Thishiwe Ziqubu is a multi-talented and award-winning actor and filmmaker based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Identifying as gender non-binary, Thishiwe uses They/Them pronouns.
As an actor, Thishiwe has appeared in several notable projects, including the BET mini-series Madiba opposite Laurence Fishburne, and the film Book of Negroes alongside Aunjanae Ellis and Cuba Gooding Jnr.
Thishiwe has received numerous awards for their outstanding performances, including several Best Actress awards for their lead role in the action romance Hard to Get, which is currently streaming on Netflix. They were also nominated for Best Actress in A Feature Film at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) for their role in the queer arthouse film While You Weren't Looking.
In addition to their acting work, Thishiwe has also appeared in the films Man On Ground and Tell Me Sweet Something, winning Best Supporting Actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs) for the latter.
As a filmmaker, Thishiwe is a prolific director, writer, and content producer. They co-created, head-wrote, head-directed, and co-produced the urban fantasy mini-series Emoyeni, which is available on Netflix. Emoyeni won several awards at the 2019 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs),including Best Scriptwriting, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Actor in a TV Drama.
Thishiwe's other notable directorial credits include the magical realism film Intombi YaNgale (The Girl From the Other Side),which was an official selection at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) 2019 in Los Angeles, USA. They also served as creative and head director on the international drama series MTV Shuga Down South, Season 2, directing 5 of the 10 episodes. The show won Best Youth Programme at the 2020 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
Thishiwe's independent film production company, Light Realm Films (previously known as Ngonyama Kapital),has co-produced the Emoyeni series. Their forthcoming projects include the psychological sci-fi series Custodians of the Ena, the fantasy romance Stellar Collision, and the sci-fi feature film The God Underground.