2020.
  28. ^ Petski, Denise (26 February 2021). "'Wu Assassins' Standalone Movie Set At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  29. ^ Massoto, Erick (20 January 2022). "'Fistful of Vengeance' Trailer Reveals the 'Wu Assassins' Standalone Movie Coming to Netflix". Collider. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
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