Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton

53 · Born: Nov 6, 1972

Personal Details

Official Socials
BornNov 6, 1972 Westminster, London, England, UK
Parents
  • Nick Newton
  • Nyasha Newton
Relatives
  • Jamie Newton (Sibling)

Biography

Thandiwe Newton, a talented actress, was born in the vibrant city of London, England. Her mother, Nyasha, hails from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe, where she worked as a dedicated health-care worker. Meanwhile, her father, Nick Newton, was a British national who served as a skilled lab technician. This unique blend of cultures had a profound impact on Thandiwe's upbringing.

As a young girl, Thandiwe spent her early years in Zambia, where she was exposed to a diverse and dynamic environment. However, political unrest forced her family to relocate back to the UK, and they settled in Cornwall, a picturesque region in southwest Britain. Thandiwe's childhood was filled with the beauty of the Cornish countryside, which undoubtedly influenced her artistic inclinations.

Thandiwe's early passion for dance led her to enroll in London's prestigious Art Educational School, where she studied modern dance with the intention of pursuing a career in the performing arts. Unfortunately, a back injury forced her to reevaluate her options and explore alternative creative outlets. This setback led her to audition for film roles, which ultimately marked the beginning of her acting career.

Thandiwe's breakthrough role came in 1991, when she starred in John Duigan's critically acclaimed film, Flirting. Her impressive performance caught the attention of industry professionals, and she soon found herself relocating to Los Angeles, California, to further her acting career.

However, Thandiwe soon realized that her British accent was limiting her opportunities in Hollywood. She returned to the UK, where she enrolled at Cambridge University to study anthropology. Between semesters, she continued to act, and her talent did not go unnoticed. She became increasingly in-demand for future film roles, solidifying her status as a talented and versatile actress.

Throughout her journey, Thandiwe has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to new challenges and seize opportunities. Her unique blend of cultural backgrounds, combined with her passion for the arts, has enabled her to build a successful and enduring career in the entertainment industry.

Career

2025
Anaconda
Anaconda as Claire Simons
2024
2023
2022
All the Old Knives
All the Old Knives as Celia Harrison
God's Country
God's Country as Sandra Guidry
2021
Reminiscence
Reminiscence as Emily 'Watts' Sanders
2018
Gringo
Gringo as Bonnie Soyinka
2017
Line of Duty
Line of Duty as DCI Roz Huntley
2016
Westworld
Westworld as Maeve Millay
2015
The Slap
The Slap as Aisha
Rogue
Rogue as Grace Travis
2012
Good Deeds
Good Deeds as Lindsey
2011
Retreat
Retreat as Kate
The Prophet
The Prophet as Narrator
Huge
Huge as Kris
For Colored Girls
For Colored Girls as Tangie / Orange
2009
2012
2012 as Laura Wilson
2008
W.
W. as Condoleezza Rice
RocknRolla
RocknRolla as Stella
2007
Norbit
Norbit as Kate Thomas
2005
Crash
Crash as Christine Thayer
2004
2003
Shade
Shade as Tiffany
ER
ER as Makemba 'Kem' Likasu
2002
The Truth About Charlie
The Truth About Charlie as Regina Lambert
2000
It Was an Accident
It Was an Accident as Noreen Hurlock
1998
Besieged
Besieged as Shandurai
Beloved
Beloved as Beloved
1997
Gridlock'd
Gridlock'd as Cookie
1996
The Leading Man
The Leading Man as Hilary Rule
Jefferson in Paris
Jefferson in Paris as Sally Hemings
Loaded
Loaded as Zita
1993
The Young Americans
The Young Americans as Rachael Stevens
1991
Flirting
Flirting as Thandiwe Adjewa