Gugu Mbatha-Raw Wiki, Age, Biography, Height, boyfriend, Family, Images, And More
Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw MBE (/uu mbaetr/; born 21 April 1983) is a British actress known for her stage and screen performances. Queen Elizabeth II made her a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2017 for her contributions to drama. Mbatha-Raw was named a global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in February 2021. (UNHCR).
Mbatha-Raw began her theatrical career by studying at the National Youth Theatre and the Royal School of Dramatic Art. In 2005, she received critical acclaim for her performances as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Octavia in Anthony and Cleopatra at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre. In 2009, she made her West End and Broadway debut as Ophelia in Hamlet. Nell Gwynn was nominated for an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress in 2015 for her performance as the titular character in Jessica Swale's play.
She made her breakthrough with the British period drama Belle (2013), for which she won the BIFA Award for Best Actress after a minor role in Larry Crowne (2011). Her filmography includes roles in Beyond the Lights (2014), Miss Sloane (2016), Beauty and the Beast (2017), A Wrinkle in Time (2018), Motherless Brooklyn (2019), Misbehavior (2020), and Summerland (2020).
Her early television appearances included Doctor Who (2007), the short-lived NBC series Undercovers (2010), and the FOX series Touch (2012). She rose to prominence after appearing in the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror episode "San Junipero" (2016), which won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. She has also appeared in the drama series The Morning Show (2019) on Apple TV+ and the Disney+ series Loki (2021).
Childhood and education
Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw was born on April 21, 1983, in Oxford, the daughter of South African doctor Patrick Mbatha and English nurse Anne Raw. Her father was a student member of the African National Congress and an activist against apartheid in South Africa, forcing him to flee. Her parents divorced when she was a year old, and she spent the majority of her time with her mother.
Mbatha-Raw attended The Henry Box School, a state comprehensive school in the Oxfordshire market town of Witney, where she grew up. Her given name is an abbreviation of igugu lethu, which translates to "our pride" in Zulu.
Mbatha-Raw was involved in the National Youth Theatre from a young age because she was interested in acting, dance, and musical theatre. She has performed at the Judy Tompsett School of Dance, which is now known as the Marsh Tompsett School of Dance. She moved to London in 2001 to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Early in one's career
Mbatha-Raw appeared in minor roles in television shows such as Bad Girls (2006) and Marple (2008). (2007). She appears in Doctor Who as Tish Jones, the sister of companion Martha Jones, most notably in "The Lazarus Experiment" (2007). In 2005, she made her stage debut as Juliet opposite Andrew Garfield as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. For her portrayal of Juliet, Mbatha-Raw was nominated for best actress in the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards. In 2005, she played Octavia in Antony and Cleopatra at the same theatre.
Mbatha-Raw was cast as Ophelia in Hamlet on the West End and Broadway in 2009, opposite Jude Law in the title role. She was cast in J. J. Abrams' television series Undercovers in September 2010 after he saw her in Hamlet. Two months later, the show was cancelled.
Mbatha-Raw was cast as the female lead in the Fox television series Touch, opposite Kiefer Sutherland, in June 2011. She appeared in the romantic comedy Larry Crowne (2011), written and directed by Tom Hanks, who also played the title role. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts also named her one of 42 Brits to Watch.
2013–present
Mbatha-Raw received acclaim for her performance as Dido Elizabeth Belle, a mixed-race woman raised as a lady in the household of her paternal uncle Lord Chief Justice Mansfield in 18th-century England, in Amma Asante's film Belle (2013).
The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival before being picked up by Fox Searchlight Pictures. It came out in 2014. Mbatha-Raw received numerous nominations for her performance, including Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film, which she won, and Most Promising Newcomer. In addition, she was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Actress. Mbatha-Raw gave a speech at the United Nations headquarters in 2014, when the film was shown to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Mbatha-Raw also appeared as a popular singer in the romantic drama Beyond the Lights in 2014. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. For her work in Beyond the Lights, Mbatha-Raw was nominated for Best Actress at the 2014 Gotham Awards.
Mbatha-Raw was honoured by Elle Magazine during the Women in Hollywood Awards in 2014, which recognised women for their outstanding achievements in film. These honours cover all aspects of the film industry, including acting, directing, and producing.
Mbatha-Raw was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2015 for her body of work. She had a supporting role in the space opera Jupiter Ascending that year.
On July 3, 2015, it was announced that Mbatha-Raw would be the first to play the title role in Jessica Swale's Nell Gwynn, a play about the actress who became King Charles II of England; it premiered at Shakespeare's Globe from September 19 to October 17, 2015. For her performance, she was nominated for an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress.
