Makgotso Monyemorathoe (born 5 October 1991) is a South African actress. Her television work includes the Mzansi Magic drama ''

Is'Thunzi ''Is'thunzi'' is a 2016 South African teen drama series centered around a group of four girls and their everyday struggles. Its lead actress, Thuso Mbedu, who portrays Winnie, was nominated for two consecutive International Emmy Awards in 2017 ...

'' (2016–2017) and the

Showmax Showmax is an online subscription video on demand (SVOD) service which launched in South Africa on 19 August 2015. Showmax uses a localisation strategy to take on established video on demand competitors with a focus on local content and partner ...

miniseries '' The Girl from St. Agnes'' (2019). She appeared in the historical epic film '' The Woman King'' (2022).

Early life

Monyemorathoe was born in Katlehong and spent her early childhood in Alberton, where she attended Alberview Primary School. She is Zulu on her mother's side and Pedi on her father's side. In 2003 at the age of eleven, she moved to England with her mother, a nurse, and sister. They first lived in

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

, where she attended East Brighton College of Media and Art (COMART), and then

Hitchin Hitchin () is a market town and unparished area in the North Hertfordshire Districts of England, district in Hertfordshire, England, with an estimated population of 35,842. History Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce peopl ...

, where she attended The Priory School. During this time, she became a naturalised British citizen. Upon moving to England, Monyemorathoe became interested in drama, participating in school productions and local clubs. She completed

A Levels The A-Level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational aut ...

in Theatre Studies, Media, and Psychology before going on to study at

Brunel University London Brunel University London is a Public university, public Research universities, research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. It was founded in 1966 and named after the Victorian era, Victorian engineer and pioneer of the I ...

. She also joined the

National Youth Theatre The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) is a youth theatre and registered charity in London. Its aim is to develop and nurture young people through creative arts and theatrical productions. Founded in 1956 as the world's first youth th ...

. After graduating with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

in Theatre and Film Studies, she returned to South Africa in 2014.

Career

Monyemorathoe made her television debut in 2014 with a guest appearance in the third season of ''My Perfect Family'' on

SABC1 SABC 1 is a South African public television network operated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) which carries programming in English and Nguni languages, Nguni. It was created in 1996, after the SABC restructured its television ...

followed by her film debut in ''

Ayanda ''Ayanda'' is a 2015 South African film directed by Sara Blecher and starring Fulu Mugovhani, OC Ukeje, and Nthati Moshesh. The festival title of the film was Ayanda and the Mechanic. The film was picked up for a November 2015 release by indepen ...

'' directed by

Sara Blecher Sara Blecher (born Gauteng) is a South African director and producer. Biography Originally from South Africa, Blecher's family moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1981, when she was 12 years old. Her family is originally of Jewish Lithuanian origin, ...

and produced by

Terry Pheto Moitheri Pheto (born 11 May 1981) is a South African actress who is known for starring in an Oscar-winning film ''Tsotsi'' (2005) and other South African soapies. She had a recurring role of a heart surgeon, Dr. Malaika Maponya, on the America ...

. 2016 saw Monyemorathoe's breakout as she joined the soap operas '' Isidingo'' as Kamogelo Tsotetsi and ''

Muvhango ''Muvhango'' is a South African television soap opera, created by Duma Ndlovu. It is broadcast on the public TV channel SABC 2, and has an average of 4 million daily viewers. The first episode was aired on 7 April 1997. It was the first Tshive ...

'' as Onika. That October, she began starring in the Mzansi Magic teen drama ''

'', playing the role of Tishiwe for both of its seasons. Monyemorathoe had a main role as Moipone Molopo in the 2019

mystery miniseries '' The Girl from St. Agnes''. She had a supporting role in the BET+ original ''A Royal Surprise'' from Zimbabwean filmmaker Beautie Masvaure Alt. In early 2022, it was announced Monyemorathoe had been cast in the historical epic film '' The Woman King'' directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and produced by Viola Davis.

Filmography

Film

Television

Notes

References

External links

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Makgotso M
at TVSA {{DEFAULTSORT:M, Makgotso Living people 21st-century South African actresses Actresses from Brighton Actresses from Hertfordshire Alumni of Brunel University London National Youth Theatre members Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom Northern Sotho people People from Alberton, Gauteng Actors from Hitchin People from Katlehong Zulu people 1991 births