Thembsie Matu

Matu was born in 1966 in Katlehong, Gauteng, South Africa.{{Cite web |last=Chester-Londt |first=Levana |date=2021-08-31 |title=Thembsie Matu wins a five-week battle with COVID-19 after being hospitalised |url=https://briefly.co.za/108196-thembsie-matu-age-children-husband-health-career-facts-profile-worth.html |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Briefly |language=en}} She grew up with her mother after her father abandoned them.{{Cite web |last=Mvelashe |first=Phakamani |title=How Thembsie met her father |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/how-thembsie-met-her-father-20180725 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}

She was married to Peter Sebotsa, an Anglican minister, who died after drowning in the family's pool in June 2019.{{Cite web |title=Thembsie 'Petronella' Matu mourns hubby's passing |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2019-06-28-thembsie-petronella-matu-mourns-hubbys-passing/ |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=SowetanLIVE |language=en-ZA}} She has one daughter and one son.{{Cite web |title=Thembsie Matu: TVSA |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=5673&sr=1 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}} In 2021, she contracted COVID-19 and spent five weeks in the hospital.{{Cite web |title=Thembsie Matu Is Finally Out Of The Hospital |url=https://zalebs.com/top-of-the/thembsie-matu/thembsie-matu-is-finally-out-of-the-hospital |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=ZAlebs |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mbendeni |first=Alutho |title=Thembsie Matu shares her hard fight against Covid-19 – 'It almost killed me' |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/news/thembsie-matu-shares-her-hard-fight-against-covid-19-it-almost-killed-me-20210813 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Actress Thembsie Matu grateful for life after fighting Covid-19 for five weeks |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2021-08-13-actress-thembsie-matu-grateful-for-life-after-fighting-covid-19-for-five-weeks/ |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=TimesLIVE |language=en-ZA}}

In 1987, she made her professional stage debut in the play Sekunjalo. After that, she performed in the plays What A Shame (1989) and Give A Child (1989). In 1994, she entered television with the serial Mama’s Love and then in the serial Lahliwe (1999).{{Cite web |date=2020-09-05 |title=Thembsie Matu: Bio, Age, Children, Petronella from The Queen |url=https://studentroom.co.za/wiki/thembsie-matu/ |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=2021-2022 Wiki |language=en-US}}

In 2006, she appeared in the SABC1 drama series Tshisa in the role of Nomathamsanqa. She continued to play the role for six years. Meanwhile in 2006, she acted in the SABC3 drama television serial The Lab. In the serial, she played the recurring role of Zinhle until 2008. She also joined the SABC1 mini-serial uGugu no Andile and played the guest role of "Teacher". In 2008, she appeared on the e.tv soap opera Rhythm City in the guest role Sis Bee. During this period, she made supportive and guest roles in many television serials such as Zone 14, Gaz'lam, Home Affairs, Zero Tolerance, The Lab and Jacob's Cross. In 2009, she acted in the comedy film Finding Lenny directed by Neal Sundstrom. After that, she joined the SABC1 sitcom Abo Mzala and starred the role of Zodwa in the second season, which was previously played by Lusanda Mbane.{{Cite web |title=Lusanda Mbane: TVSA |url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=12602&sr=1 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=www.tvsa.co.za}}

In 2011, she played the role Novezake in the first season of SABC1 serial Intsika. Then in the same year, she joined the serial Soul Buddyz to play the supportive role of Mrs Vilakazi. After that, she appeared in the serial The Wild as Gertrude. In the next year, she acted in the second season of the SABC2 serial Moferefere Lenyalong as Boreng. In 2013, she appeared in Rockville as Sis Ribs, where she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama at the 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).{{Cite web |last=Digital |first=Drum |title=The nominees for the 2014 SAFTA awards are... |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/news/the-nominees-for-the-2014-safta-awards-are-20170728 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} In the preceding years, she continued to act in many television serials such as Abo Mzala, Thandeka's Diary, MTV Shuga and Thuli noThulani. However her most popular television role came through the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen when she played the role "Petronella".{{Cite web |last=Ngwadla |first=Nkosazana |title='Petronella has taught me a lot' - Thembsie Matu on her role on The Queen |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/petronella-has-taught-me-a-lot-thembsie-matu-on-her-role-on-the-queen-20180427 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lurewana |first=Sibulele |title=SEE: Our favorite LOL moments from The Queen's Patronella |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/see-our-favorite-lol-moments-from-the-queens-patronella-20171024 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} With that popularity, she continued to play the role from season 2 to season 6 in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Faeza |title=SHE'S A BUBBLY SPIRIT |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/archive/shes-a-bubbly-spirit-20170728 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Mrasi |first=Athabile |title=How social media cost Thembsie a job |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/how-social-media-cost-thembsie-a-job-20171017 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}

Apart from television acting, she appeared in the popular commercial for the insecticide Doom. In 2018, she was nominated for the Diva Extraordinaire of the year at the 2018 Feather Awards.{{Cite web |last=Dayile |first=Qhama |title=These are your nominees for the 2018 Feather Awards |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/these-are-your-nominees-for-the-2018-feather-awards-20180926 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} In 2019, she co-hosted the show "Fragrance Your Life" with Nomsa Buthelezi aired on e.tv.{{Cite web |last=Mvelashe |first=Phakamani |title=Thembsie Matu and Nomsa Buthelezi on their new etv show |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/thembsie-matu-and-nomsa-buthelezi-on-their-new-etv-show-20190516 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}} Meanwhile, she also won the awards for the Favourite Actress and Ultimate Viewers' Choice awards at the 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards.{{Cite web |last=Sekudu |first=Bonolo |title=Thembsie Matu on 31 years in the acting industry: 'it's going to get better' |url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/thembsie-matu-on-31-years-in-the-acting-industry-its-going-to-get-better-20190531 |access-date=2021-11-15 |website=Drum |language=en-US}}

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• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3334013/ IMDb]

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Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:South African film actresses

Category:21st-century South African actresses

Category:South African television actresses

Category:South African stage actresses

Category:People from Gauteng