She also appeared in the Will Smith biopic Concussion in 2015. It's the story of Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who discovered extensive brain damage in NFL players as a result of concussions and tried to put a stop to practises that exacerbated the condition. She portrayed Prema Mutiso, Bennet Omalu's wife. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 AFI Festival.
Mbatha-Raw co-starred with Matthew McConaughey in Gary Ross's Free State of Jones (2016), an American biopic about Newton Knight, a yeoman farmer and Confederacy resister. She plays Rachel, Knight's common-law wife, with whom he had a family after the Civil War.
In 2016, Mbatha-Raw appeared in "San Junipero," an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror, and played a major supporting role in Miss Sloane, a drama starring Jessica Chastain about Washington lobbyists. In November, the film premiered at the AFI Film Festival.
Mbatha-Raw was cast in Gina Prince-adaptation Bythewood's of Roxane Gay's novel An Untamed State in March 2016.
In the 2017 Birthday Honours, Mbatha-Raw was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to drama.
Mbatha-Raw starred as Plumette in Bill Condon's live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, alongside Emma Watson and Dan Stevens.
Mbatha-Raw appeared in several science fiction feature films in 2018, including A Wrinkle in Time, directed by Ava DuVernay, and The Cloverfield Paradox. That year, the latter film made history with a marketing campaign that saw the film released on the streaming platform Netflix immediately after it was advertised globally during the 2018 Super Bowl. Mbatha-Raw also appeared in Fast Color, an independent feature film that premiered worldwide at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Texas.
It was announced in February 2020 that she would play Ravonna Lexus Renslayer in the Disney+ series Loki. She was cast in the Apple TV+ show Surface. She is also an executive producer on the series, which was created by Veronica West and will premiere on July 29, 2022. The series was renewed for a second season on December 2, 2022.
Mbatha-Raw was named a global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2021. (UNHCR). She has visited Burundian and Congolese refugees in Rwanda and Uganda since 2018, as well as participated in UNHCR's EveryOneCounts and Films of Hope campaigns. In June 2021, she assisted in the announcement of the Refugee Paralympic team, specifically Alia Issa, who will compete in the club throw. In November 2021, she was cast in the romantic film Nobody's Heart, directed by Isabel Coixet, alongside Edgar Ramrez.
Mbatha-Raw was set to play the female lead in the Netflix action film Lift, co-starring Kevin Hart, in April 2022.
Mbatha-Raw has "always loved art" and had considered becoming an artist rather than an actor for a time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she painted portraits of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others with painting supplies given to her by Concussion co-star Will Smith in 2016.
Acting credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|
| 2007 | Straightheads | Young PA |
| 2011 | Larry Crowne | Talia |
| 2013 | Odd Thomas | Viola Peabody |
| Belle | Dido Elizabeth Belle |
| 2014 | Beyond the Lights | Noni Jean |
| 2015 | Jupiter Ascending | Famulus |
| Concussion | Prema Mutiso |
| 2016 | Free State of Jones | Rachel Knight |
| The Whole Truth | Janelle Brady |
| Miss Sloane | Esme Manucharian |
| 2017 | Beauty and the Beast | Plumette |
| 2018 | The Cloverfield Paradox | Ava Hamilton |
| Irreplaceable You | Abbie |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Dr. Kate Murry |
| Fast Color | Ruth |
| Farming' | Ms. Dapo |
| 2019 | Motherless Brooklyn | Laura Rose |
| 2020 | Come Away | Adult Alice |
| Misbehaviour | Jennifer Hosten |
| Summerland | Vera |
| 2023 | Lift |
|
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|
| 2004 | Holby City | Collette Hill | Episode: "Overload" |
| 2005 | Walk Away and I Stumble | Nurse | Television film |
| 2006 | Vital Signs | Eve | 5 episodes |
| Bad Girls | Fidelity Saunders | 2 episodes |
| Spooks | Jenny | 9 episodes |
| 2007 | Doctor Who | Tish Jones | 4 episodes |
| Agatha Christie's Marple | Tina Argyle | Episode: "Ordeal by Innocence" |
| 2008 | Lost in Austen | Piranha | 2 episodes |
| Bonekickers | Viv Davis | 6 episodes |
| Trial & Retribution | Jenny Miller | Episode: "The Box: Part 1" |
| 2009 | Fallout | Shanice Roberts | Television film |
| 2010 | Undercovers | Samantha Bloom | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2012 | Touch | Clea Hopkins[45] | Main role, 13 episodes (season 1) |
| 2016, 2019 | Easy | Sophie | Episode: "Chemistry Read", "She's Back" |
| 2016 | Black Mirror | Kelly | Episode: "San Junipero" |
| 2019 | The Morning Show | Hannah Shoenfeld | Main role, 10 episodes |
| The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance | Seladon (voice) | 9 episodes |
| 2021–present | Loki | Judge Ravonna Lexus Renslayer / Rebecca Tourminet | Main role |
| 2021 | The Girl Before | Jane | Main role, 4 episodes |
