Nondumiso Tembe (born 15 December 1987), is a South African actress, singer, songwriter, dancer and writer.[1] She is best known for the roles in many Hollywood television serials such as; NCIS: Los Angeles, True Blood, Castle and Six.[2][3]

Nondumiso Tembe
Born
Nondumiso Tembe

(1987-10-15) 15 October 1987 (age 36)
Durban, South Africa
Alma materAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academy
The New School
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
British American Drama Academy
David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University
Occupation(s)Actress, Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Writer
Years active1996–present
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Parents
  • Bongani Tembe (father)
  • Linda Bukhosini (mother)
RelativesAnele “Nelli” Tembe (sister)
Websitehttp://www.nondumisotembe.com

Personal life

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Tembe was born on 15 December 1987 in Durban, South Africa. Her mother is Linda Bukhosini and father is Bongani Tembe, both opera singers.[1] As a child, she left South Africa for the United States, returning at the age of 10 following the end of apartheid.[3] She studied musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). Then she graduated from the New York New School University with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in Theatre and later completed her master's degree in Political Science.[4]

Career

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Tembe started to act in opera and theater in New York when she was 6 years old. Upon her return to South Africa, she played the titular role in the stage play Annie. The play became very popular and became the turning point of her career. With that play, she also became the first black actress to lead a multi-racial cast in a major theatrical production in post-Apartheid South Africa.[3] Then she played the role of "Maria" in the play Leopard Skin and the role of "Thobile" in the play Mata-Mata.[4] At the Los Angeles theatre, she performed in the play Romeo and Juliet with the role "Josephine Baker". In 2011, she made television debut with a recurring role as a "ghost Mavis" on the serial True Blood.[1]

In December 2013, she joined with the cast of popular soap opera, Generations with the role of "Phumelele Miya". In 2015, she made a supportive role in the Hollywood blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron. She was awarded the Best Lead Actress at the Musical Mercury Theatre Awards for her role in the musical Cinderella created by Rodgers and Hammerstein. She also won the Best Actress in the Supporting Role category during the Naledi Theatre Awards for her role, "Susan" in David Mamet’s play.[1]

As a singer, she made her debut album titled IZWI LAMI; My Voice, which was released in January 2011.[4] She participated in the 90th birthday celebration of Nelson Mandela in his residence in Qunu as a featured performer.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Johannesburg Driver
2017 Zulu Wedding Lu Sabata
Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland Grace Rwaramba TV movie
2022 Thoughts Are Things Rochelle Turner Short
2023 A Tourist's Guide to Love Dom Fisher [5]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Linda Pierce Episode: "Hunted"
2011 True Blood Mavis Recurring cast: Season 4
2012 NCIS Petty Officer First Class Josie Sparks Episode: "Lost at Sea"
2013-14 Generations Phumelele Miya Regular Cast
2015 The Book of Negroes Fanta Episode: "Episode #1.1"
2016 Castle Aida N'diaye Episode: "And Justice for All"
2017 Six Na'omi Ajimuda Recurring cast

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth (Voice)
2021 Hearthstone (Voice) Cariel Roame

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ceves, James (13 June 2020). "Nondumiso Tembe: Is this successful actress the sister of AKA's new girlfriend?". Briefly. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Nondumiso Tembe". www.steppenwolf.org. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Nondumiso Tembe: TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Nondumiso Tembe - Official Website". www.nondumisotembe.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. ^ Grobar, Matt (6 May 2022). "Ben Feldman, Missi Pyle & More Round Out Cast Of Netflix's Romance 'A Tourist's Guide To Love'". Deadline. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
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