One to watch: The Underground Railroad’s Thuso Mbedu
In this series, PORTER catches up with the name to know this month. Our next guest is THUSO MBEDU, the breakout star of Barry Jenkins’ highly anticipated adaptation of The Underground Railroad. Here, the South African actor talks to OLIVE WAKEFIELD about staying grounded, writing her own advice, and her upcoming career-turning moment
It was two years ago that Thuso Mbedu found herself in a room with Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), working so hard at her audition that her contact lens flipped inside-out. She powered through though – and nailed it: moments after leaving, she got the call to say that Jenkins wanted her for one of the leads, Cora, in his TV adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad.
Few TV series have garnered quite as much pre-release buzz as this one, with the final cast list kept under wraps until very recently. The plot is based on the real-life underground network of abolitionists and safe houses that assisted enslaved African Americans to freedom in the 1800s. “I think people watching, who are not of color, will finally understand what it is that has been hurting and re-traumatizing Black people all this time,” Mbedu observes, reflecting on the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the past year. “I think people of color will watch the show and feel their voices are finally being heard. That this is what we’ve been saying; this is our lived reality.”
Since filming on The Underground Railroad wrapped, Mbedu has spent most of her time auditioning (the offers are understandably stacking up), hiking with friends, writing in her journal and catching up on TV shows such as The Boys, which is her current obsession.
“I think people watching, who are not of color, will finally understand what it is that has been hurting and re-traumatizing Black people all this time
”
Hi Thuso, where are you speaking to us from today?
“I’m in Los Angeles, where I’ve been since the beginning of the pandemic.”
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
“In South Africa, with my sister and my niece. I miss them so much. I wasn’t supposed to be gone this long.”
What time of day do you feel at your most creative?
“It depends on the season. Right now, I am most creative in the evenings but, sometimes, I am better in the mornings and I crash as the day goes by. I have to be intentional about my day. I send voice notes to myself or my friends with all my ideas.”
What was the last voice note you sent?
“It was to a friend of mine, who had sent me a funny video. I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t even type back. It was ridiculous.”
What are five things we would find in your handbag?
“It’s more likely to be a cute backpack, and they would be my cell phone, earbuds, bank card, spectacles and some loose change (because you never know).”
Where would we find you at 2am and 10am on a Saturday?
“I’m a homebody so, at 2am, sleeping or finishing a book or TV series. At 10am, I’ll be forcing myself to wake up or I’ll be on a hike with friends.”
How do you stay grounded?
“I constantly remind myself why I act. It’s not for the fame or fortune; it’s to shift perspectives and bring about positive change. I cannot afford to lose who I am.”
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
“This is something I came up with myself: pursue excellence regardless of what is happening around you. If you are always being the best version of yourself, everything will make sense.”
What is something we might find surprising about you?
“People don’t believe me when I say I am an introvert. I’d rather observe than be in the hubbub.”
“I constantly remind myself why I act. It’s not for the fame or fortune; it’s to shift perspectives and bring about positive change. I cannot afford to lose who I am
”
Who would play you in the movie of your life?
“There is a South African actor called Masali Baduza, who starred in the TV series Noughts + Crosses. I loved her in it – and someone once said we look alike!”
What is your relationship to social media like?
“Over time, I have made the conscious decision to make my account more about work because I have seen how people feel entitled to your life. I like to interact with people, but it’s also nice to disappear – and that no one notices.”
Tell us all about working with Barry Jenkins
“I absolutely loved working with Barry. As a person, he is very kind, respectful and generous. And he is quirky and funny. He is all about give and take. If things don’t make sense [to you], he doesn’t mind having a conversation. He won’t get frustrated. He challenged me to go deeper than what I thought I was capable of – through asking questions and showing that he trusted me. That encouragement makes you want to be the absolute best version of yourself.”
What is your go-to karaoke song?
“Valerie by Amy Winehouse. I sang it in my audition for the gospel choir in my high school. I didn’t get in, because I can’t sing, but I really like the song.”
What is a book you wish you had written?
“Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. If anyone ever does an adaptation, I’d love to be part of it.”
“My driving force is to open a children’s home in South Africa. I want to be in a position where I can fund it and garner support from people to make a difference
”
Where will you be this time next month?
“It will be the day after the premiere so I’ll probably on my phone sending countless thank you messages.”
Do you see yourself getting behind the camera?
“I have a great passion for directing. It’s one of the reasons I studied drama at university. Uncovering people’s potential and seeing them transform was very meaningful to me. But, having witnessed it on set, I have a long way to go until I get there.”
What is one thing you’d love to achieve in the next 10 years?
“My driving force is to open a children’s home in South Africa. I want to be in a position where I can fund it and garner support from people to make a difference.”
Who would you love to work with in the future?
“People who you know will force you to step up – Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Regina King, Meryl Streep, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Steven Caple Jr., Ryan Coogler and Denzel Washington, to name but a few!”
[Fast-forward a few weeks from our chat and it has been announced that Mbedu has been cast alongside Viola Davis in The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.]
The Underground Railroad is out on Amazon Prime Video on May 14