Lorcia Emmarsalda Cooper, also known as Lorcia Khumalo after marriage, is a celebrated South African actress, dancer, choreographer, presenter, and life coach. Born on November 9, 1978, in Cape Town, she has built a notable career that spans over two decades across various fields in the entertainment industry, earning acclaim for her roles in popular TV series and films as well as her work in dance and motivational speaking.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Lorcia Emmarsalda Cooper (now Khumalo) |
| Date of Birth | 9 November 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| State of Origin | Western Cape Province |
| Partner/Spouse | Mandla Khumalo (married 2018) |
| Children | Three (one daughter from prior relationship; one daughter and one son with Mandla Khumalo) |
| Occupations | Actress, Dancer, Choreographer, Presenter, Judge, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach |
| Net Worth | Approximately $500,000 USD |
Early Life and Education
Lorcia’s journey into dance began at the age of four when her parents enrolled her in dance classes in Cape Town. By age five, she had already won her first provincial dance competitions in Ballroom and Latin American dances.
At eight, she joined the Academy of Dance, studying under the guidance of choreographer Debbie Turner, and later attended the North West Arts Council’s Dance Academy where she also taught dance.
At 19, she won the FNB Vita Best Female Dancer Award, marking her early success in the dance world. She also represented South Africa internationally, performing in Berlin with the production “Faust.”
Career
Lorcia’s career evolved from dance and choreography into hosting and acting. She began hosting the TV show “Travel Xplorer” on SABC2 and played the lead role of Cindi in the film Hey Boy (2003).
She gained major recognition on the TV series Backstage, where she played Charmaine and also worked as the choreographer. She later joined the soap Scandal! as Erin and served as a judge and choreographer on dance competition shows such as Dans! Dans! Dans! and High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa.
Her role as Tyson, a lesbian inmate in Lockdown (2017-2020), earned her critical acclaim, including winning the South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Supporting Actress in 2019. She also appeared in films like Zulu Wedding (2017) and TV dramas such as Still Breathing (2020) and Red Ink (2024).
Beyond acting, she created the program “Life Skills through Dance,” which empowers youth, and works as a motivational speaker and life coach.
Personal Life
Born in Cape Town, Western Cape, Lorcia is married to Mandla Khumalo since 2018. They have a daughter and a son together, and Lorcia has another daughter, Jannah, from a previous relationship. She emphasizes the importance of compatibility and shared vision in relationships. In 2019, she managed a health issue involving swollen lymph nodes in her thyroid, undergoing treatment with carbon dioxide injections to reduce eye puffiness.
Net Worth
Lorcia Cooper’s estimated net worth is around $500,000 USD, gained from her multifaceted career in acting, dance, choreography, presenting, and motivational speaking in the South African entertainment industry.
Filmography
Television:
- Breekpunt (2025) as Rozlynne Joshua
- Red Ink (2024) as Detective Morapedi
- Still Breathing (2020) as Lucille
- Lockdown (2017–2020) as Tyson
- Housekeepers (2018) as Mkhonto
- Scandal! as Erin
- Backstage as Charmaine
- Travel Xplorer (SABC2) as Host
Films:
- Zulu Wedding (2017) as Marang
- Hey Boy (2003) as Cindi
- Neelan & Kevin (2024) as Mercia Holby
Awards and Nominations
- 2019 SAFTA Golden Horn Winner for Best Supporting Actress – Lockdown
- 2020 SAFTA Best Supporting Actress Nomination – Lockdown
- FNB Vita Best Female Dancer Award at age 19
- Multiple nominations in South African television awards
