Pearl Thusi
{{short description|South African actress (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pearl Thusi
| image =
| caption = Pearl Thusi at the 2014 Metro FM Music Awards in Durban
| birth_name = Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|05|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hammarsdale, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
| other_names =
| education = Pinetown Girls' High School
University of the Witwatersrand
| occupation = * Actress
- model
- radio personality
- television host
- businesswoman
| years_active = 2003–present
| known_for = *Queen Sono
| children = 2 {{cite news |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/she-confuses-some-letters-curriculum-specialist-on-pearl-thusis-daughter/ |first= Asanda|last= Mbayimbayi | date=10 Oct 2023| title= 'She confuses some letters' – curriculum specialist on Pearl Thusi's daughter| website = The Citizen}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.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.{{Cite web |title=Pearl Thusi Films and Shows – Apple TV (EE) |url=https://tv.apple.com/ee/person/pearl-thusi/umc.cpc.70b5nbdghnp156oj3zpk1jxe |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Apple TV|language=en-GB}} In 2020, she starred in the title role of Netflix's first African original series, Queen Sono.{{Cite web|last=Kanter|first=Jake|date=2020-04-28|title='Queen Sono': Netflix Renews Its First African Original Series|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/queen-sono-netflix-renews-first-african-original-1202919754/|access-date=2020-08-13|website=Deadline|language=en}}
Early life and education
Thusi is from townships of KwaNdengezi and Hammarsdale just outside Durban. She has two sisters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/pearl-thusi-interview/|title=Why South African Actress and Beauty Expert Pearl Thusi Is The One To Watch|website=Essence|first=Andrea|last=Jordan|date=17 January 2017|access-date=11 August 2021}} She attended Pinetown Girls' High School.{{Cite web |last=Madu |first=Golden |date=2022-04-08 |title=Pearl Thusi Biography: Age, Marriage, Husband and Children |url=https://dnbstories.com/2022/04/pearl-thusi-biography-marriage-husband-and-children.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=DNB Stories Africa |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysun.co.za/Celebs/pearl-thusi-goes-back-to-school-20200128|title=Pearl Thusi goes back to school|website=Daily Sun|first=Andiswa|last=Ngenyane|date=28 January 2020|access-date=11 August 2021}}
Family and relationship
Thusi has two daughters
. Her first daughter, Thando Mokwena, who is her biological daughter and an adopted child called Okuhlekonke Thusi.{{Cite web |last=Mbayimbayi |first=Asanda |date=2023-10-10 |title='She confuses some letters' – curriculum specialist on Pearl Thusi's daughter |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/she-confuses-some-letters-curriculum-specialist-on-pearl-thusis-daughter/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}
Career
Thusi is the host of Lip Sync Battle Africa on MTV and e.tv, as well as the talk show Moments, on EbonyLife TV.{{cite web|url=https://www.channel24.co.za/The-Juice/Watch-Pearl-Thusi-and-Lerato-K-make-their-Ebony-Life-TV-debut-20150702|title=Pearl and Lerato K make their Ebony Life TV debut|last=Zeeman|first=Kyle|work=Channel24|date=2 July 2015|access-date=21 February 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=7058|title=Pearl Thusi - TVSA}}
In 2009, Thusi starred as Patricia Kopong on the BBC/HBO comedy-drama The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/atypicalinterview-with-pearl-thusi-18970413|title=A Typical Interview with Pearl Thusi|last=Naik|first=Sameer|work=IOL|date=26 January 2019|access-date=21 February 2019}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwQ6q--avE0|title=Emtee Pearl Thusi|work=YouTube|date=26 January 2016|access-date=7 March 2018}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/07/quantico-cast-pearl-thusi-series-regular-1201785594/|title='Quantico' Casts Pearl Thusi As New Series Regular For Season 2|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=12 July 2016|publisher=|access-date=13 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://shadowandact.com/2016/07/12/south-african-actress-pearl-thusi-joins-quantico-cast-as-a-series-regular-her-stateside-debut/|title=South African Actress Pearl Thusi Joins 'Quantico' Cast as Series Regular - Her Stateside Debut|date=12 July 2016|publisher=Shadow and Act|access-date=13 July 2016}} In the same year, Thusi was cast as Samkelo in the romantic drama film Catching Feelings.{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodsblackrenaissance.com/laff-2017-catching-feelings/ |title=LAFF 2017: 'Catching Feelings' Starring Pearl Thusi Navigates the Journey of Sex, Marriage, & Love |last=Stidhum |first=Tonja |date=19 June 2017 |website=The South African |access-date=7 March 2018}} The film was released in theaters on 9 March 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/catching-feelings-release-date-cast-latest-trailer/ |title=Catching Feelings: South African release date, cast and latest trailer |last=Andersen |first=Nic |date=28 February 2018 |website=The South African |access-date=7 March 2018}}
