Pearl Thusi

Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi (born 13 May 1988) is a South African actress, model, television host, and radio personality. Thusi is known for her portrayal of Patricia Kopong in the BBC/HBO comedy-drama series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Dayana Mampasi in the ABC thriller Quantico and Samkelo in the romantic drama film Catching Feelings. One of South Africa's most influential actresses, she starred in the title role of the critically acclaimed Netflix crime drama series Queen Sono, which was Netflix's first African original.[1]

For the song by Emtee, see Avery (album).
Pearl Thusi
Born
Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi

(1988-05-13) 13 May 1988
Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Other namesThe Real Black Pearl
EducationPinetown Girls' High School
Occupation
  • Actress
  • model
  • radio personality
  • television host
  • businesswoman
Years active2003–present
Children2

1 (Biological)

1 (Adopted)
Websitewww.pearlthusiofficial.com

Career

Thusi is the host of Lip Sync Battle Africa on MTV and e.tv, as well as the talk show Moments, on EbonyLife TV.[2] She has starred on the SABC 3 popular soap opera, Isidingo, as Palesa Motaung, co-hosted Live Amp with DJ Warras and Luthando Shosha, the SABC 1 celebrity gossip magazine show, Real Goboza.[3]

In 2009, Thusi starred as Patricia Kopong on the BBC/HBO comedy-drama, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.[4]

In 2015, Thusi co-starred as Dr. Nandi Montabu in Tremors 5: Bloodlines. She also appeared in a music video entitled "Pearl Thusi" by Emtee.[5]

In 2016, Thusi was cast as a series regular in the role of Dayana Mampasi on the second season of the ABC thriller series Quantico, opposite Priyanka Chopra.[6][7] In the same year, Thusi was cast as Samkelo in the romantic drama film Catching Feelings.[8] The film was released in theaters on March 9, 2018.[9]

In 2017, Thusi starred as Brenda Riviera in the drama film, Kalushi.[10]

In 2018, Thusi became the new host of the third season of MTV Base's Behind the Story.[11] In the same year, Thusi was cast in the lead role of Queen Sono on the Netflix crime drama series Queen Sono.[12] The series premiered on 28 February 2020 and was widely acclaimed by critics, and Thusi's performance in particular was singled out for praise.[13][14][15][16] In April 2020, the series was renewed by Netflix for a second season.[17] However, on November 26, 2020, it was reported that Netflix has cancelled the series because of the production challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Tremors 5: Bloodlines Dr. Nandi Montabu Direct-to-video
Einfach Rosa: Wolken über Kapstadt Nandi TV movie
2017 Catching Feelings Samkelo
Kalushi Brenda Riviera
2018 The Scorpion King: Book of Souls Tala Direct-to-video

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Patricia Kopong Episode: "Beauty and Integrity"
2011-2012 Zone 14 Samkelisiwe
2011–2016 Live Amp Co-host
2012 Real Goboza Co-host
2013 Isidingo Palesa Motaung
2013 Tropika Island of Treasure Host
2015 Moments Co-host
2016–2017 Lip Sync Battle Africa Co-host
2016–2017 Quantico Dayana Mampasi Series regular (season 2)
2018–present Behind the Story Host Fourth season
2020 Queen Sono[12] Queen Sono Lead role

References
  1. Kanter, Jake (2020-04-28). "'Queen Sono': Netflix Renews Its First African Original Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  2. Zeeman, Kyle (July 2, 2015). "Pearl and Lerato K make their Ebony Life TV debut". Channel24. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  3. "Pearl Thusi - TVSA".
  4. Naik, Sameer (January 26, 2019). "A Typical Interview with Pearl Thusi". IOL. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  5. "Emtee Pearl Thusi". YouTube. January 26, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  6. Petski, Denise (July 12, 2016). "'Quantico' Casts Pearl Thusi As New Series Regular For Season 2". Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  7. "South African Actress Pearl Thusi Joins 'Quantico' Cast as Series Regular - Her Stateside Debut". Shadow and Act. July 12, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  8. Stidhum, Tonja (June 19, 2017). "LAFF 2017: 'Catching Feelings' Starring Pearl Thusi Navigates the Journey of Sex, Marriage, & Love". The South African. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  9. Andersen, Nic (February 28, 2018). "Catching Feelings: South African release date, cast and latest trailer". The South African. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  10. "Pearl Thusi Says Kalushi Shoot Took Her Back To Apartheid". Marie Claire. March 9, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  11. "Behind The Story with new host Pearl Thusi is back on MTV Base!". MSN Entertainment. August 23, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  12. White, Peter (December 10, 2018). "'Quantico' Star Pearl Thusi To Lead 'Queen Sono', Netflix's First African Original Series". Deadline. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  13. Queen Sono: Season 1, retrieved 2020-08-13
  14. Queen Sono, retrieved 2020-08-13
  15. Isama, Antoinette (June 11, 2019). "Production for 'Queen Sono,' Netflix's First African Original Series, Is Underway". OkayAfrica. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  16. Winifred, Chisom (December 10, 2019). "Queen is coming: Queen Sono premieres February 28th, 2020". Glam Africa. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  17. Kanter, Jake (April 28, 2020). "'Queen Sono': Netflix Renews Its First African Original Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  18. Eloff, Herman (November 26, 2020). "Queen Sono's second season cancelled amid 'current trying times'". Channel24. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
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