Bio
Nambitha Mpumlwana is a South African actress best known for her leading roles in the television series Shado's, Interrogation Room and The Lab; and for her role in the Oscar-winning South African feature film Tsotsi.
Born in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape (formerly Umtata), Nambitha grew up all over the Eastern Cape. At age 13 she left South Africa to live in Canada, where her mother was studying at university.
She trained in music, film and theatre and returned to South Africa in the mid-90s.
She quickly established an acting and presenting career in South Africa, starting as a continuity presenter for SABC television before joining the SABC2 wildlife show 50/50 as a presenter.
Since then she has worked extensively in television, with starring roles in the series Yizo Yizo, Justice For All, Interrogation Room, Shado's and The Lab.
She has made guest appearances on numerous television shows including Generations, Joburg Blues, Isidingo and 7de Laan.
She also acted in the mini-series Saints, Sinners and Settlers (1999), and in the made-for-TV movies Le Crime de monsieur Stil (1995) and Diamond Hunters (2001).
Nambitha presented the SABC2 shows Lebone and Practical Parenting, as well as the SABC3 show Money.
She has acted in the feature films Tama Ba? Tama Na! (1993), Crazy Joe’s Coco, Land of a Thousand Hills, Beyond Borders (2003), Country of My Skull (2004), Red Dust (2004) and Tsotsi (2005).
She has also acted in numerous theatre productions, including The Dead Wait, Black Age, Whale, In Search of Dragon’s Mountain, Love and Other Strange Things, Beauty and the Beast of Oracle, Apart, The Power of Harriett T, Business of Health, and See Here! It’s Africa and the Caribbean.
In October 2007 Mpumlwana won the Golden Horn award for Best Actress in a TV Drama at the second annual South African Film and Television Academy awards (SAFTAs), for her role as Pearl Lusipho in the SABC3 drama series The Lab.
In November, 2009 she returns to 7de Laan in her role as Zandile.
Nambitha at the announcement of
The Lab Season 2 in Cape Town
(15 November 2006)