South African actress Thuso Mbedu has earned herself another international nod.
On Sunday, 6 March, the Underground Railroad star won Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series at the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards held at the Santa Monica Pier, in California.
Thuso plays the role of Cora Randall in the series which is currently streaming on Prime Video.
The 30-year-old star beat out fellow actresses Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts), Jana Schmieding (Rutherford Falls), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Blindspotting) and Deborah Ayorinde (THEM: Covenant) for the female lead honour.
This was the first nomination and win for Mbedu. “They told me a number of times to prepare something and I really didn’t,” she says while accepting her award. “First and foremost, thank you to Film Independent for this recognition.”
Visibly shocked at her win as she made her way up to the stage, Thuso said the award felt “surreal”.
She also expressed her appreciation for being cast in the show.
“It was a great challenge to tell the story because it is a very important story,” she revealed, adding that she “wanted it to go to whoever could tell it as authentically and as respectfully as possible.”
“I’m grateful that I did get that opportunity, too, and I did a lot of research going into it guided by Barry, and I do hope that people will get the chance to receive it for what it is, without me feel like I imposed my emotions onto it anyway,” she added.
Thuso looked every bit a winner wearing a stunning Dior ensemble for the occasion.
Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae won Best Male Performance.