| 2022–present | Surface | Sophie Ellis/Tess Caldwell | Main role |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|
| 1999 | Into the Woods | Cinderella's Mother (u/s Rapunzel) | National Youth Music Theatre |
|
| 2005 | Antony and Cleopatra | Iras/Octavia | Royal Exchange in Manchester |
|
| Romeo and Juliet | Juliet Capulet | Royal Exchange in Manchester | Opposite Andrew Garfield |
| 2007 | Big White Fog | Wanda Mason | Almeida Theatre, West End |
| 2008 | Gethsemane | Monique | National Theatre |
|
| 2009–10 | Hamlet | Ophelia | Donmar West End and Broadway | Opposite Jude Law |
| 2015 | Nell Gwynn | Nell Gwynn | Shakespeare's Globe |
|
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|
| 2006 | Living with the Enemy | Sophie/Various | BBC Radio 4, broadcast 14 November – 19 December 2006 |
| 2009 | Choice of Straws | Michelle | BBC Radio 4, The Saturday Play, broadcast on 19 September 2009 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Award | Project | Result |
|---|
| 2011 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Undercovers | Nominated |
| 2012 | Black Reel Awards | Best Breakthrough Performance | Larry Crowne | Nominated |
| 2014 | Miami International Film Festival | SIGNIS Award | Belle | Won |
| Chicago International Film Festival | Emerging Artist Award | Beyond the Lights | Won |
| British Independent Film Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film | Belle | Won |
| Best Newcomer | Nominated |
| African-American Film Critics Association | Best Actress | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association | Most Promising Performer | Nominated |
| Women's Image Network Awards | Actress in a Feature Film | Nominated |
| Gotham Independent Film Awards | Best Actress | Beyond the Lights | Nominated |
| Detroit Film Critics Society | Breakthrough Film Artist | Nominated |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | Pauline Kael Breakout Award | 2nd place |
| Village Voice Film Poll | Best Actress | 9th place |
| Capri Hollywood International Film Festival | Rising Star | Won |
| 2015 | BAFTA Awards | BAFTA Rising Star Award | — | Nominated |
| London Film Critics' Circle | British Actress of the Year | Belle | Nominated |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
| Satellite Award | Best Actress in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
| Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | Won |
| Beyond the Lights | Nominated |
| International Online Film Critics' Poll | Best Actress | Nominated |
| Georgia Film Critics Association | Breakthrough Awards | Nominated |
| Empire Awards | Best Female Newcomer | Belle | Nominated |
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Breakthrough Performance | Won |
| 2016 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture | Concussion | Nominated |
| Black Reel Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 2017 | Gold Derby Awards | Best Miniseries/TV Movie Supporting Actress | Black Mirror | Nominated |
| 2020 | Black Reel Award | Best Actress | Fast Color | Nominated |
| 2022 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in a Superhero Series | Loki | Nominated |
Gugu Mbatha-Raw Biography |
|---|
| Real Name | Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw |
| Birth Date | 21 April 1983 |
| Age (as of 2022) | 39 Years |
| Birth Place | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Actress |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun sign | Cancer |
Physical Statistics |
|---|
| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 4” – in Centimeters – 162 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 54 kg – in Pounds – 119 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 34-24-34 |
| Shoe Size | 7 (U.S.) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Body Type | Slim |
Family |
|---|
| Father | Patrick Mbatha |
| Mother | Anna Mbatha |
Qualification/Education |
|---|
| School | Henry Box School |
| College | Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts |
Relationship Status |
|---|
| Marital Status | Single |
| Affair | No |
| Is she a Lesbian? | No |
| Boyfriend? | None |
Trivia
- As being a great actress, she was honored for her services to drama and was appointed as a ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ by Queen Elizabeth II.
- She is the receiver of several awards and nominations. For her potential skills, she went on to be nominated for the prestigious ‘Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress award.
- For her breakthrough British period drama named ‘Belle’, she received the BIFA Award for Best Actress.
- While collaborating with IMDb, she shared three ‘Films of Hope’ on her social media, which inspires and highlights the need for kindness, global solidarity, and action to fight against COVID.
- Recently in February 2021, Gugu was announced as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
- She has mentioned her experience in outlets like Refinery29 and Vogue.
- Gugu is a big supporter of MAD51, a program that empowers refugee artisans by helping them to sell their products globally.
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