NONDUMISO TEMBE
BIO
AWARD-WINNING PERFORMER & WRITER
Raised between sunny Durban, South Africa and New York City, multi-award-winning Actress, Singer, Songwriter, Dancer and Writer Nondumiso Tembe is well on her way
to becoming one of Africa’s brightest international stars. The proud daughter of
two of Africa’s most successful Opera singers and trailblazers, artistic expression
is deeply embedded in her DNA, though she has forged a unique path of her
own, enjoying a diverse, international career in the Performing Arts.
Nondumiso is believed to have been the first South African actress to obtain
a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the famed Yale School of Drama. She also
holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and Political Science from
New York’s New School University, as well as certificates in Classical Theatre
from the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford University, England
and Musical Theatre from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in
New York. The multi-disciplinary artist has studied Classical Ballet for over
20 years and is also a certified Copy Editor and Proofreader.
In addition, she is a dynamic voice over artist with extensive experience.
Some notable career highlights include ferocious women’s rights activist,
Na’omi Ajimuda, on History Channel and A+E Studios’ breakout military drama,
“Six”; tragic Creole maid, Mavis, in the massive hit HBO show, “True Blood,” and
the feisty Miss Mya, on one of Africa’s most popular television shows, “Generations.”
She lead a sparkling cast in romantic comedy feature film, “Zulu Wedding,” played
Grace Rwaramba in Lifetime’s “Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland” as well as
the fierce Fanta in the epic mini-series, “The Book of Negroes.” Her film and tv career is littered with a string of gritty guest starring roles on popular tv shows “NCIS,” “NCIS: LA” and “Castle” and she enjoyed a fun cameo in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
Nondumiso’s theatre resumé is varied and extensive, having performed at many prestigious theatres, including the McCarter Theatre at Princeton, Yale Repertory Theatre, the Miller Theatre at Columbia, the Boston Court Theatre, Walt Disney Studios, the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the popular Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.
Some noteworthy theatre performances include a bold reimagining as Joyce
in the first revival of the groundbreaking South African musical, “King Kong,” earning her a Best Lead Actress in a Musical South African Magazine Theatre Award win as well as Fleur du Cap and Naledi Theatre Award nominations.
She took home the Best Lead Actress in a Musical Mercury Theatre Award
for her tour-de-force performance in the title role in a celebrated revival
of Rogers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical, “Cinderella,” and a Best
Actress in a Supporting Role Naledi Theatre Award for her razor-sharp portrayal of Susan in David Mamet’s provocative play, “Race.”
Recently, Nondumiso took on the role of a lifetime as Cleopatra
in Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s “Antony & Cleopatra” and
then wowed critics in the title role in the illustrious Steppenwolf
Theatre Company new musical, “Lindiwe,” featuring Grammy
Award-winning World Music group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
An accomplished Singer-Songwriter, the multi-lingual artist’s critically-acclaimed debut album, “IZWI LAMI; My Voice,” made waves in the
Southern African music industry, earning her a MetroFM Music Award win and Best Female Album and Best EthnoSoul Artist South African Traditional Music Award nominations. Some of her proudest live concert performances include singing for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebration, sharing the stage with her parents at a 2010 FIFA World Cup concert the year her country hosted
and her powerful tribute performances at the United Nations UNESCO in Paris.
She can currently be seen in Netflix’s upcoming romantic comedy, “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” and heard on the smash hit scripted supernatural thriller podcast, “Bridgewater.”
Nondumiso is based in Los Angeles, where she is creating and developing her own work and fighting for an Arts industry that is more inclusive and joyfully diverse!
WRITING
An emerging, award-winning writer, Nondumiso is passionate about creating exciting new stories that center dynamic women of color in fantastical landscapes, like fantasy, animation and musicals. Her work explores a broader depth of humanity from under-represented characters' perspectives and also aims to put a smile in your heart and add a sprinkle of magic to your day!
She recently won Best Feature Script at the 2023 California Women’s Film Festival. Her screenplays have placed as finalist, quarterfinalist, honorable mention or official selection at the:
• 2024 Faith In Film International Film Festival
• 2024 International Diversity Film Festival
• 2024 ScreenCraft Family Screenplay Competition
• 2023 Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards
• 2023 Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
• 2022 Imagine This Women’s Film Festival
• 2021 Creative Screenwriting Animation Competition
• 2021 Diverse Voices Screenwriting Competition
contact
MANAGER
Michael greenwald
endorse management group
info@endorsemanagement.com
theatrical agents
donna massetti
sms talent
donna@smsla.com
voice over agents
arlene thornton
arlene thornton & associates
arlene@arlenethornton.com