In 2017, Thusi starred as Brenda Riviera in the drama film Kalushi.{{cite web|url=http://www.marieclaire.co.za/celebrity/pearl-thusi-kalushi-interview|title=Pearl Thusi Says Kalushi Shoot Took Her Back To Apartheid|work=Marie Claire|date=9 March 2017|access-date=21 February 2019}}
In 2018, Thusi became the new host of the third season of MTV Base's Behind the Story.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-za/entertainment/local/behind-the-story-with-new-host-pearl-thusi-is-back-on-mtv-base-zaleb-gossip-and-more-dstv/vp-BBMkkqN|title=Behind The Story with new host Pearl Thusi is back on MTV Base!|work=MSN Entertainment|date=23 August 2018|access-date=11 December 2018}} In the same year, Thusi was cast in the lead role of Queen Sono on the Netflix crime drama series Queen Sono.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/queen-sono-pearl-thusi-netflix-1202516920/|title='Quantico' Star Pearl Thusi To Lead 'Queen Sono', Netflix's First African Original Series|first=Peter|last=White|date=December 10, 2018|publisher=Deadline|access-date=December 11, 2018}} The series premiered on 28 February 2020 and was widely acclaimed by critics, and Thusi's performance in particular was singled out for praise.{{Citation|title=Queen Sono: Season 1|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/queen_sono/s01|language=en|access-date=2020-08-13}}{{Citation|title=Queen Sono|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/queen_sono|language=en|access-date=2020-08-13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/production-for-queen-sono-netflix-first-african-original-series-is-underway/|title=Production for 'Queen Sono,' Netflix's First African Original Series, Is Underway|last=Isama|first=Antoinette|work=OkayAfrica|date=June 11, 2019|access-date=June 12, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.glamafrica.com/queen-sono/|title=Queen is coming: Queen Sono premieres February 28th, 2020|last=Winifred|first=Chisom|work=Glam Africa|date=December 10, 2019|access-date=December 11, 2019}} In April 2020, the series was renewed by Netflix for a second season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/queen-sono-netflix-renews-first-african-original-1202919754/|title='Queen Sono': Netflix Renews Its First African Original Series|last=Kanter|first=Jake|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=28 April 2020|access-date=28 April 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/channel/tv/news/queen-sonos-second-season-cancelled-amid-current-trying-times-20201126-2|title=Queen Sono's second season cancelled amid 'current trying times'|last=Eloff|first=Herman|work=Channel24|date=26 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2020}}
On 15 December 2020, She became a co-host of 1st KZN Entertainment Awards alongside Somizi Mhlongo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entertainmentsa.co.za/somizi-and-pearl-thusi-to-co-host-the-kwazulu-natal-entertainment-awards/|title = Somizi and Pearl Thusi to co-host the Kwazulu Natal Entertainment Awards|date = 8 December 2020}}
{{Cite web|url=https://briefly.co.za/90319-pearl-thusi-somizi-mhlongo-motaung-score-a-dope-hosting-gig.html|title=Pearl Thusi and Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung score a dope new hosting gig|date=9 December 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://fakazanews.com/2020/12/08/somizi-mhlongo-and-pearl-thusi-to-host-kzn-entertainment-awards/|title = Somizi Mhlongo and Pearl Thusi to host KZN Entertainment Awards | Fakaza News|date = 8 December 2020}}
In February 2021, Thusi was cast as Zama Zulu in the Netflix film Fistful of Vengeance.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/wu-assassins-standalone-movie-netflix-fistful-of-vengeance-1234702006/|title='Wu Assassins' Standalone Movie Set At Netflix|last=Petski|first=Denise|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=26 February 2021|access-date=27 February 2021}} It was released on 17 February 2022.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/fistful-of-vengeance-trailer-wu-assassins-netflix/|title='Fistful of Vengeance' Trailer Reveals the 'Wu Assassins' Standalone Movie Coming to Netflix|website=Collider|first=Erick|last=Massoto|date=20 January 2022|access-date=20 January 2022}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role |
|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| Dr. Nandi Montabu |
| Einfach Rosa: Wolken über Kapstadt
| Nandi |
| rowspan="2"| 2017
| Samkelo |
| Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu
| Brenda Riviera |
| 2018
| The Scorpion King: Book of Souls | Tala |
| 2020
| Joanna "Jo" Schmidt |
| 2022
| Zama Zulu |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| 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
| Co-host |
| 2016–2017
| Quantico | Dayana Mampasi |
| 2018–present
| Behind the Story | Host |
| rowspan ="2"| 2020
| Queen Sono |
| 1st KZN Entertainment Awards
|Co-host |
| 2023
|Maadi (voice) |
| 2024- Present
|Herself/Reality Show |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=7058 TVSA Actor Profile]
- {{IMDb name|3413191}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thusi, Pearl}}
Category:South African actresses