For more than two decades, Thandie Newton has been playing challenging and unique roles on large and small screens, many of them involving excitable, hot-headed, and indestructible characters. A ravishing beauty, the British-American actress began making waves in the film community at a very young age and has added more and more colorful feathers to her cap.
Throughout Newton’s robust career, she has received a number of enviable awards and nominations for her brilliant performances in both American and British film circles.
The A-Lister began her acting career in 1991 as Thandiwe Adjewa in John Duigan’s comedy Flirting. Three years later she was given another major role in the film Interview with the Vampire. In the cast of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, Thandie portrayed the fictional character Yvette, a faithful house slave, in the film.
She has also starred in a number of high-profile films, some of which have been cast alongside elite figures such as Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy (in the 2007 romantic/comedy film Norbit), Tyler Perry (in the romantic drama film Good Deeds) and many others.
Thandie Newton’s Bio
The winner of the Critic’s Choice Award was born on November 6, 1972, and was named Melanie Thandiwe Newton after her birth. Unlike some biographies that have been circulating, Thandie was actually born in London, more precisely in Westminster. For so many years the public was fed with the information that the actress was born in Zambia. However, Thandie confirmed in several interviews that her birthplace was London and not Zambia.
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As for her roots and nationality, the famous actress is of British nationality and Hungarian and black descent. The beloved star grew up both in London and in Penzance, a fast-growing city in England.
Unlike most actresses who had formal acting training, Thandie has a degree in social anthropology. She received her degree at Downing College in Cambridge, where she spent three academic years (from 1992 to 1995). She also holds a certificate in dance, which she obtained at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
As mentioned above, Newton boasts a solid career that is improving year by year. Her catalog of acting spans more than twenty-five years and boasts a number of awards and nominations, including an Emmy Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe nomination, and nomination by the Screen Actors Guild. Thandie earned these awards and nominations for her outstanding performance in the television series Westworld, in which she has starred since 2016.
The English star is not only a phenomenal leading lady but also does an excellent job as a supporting actress. Her supporting role in the 2004 film The Chronicles of Riddick and Crash even earned her a BAFTA award. She currently plays the fictional character, Maeve Millay, in the science fiction television series Westworld.
Besides acting, British beauty has also left her mark on the media industry. In 2017, she was part of the team that covered the documentary film about the cases of sexual assaults by the American elite comedian Bill Cosby. She acted as the narrator for the documentary film entitled Bill Cosby: Case of an American Icon.
Her Husband And Children
Thandie Newton is married to the English producer, director, and author Oliver Parker. The two lovers formed a life-long bond in 1998 and share three children – two daughters and a son. Their names are Ripley Parker (born 2000), Nico Parker (born 2004), and Booker Jombe (born 2014). Thandie’s daughters are named after the German actress/singer/songwriter Nico (née Christa Päffgen) and the alien film character Ellen Ripley.
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Popularly known as Ol Parker, Newton’s husband was born in London, England. He has been working in the entertainment industry since 1995. He works as a writer and film director. He is famous for his 2018 music film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Ol has also received praise for himself both within and outside the film community and several nominations for his projects, including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Movies and the BAFTA Award for Best British Film.
Thandie Newton Parents
The African-British film star is the daughter of Nyasha Newton (mother) and Nick Newton (father). Her mother is a princess of the Shona tribe, an ethnic group in Zimbabwe, while her father is a British artist and laboratory technician. The duo is said to have given her the name Thandiwe, which means “beloved” in Zulu, Swati, Ndebele, Xhosa, and Swati.