Bio
Thandy Matlaila is a South African actress, dancer, choreographer, entertainer and television presenter best known for her starring role as Lindiwe Ngema on the SABC1 drama series Tshisa, from 2006-2013.
She is also known for presenting the youth science programme Knock Knock: Ball of Fame on SABC3 and for her role as Patricia on the SABC1 mini-series uGugu no Andile, adapted from Romeo and Juliet as part of the SABC1 "Shakespeare in Mzansi" strand, in 2008.
A graduate of AFDA, Thandy also starred in the film Jerusalema, had a cameo role in the SABC1 drama series A Place Called Home and was the face of the Heartlines initiative, a series of films that aired on the SABC.
A dancer since childhood, her dance repertoire ranges from hip-hop to African contemporary, cabaret, local street dancing and salsa.
Her involvement with Ultra Always Keep Dancing Competition in 2007 that was part of the Jam Alley show on SABC1 gave her skills as a dance manager. She was involved with Artist's management and the running of the show.
In September 2009, she starred in the stage production Mbeleko by Lindiwe Mzolo for the Soweto Arts Festival.
In 2011 Thandy acted in two SABC1 drama series: Intsika (playing the role of Nonhle) and Soul City 11, in which she played Nurse Rosie.
In 2012 she acted in the SABC2 police drama series Streets of Manguang, in which she played Violet.
In 2013 she could be seen in the third season of Tshisa and in the second season of Intersexions, both on SABC1. She also had a starring role in the Mzansi Magic dance miniseries isiPantsula, which she also choreographed.
She also in a horror telefilm, which on Mzansi Magic from March 2013. Dubbed Vampires of The Township, she played the lead, Noluntu, who is meant to be used as a sacrifice to the vampires on the full moon.
She has a philanthropic passion for giving back and educating the youth and channeled this into a school theatre production titled "It's Your Choice", which deals with teenage pregnancy at school.
Thandy stars in it alongside Luzuko Nteleko.
She is also involved with Industrial Theatre having co-written and starred in Transnet Awareness Campaigns that toured the country in 2010/2011.
In addition to acting and dancing, Thandy is the MD of Aptitude Consulting, a public relations agency. She took time off from acting in 2014 to work fulltime on the business, whilst furthering her studies.
Her company has done PR for clients including The Reunion Island Board and the SABC's Rize Mzansi series.
Her clients also include Maftown 60s, Taung Calabash, The Royal Heritage Festival, The Gauteng Sports Awards and Fezile Dabi Benefit Concert, amongst others.
Thandy also runs a charity initiative, Bring-A-Tin, that collects clothes and tinned foods on a regular basis and takes them to her two adopted homes: Agape Childrens' Home in Yeoville and The Central Methodist Church for the homeless kids that live there.
She is also on the advisory board of the Sophie Ndaba Foundation and is a former ambassador for Afrika Tikkun (NGO) and Miss Earth SA.
Thandy returned to television in 2015 with a starring role in the SABC1 sitcom iThuba Lokugcina, which chronicles the misadventures of an odd group of underachieving misfits who come together to save their rather dim futures in a special life skills class organised by their well-meaning professor.
In 2015 she could also be seen as Happiness on e.tv telenovela Gold Diggers and as Smangele on e.tv soapie Rhythm City.
In 2016, Thandy joined the cast of the Mzansi Magic telenovela The Queen in the recurring role of Cleo, making her first appearance in Season 1, Episode 35 (which aired on 28 September, 2016).
She continued in the role in Season 2, from 2017-2018.
Also in 2016, she played the recurring role of Abigail in the SABC2 sitcom Ke Ba Bolelletse ("I Told Them"), making her first appearance in Season 2, Episode 5 (which aired on 27 August, 2016).
She also played the recurring role of Nhlakanipho (better known as NK) in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Ring of Lies, making her first appearance in Season 2, Episode 2 (which aired on 1 August, 2017).
Thandy next played the recurring role of Sibs on the eExtra drama series Ambitions, which follows a young journalist who uncovers a corruption scandal in a displaced community and sets out to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.
She first appeared in the series premiere on 1 July, 2018. The show later aired on Vuzu as well, in 2020.
In 2019 she landed the recurring role of Lahliwe on the 1Magic / Mzansi Magic drama series iThemba, making her first appearance in the series premiere on 5 October, 2019.
Lahliwe is a young woman in her early twenties who defies her family to join a church; searching for her purpose and meaning in life.
When the church tasks her with stealing from her family, she does so with the hope that she'll get favour from the church leaders but things go from bad to worse and her journey towards getting acceptance leads her into hot water.
The following year Thandy had another recurring role, this time as the younger version of Thembi (played by Tina Jaxa) in the Mzansi Magic soccer drama Vula Vala, first appearing in the series premiere on 4 October, 2020.
In 2021 she had a recurring role in the SABC2 telenovela Die Sentrum (The Centre) as Bapsi, an older sister to Buhle (played by Esihle Mkosana).
Bapsi has a drinking problem along with entitlement issues as she had to work hard earlier in life to get Buhle through school. Now that Buhle has a job at The Crisis Call Centre (Die Sentrum), she feels Buhle is obligated to take care of her.
Thandy made her debut in the role on 6 May, 2021, in Season 1, Episode 9.
Thandy also hosts a weekly online show called WOW (Wellness on Wednesdays) Sessions which focuses on her guests' wellness journeys in order to help viewers deal with relatable issues.
She takes a holistic approach to wellness and covers anything from physical wellness, family wellness, spiritual wellness, mental wellness and financial wellness.