Gugu Mbatha-Raw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gugu Mbatha-Raw MBE
Mbatha-Raw in 2013
Born	Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw (1983-04-21) 21 April 1983 (age 42) Oxford, England
Education	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2001–present

Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw, also known as Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is a talented British actress. She was born on April 21, 1983. She started her acting journey at a young age, training at places like the National Youth Music Theatre and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Gugu became well-known for her roles in classic plays like Romeo and Juliet and Anthony and Cleopatra in 2005. She also performed on famous stages in London's West End and Broadway, playing Ophelia in Hamlet.

Her early TV roles included appearances in Doctor Who (2007) and the American shows Undercovers (2010) and Touch (2012). She had a big breakthrough in the movie Belle (2013), which earned her an award for Best Actress. Since then, she has starred in many popular films like Beauty and the Beast (2017) and A Wrinkle in Time (2018). She also appeared in the Emmy-winning Black Mirror episode "San Junipero" (2016). More recently, you might have seen her in the TV series The Morning Show (2019) and Loki (2021–present).

In 2017, Queen Elizabeth II honored Gugu Mbatha-Raw with the title Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to drama. In 2021, she became a global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), helping refugees around the world.

Early Life and Education

Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw was born in Oxford, England, on April 21, 1983. Her father, Patrick Mbatha, was a doctor from South Africa. Her mother, Anne Raw, was an English nurse.

Her first name, Gugulethu, comes from the isiZulu language. It means "our treasure." Her father was an activist against apartheid in South Africa. He had to leave his home country because of his political work. Gugu's parents separated when she was very young. She grew up mostly with her mother.

Gugu went to The Henry Box School in Witney, Oxfordshire. From a young age, she loved acting, dancing, and musical theater. She joined the National Youth Theatre to develop her skills. In 2001, she moved to London to study acting. She trained at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Acting Career

Early Roles

Gugu Mbatha-Raw started her career with smaller roles on TV. She appeared in shows like Bad Girls (2006) and Marple (2007). She also played Tish Jones in Doctor Who in 2007.

One of her first big theatre roles was playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet in 2005. She acted opposite Andrew Garfield in Manchester. She also played Octavia in Antony and Cleopatra that same year.

In 2009, Gugu played Ophelia in Hamlet in London and on Broadway. She acted alongside famous actor Jude Law. After seeing her in Hamlet, director J. J. Abrams cast her in his TV series Undercovers in 2010.

In 2011, she got a main role in the TV series Touch with Kiefer Sutherland. She also had a supporting part in the movie Larry Crowne (2011), which was directed by Tom Hanks.

Becoming a Star

Mbatha-Raw in 2020

Gugu Mbatha-Raw received a lot of praise for her role in the 2013 film Belle. She played the main character, Dido Elizabeth Belle. This film tells the true story of a mixed-race woman raised as a gentlewoman in 18th-century England.

Belle was shown at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Gugu won the BIFA for Best Actress for her amazing performance. In 2014, she even spoke at the United Nations about the film.

In 2014, Gugu also starred in the romantic drama Beyond the Lights. She played a popular singer in the movie. For this role, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Gotham Awards. Elle Magazine also recognized her for her achievements in film that year.

In 2015, Gugu was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award. She also appeared in the science fiction film Jupiter Ascending. Later that year, she played the lead role in the play Nell Gwynn. She was nominated for an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance.

She also acted in the movie Concussion (2015) with Will Smith. She played Prema Mutiso, the wife of Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered brain damage in football players. In 2016, Gugu starred in Free State of Jones with Matthew McConaughey. She played Rachel, a freedwoman.

Gugu appeared in the popular Black Mirror episode "San Junipero" in 2016. She also had a major role in the film Miss Sloane, a drama about lobbyists in Washington.

Recent Work

In 2017, Gugu Mbatha-Raw played Plumette in the live-action movie Beauty and the Beast. In 2018, she starred in two science fiction films: A Wrinkle in Time and The Cloverfield Paradox. The Cloverfield Paradox was released directly on Netflix after a surprise advertisement during the Super Bowl.

In February 2020, it was announced that Gugu would play Judge Ravonna Renslayer in the Disney+ series Loki. She also stars in and is an executive producer for the Apple TV+ series Surface, which premiered in 2022.

In 2021, Gugu became a global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has visited refugee camps in Rwanda and Uganda to help raise awareness. In 2021, she helped announce the Refugee Paralympic team. In 2022, she was cast in the Netflix action film Lift with Kevin Hart. In 2024, it was announced she would join the Doctor Who spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Personal Life

Gugu Mbatha-Raw has always loved art. She even thought about becoming an artist before becoming an actress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she painted portraits of important figures like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. She used painting supplies that her Concussion co-star Will Smith gave her.

Acting Credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Radio

Awards and Nominations

Gugu Mbatha-Raw has won and been nominated for many awards for her acting. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

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  Mbatha-Raw in 2013

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  Mbatha-Raw in 2020

See also

In Spanish: Gugu Mbatha-Raw para niños