Pearl Thusi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi 13 May 1988 Hammarsdale, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Education | Pinetown Girls' High School University of the Witwatersrand |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | |
| Children | 2 [1] |
| Website | www |
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]
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]
Thusi has two daughters . Her first daughter, Thando Mokwena, who is her biological daughter and an adopted child called Okuhlekonke Thusi. [7]
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]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tremors 5: Bloodlines | Dr. Nandi Montabu |
| Einfach Rosa: Wolken über Kapstadt | Nandi | |
| 2017 | Catching Feelings | Samkelo |
| Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu | Brenda Riviera | |
| 2018 | The Scorpion King: Book of Souls | Tala |
| 2020 | Bulletproof 2 | Joanna "Jo" Schmidt |
| 2022 | Fistful of Vengeance | Zama Zulu |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | Patricia Kopong |
| 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 |
| 2018–present | Behind the Story | Host |
| 2020 | Queen Sono [18] | Queen Sono |
| 1st KZN Entertainment Awards [26] | Co-host | |
| 2023 | Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire | Maadi (voice) |
| 2024- Present | The Real Black Pearl | Herself/Reality Show |
