Gugu Mbatha-Raw Biography
Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw, born April 21, 1983, better known as Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is a well-known British film and stage actress who rose to prominence after appearing in the “Doctor Who” (a British science-fiction TV show) series that aired on the BBC channel. Gugu rose to prominence in the series as Tish Jones, the sister of a major character named Martha Jones.
Wiki Profile
| Full Name: | Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw |
| Date of Birth: | April 21, 1983 |
| Place of Birth: | Oxford, England |
| Nationality: | South African/British |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Net Worth: | $1 million – $2 million |
| Husband/Spouse: | Not Married |
Early Life and Education
Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw was born on April 21, 1983, in Oxford, England. She is the daughter of South African doctor, Patrick Mbatha and English nurse Anne Raw.
Her parents divorced when she was a year old, and she grew up in Witney, Oxfordshire, with her mother, though she maintains a close relationship with her father.
Her father was a student member of the African National Congress and an activist against apartheid in South Africa, forcing him to flee.
Mbatha-Raw attended The Henry Box School, a state comprehensive school in the Oxfordshire market town of Witney, where she grew up. Her given name is an abbreviation of igugu lethu, which means “our pride” in Zulu.
Mbatha-Raw was involved in the National Youth Theatre from a young age because she was interested in acting, dance, and musical theatre. She has performed at the Judy Tompsett School of Dance, which is now known as the Marsh Tompsett School of Dance.
She moved to London in 2001 to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During her studies, she worked at the newly opened London Eye attraction.
Career
Gugu Mbatha-Raw began her career in media and entertainment after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2004. She began her career in the entertainment industry with minor roles in television shows such as ‘Bad Girls’ (2006), ‘Doctor Who’ (2007), and ‘Maple’ (2008). (2007).
On stage, she made her stage debut as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet‘ (2005) at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, alongside Andrew Garfield as the other protagonist (Romeo).
Gugu received a nomination for Best Actress in the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for her portrayal of Juliet. Furthermore, in the same year and theatre, she gave a stunning performance as Octavia in the play ‘Antony and Cleopatra.’
She was cast as Ophelia in “Hamlet” in 2009, and she performed brilliantly opposite Jude Law as the protagonist on both Broadway and the West End in London.
Gugu benefited from this role because she was cast in ‘Undercovers,’ a J.J. Abrams TV series, after he saw her at the theater and liked her confidence.
Gugu landed a great role as the lead actress in ‘Touch,’ a Fox Channel TV series in 2011, alongside Kiefer Sutherland. In terms of films, Gugu amassed a devoted fan base thanks to her enigmatic performance in Amma Asante’s ‘Belle’ in 2013.
Gugu received numerous accolades and nominations following the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and she was named the winner of the British Independent Film Award for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film.’
She was nominated for Best Actress at the 2014 Gotham Awards for her role as a popular singer in ‘Beyond the Lights,’ a romantic drama film. In 2015, she starred as the wife of Mr. Bennet Omalu in the biopic ‘Concussion.’
Gugu played Rachel in the 2016 biopic ‘Free State of Jones,’ directed by Gary Ross. She is also known for her roles as Esme Manucharian in ‘Miss Sloane,’ Sophie in ‘Easy,’ Kelly in ‘Black Mirror,’ and Plumette in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2017).
Movies
- Summerland (2020)
- Seacole (2020)
- Misbehaviour (2020)
- Come Away (2020)
- Motherless Brooklyn (2019)
- Farming (2018)
- Fast Color (2018)
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
- Irreplaceable You (2018)
- The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
- Beauty and the Beast (2017)
- Miss Sloane (2016)
- After the Storm (short) (2016)
- Free State of Jones (2016)
- The Whole Truth (2016)
- Concussion (2015)
- Jupiter Ascending (2015)
- 9 Kisses (short) (2014)
- Beyond the Lights (2014)
- Belle (2013)
- Odd Thomas (2013)
- Larry Crowne (2011)
- Capture Anthologies: Love, Lust and Tragedy (video) (2010)
- Act of God (2009)
- All My Dreams on VHS (short) (2009)
- Fallout (2008)
- Closure (2007)
- Dead Clever: The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley (2007)
- Born Equal (2006)
- Viva Blackpool (2006)
- Walk Away and I Stumble (2005)
- Legless (2005)
Personal Life
Gugu Mbatha-Raw has reportedly been linked to Game of Thrones actor Harry Lloyd. They did, however, broke up a long time ago. They split in 2012, and Gugu hasn’t been seen dating anyone else since, despite the fact that it’s been nearly a decade.
Gugu is known for philanthropic works. She visited Rwandan refugee camps in 2018. Gugu’s first visit before declaring herself a prominent supporter of UNHCR. Despite her acting commitments, she enjoys her role as philanthropist.
She returned to Uganda a year after her first visit. She investigated the situation at the Rwamanja Refugee Settlement in the Kamwenge District of Southwestern Uganda.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw Net Worth
Gugu Mbatha-Raw has garnered an estimated net worth of $1 million – $2 million through her acting
Social Media
Instagram: @gugumbatharaw
Twitter: @gugumbatharaw
