Thembsie Matu Biography
Nomathemba ‘Thembisile’ Matu, more commonly known as Thembsie Matu, is a renowned South African actress and television presenter. Born in 1966, she has been active in the entertainment industry since 1987. She is best recognized for her roles in popular television serials such as Tshisa, Rockville, and The Queen.
Personal Life
Thembsie Matu was born in the year 1966 in Katlehong, a township located in Gauteng, South Africa. She was raised by her mother after her father left them during her childhood.
Thembsie was married to Peter Sebotsa, an Anglican minister. Tragically, Peter passed away in June 2019 after drowning in the family’s pool. Thembsie is a mother of two children, a daughter, and a son.
In 2021, Thembsie contracted COVID-19 and had to spend five weeks in the hospital for treatment and recovery.
Career
Early Career
Thembsie Matu made her professional stage debut in 1987 in the play titled ‘Sekunjalo’. Following this, she performed in the plays ‘What A Shame’ (1989) and ‘Give A Child’ (1989). In 1994, she made her television debut with the serial ‘Mama’s Love’ and then in the serial ‘Lahliwe’ (1999).
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Television Career
In 2006, Thembsie appeared in the SABC1 drama series ‘Tshisa’ in the role of Nomathamsanqa, a role she continued to play for six years. During this period, she also acted in the SABC3 drama television serial ‘The Lab’, where she played the recurring role of Zinhle until 2008. She also joined the SABC1 mini-serial ‘uGugu no Andile’ and played the guest role of “Teacher”. In 2008, she appeared on the e.tv soap opera ‘Rhythm City’ in the guest role of Sis Bee.
Throughout her career, Thembsie made supportive and guest roles in many television serials such as Zone 14, Gaz’lam, Home Affairs, Zero Tolerance, The Lab, and Jacob’s Cross. In 2009, she acted in the comedy film ‘Finding Lenny’ directed by Neal Sundstrom. After that, she joined the SABC1 sitcom ‘Abo Mzala’ and starred in the role of Zodwa in the second season, which was previously played by Lusanda Mbane.
Recent Works
In 2011, she played the role of Novezake in the first season of SABC1 serial ‘Intsika’. Then in the same year, she joined the serial ‘Soul Buddyz’ to play the supportive role of Mrs Vilakazi. After that, she appeared in the serial ‘The Wild’ as Gertrude. In the next year, she acted in the second season of the SABC2 serial ‘Moferefere Lenyalong’ as Boreng.
In 2013, she appeared in ‘Rockville’ as Sis Ribs, where she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama at the 2014 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA). In the preceding years, she continued to act in many television serials such as Abo Mzala, Thandeka’s Diary, MTV Shuga, and Thuli noThulani.
However, her most popular television role came through the Mzansi Magic telenovela ‘The Queen’ when she played the role of “Petronella”. With that popularity, she continued to play the role from season 2 to season 6 in 2021.
Apart from television acting, she appeared in the popular commercial for the insecticide Doom. In 2018, she was nominated for the Diva Extraordinaire of the year at the 2018 Feather Awards. In 2019, she co-hosted the show “Fragrance Your Life” with Nomsa Buthelezi aired on e.tv. Meanwhile, she also won the awards for the Favourite Actress and Ultimate Viewers’ Choice awards at the 2018 DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Filmography
Thembsie Matu’s filmography includes a variety of roles in both television series and films. Some of her notable works include ‘Tshisa’, ‘Zone 14’, ‘Gaz’lam’, ‘Home Affairs’, ‘Zero Tolerance’, ‘The Lab’, ‘Jacob’s Cross’, ‘Nomzamo’, ‘Rhythm City’, ‘uGugu no Andile’, ‘Izingane zoBaba’, ‘Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema’, ‘Finding Lenny’, ‘Intsika’, and ‘Soul Buddyz’. Her diverse roles across different genres showcase her versatility as an actress.
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Tragic Loss and Resilience
Thembsie Matu faced a devastating tragedy when her husband was found drowned in their family pool. This heart-wrenching incident could have been a setback for many, but Matu used it as a catalyst to push herself beyond her limits and channel her creativity. Despite the immense loss, she did not let it hinder her career. Instead, she used her grief as motivation to strive for better, not just for herself but also for her children.
Inspiration Behind Thembsie Matu’s Clothing Line
Thembsie Matu’s clothing line is inspired by her desire to make everyone who wears her clothes look good. She specifically designed her line with voluptuous people in mind, aiming to create clothing that would flatter their figures by covering love handles while still making them look fabulous. What sets her clothing line apart is the unique type of material used and the creative way the clothes are designed and put together.
Net Worth of Thembsie Matu
Thembsie Matu’s hard work and dedication have paid off handsomely. With a flourishing clothing line and a new role in her acting career, she is indeed on a winning streak. Her net worth is estimated to be around $200,000, a testament to her success in the entertainment and fashion industry.
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