Thandiwe Newton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thandiwe Newton OBE
Newton in 2021
Born	Melanie Thandiwe Newton (1972-11-06) 6 November 1972 (age 52) Westminster, London, England
Other names	Thandie Newton
Education	Downing College, Cambridge (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Ol Parker ​ ​ (m. 1998; separated 2022)​
Children	3, including Nico and Ripley

Melanie Thandiwe Newton (born November 6, 1972) is a talented British actress. She was known as Thandie Newton for many years. Thandiwe has won several important awards for her acting. These include an Emmy Award and a BAFTA Award. She was also nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.

In 2019, she received an honor called the OBE. This award was given for her great work in film and her charity efforts. Thandiwe Newton has starred in many popular movies and TV shows. Some of her well-known roles include Nyah Nordoff-Hall in Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) and Christine in Crash (2004). She also played Linda in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) and Val in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). From 2016 to 2022, she played Maeve Millay in the TV series Westworld. She also lent her voice to Mona in the animated series Big Mouth.

Early Life and School

Melanie Thandiwe Newton was born in Westminster, London, England, on November 6, 1972. Her mother was from Zimbabwe, and her father was English. Her parents lived in Zambia, and Thandiwe was born while they were visiting family in England. The name "Thandiwe" comes from the Nguni people and means "beloved."

When Thandiwe was three years old, her family moved back to England. They settled in Penzance, where her father helped with his family's antique business. She went to St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School. Thandiwe later shared that she felt different growing up. She was the only black, non-religious child in a Catholic school. For a while, she used "Thandie" as her name, dropping the "w." She studied dance at the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Later, she went to Downing College, Cambridge, and earned a degree in social anthropology in 1995.

Acting Career

Early Roles and Big Break

Newton in 2007

Thandiwe Newton started her film career in the movie Flirting (1991). She was credited as "Thandie Newton" at that time. She then played Yvette in the movie Interview with the Vampire (1994). Thandiwe also appeared in Jefferson in Paris as Sally Hemings.

In 1998, she starred in the drama Beloved. This film was based on a book by Toni Morrison. Thandiwe played the main character, a young ghost. The movie also featured famous actors like Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. She then starred with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible 2.

Crash and Other Roles

Newton in 2010

From 2003 to 2005, Thandiwe played Makemba "Kem" Likasu in the American TV series ER. She returned for the show's final episode in 2009. In 2004, she had a supporting role in The Chronicles of Riddick. She also acted in the drama Crash. In Crash, she played Christine Thayer, a woman who experiences a difficult situation with a police officer. Her acting in Crash was highly praised. She won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for this role.

In 2006, she played Linda Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness alongside Will Smith. The next year, she co-starred with Eddie Murphy in the comedy Norbit. She also appeared in the comedy Run Fatboy Run with Simon Pegg. In 2008, Thandiwe played Condoleezza Rice, a former US Secretary of State, in the movie W.. She also played Laura Wilson in the disaster film 2012 (2009). In 2011, Thandiwe gave a TED talk about "Embracing otherness, embracing myself." She talked about her experiences growing up with different cultures.

In 2012, she starred in the romantic drama Good Deeds. That same year, she made her West End theater debut in the play Death and the Maiden. From 2013 to 2015, Thandiwe starred in Rogue, a drama series. In 2015, she was in the miniseries The Slap.

Westworld and Recent Work

From 2016 to 2022, Thandiwe Newton played Maeve Millay in the HBO science fiction series Westworld. Her performance in this show received a lot of praise. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role. She also won two Critics’ Choice Awards. Many critics praised her acting, saying she brought a lot of emotion to the character.

In 2017, she was a narrator for a documentary about Bill Cosby. That same year, she played DCI Roseanne "Roz" Huntley in the fourth season of Line of Duty. She received a BAFTA TV Award nomination for this role.

Thandiwe appeared as Val in the Star Wars movie Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). She was the first black woman to have a major non-alien role in a Star Wars film. In 2021, Thandiwe announced that she would be using her original first name, "Thandiwe," again. She began being credited as Thandiwe Newton starting with the movie Reminiscence (2021). In 2022, she played the main role of Sandra Guidry in the thriller God’s Country. She was nominated for an award for her performance in this film. In 2023, she voiced Ginger in Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. She is also set to voice Eshe in Mufasa: The Lion King in 2024.

Charity Work

Thandiwe Newton is also involved in charity work. In 2006, she wrote a foreword for a book called We Wish: Hopes and Dreams of Cornwall's Children. This book helped raise money for the NSPCC, a charity for children. She wrote about her childhood memories in Cornwall.

In 2008, Thandiwe visited a village in Mali called Nampasso. She described this visit as a "humbling experience." In 2013, she led a flash mob in London for One Billion Rising. This event promotes justice, equality, and an end to violence.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Thandiwe Newton married English filmmaker Ol Parker in 1998. They separated in 2022. They have three children: two daughters, Ripley (born 2000) and Nico (born 2004), and a son, Booker (born 2014). All three of her children were born at home. Her daughter Nico is also an actress. Thandiwe is good friends with actress Nicole Kidman. As of July 2025, Thandiwe is in a relationship with musician Elijah Dias, known as Lonr.

Activism and Interests

Thandiwe Newton is a vegan. In 2007, after a sticker about climate change was put on her car, she sold it. She then bought a Toyota Prius, which is a more environmentally friendly car. She has also shown interest in Buddhism.

Thandiwe has spoken out about her experiences in the film industry. She has talked about how important it is to treat people with respect. She was named one of the best-dressed women in 2018 by Net-a-Porter. She was also listed as one of the 100 most influential black British people in the Powerlist.

Acting Credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Music Video

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Thandie Newton para niños