Amamkele Lithemba Qamata born September 2, 1998) is a South African actress. She is best known for her roles as Buhle Ndaba in the Mzansi Magic series Gomora and Puleng Khumalo in the hit Netflix series Blood & Water.[1]
Amamkele Qamata | |
|---|---|
 Qamata on Plus TV Africa in 2020 | |
| Born | Amamkele Lithemba Qamata 2 September 1998 Cala, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Education | University of Cape Town |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Awards | S.A style awards, 2020 |
Early life and education
editQamata was born in the Eastern Cape village of Cala in the Sakhisizwe Local Municipality. She moved to Johannesburg with her family at the age of three.[2]
Qamata discovered acting through a school productions and first appeared on screen in advertisements.[3] She is an alumna of Reddam House Bedfordview; after passing her matriculation in 2016, she took a gap year.[3] She enrolled at the University of Cape Town for a Theatre and Performance degree, but withdrew from the institution during her second year.[3]
Career
editAged 17, Qamata made her television acting debut as Naledi in the situation comedy My Perfect Family on SABC1.[3]
In 2020 she was in the cast of Gomora,[4] as the character of Buhle in the Mzansi Magic series.[5][6]
Later that year she appeared in Netflix's Blood & Water. Qamata's character, Puleng, has a sister who was abducted at birth, and Puleng is trying to prove that the successful swimmer from a private school and rich family is in fact her sister.[7] Kutlwano Ditsele, the casting director for Blood & Water, was executive producer on Gomora and invited Qamata to audition, which she did successfully.[3]
Qamata has also had roles in Rhythm City and Commandos: The Mission.[4] Qamata is set to star in Matthew Leutwyler's upcoming sports film Fight Like a Girl alongside Hakeem Kae-Kazim.[8]
Filmography
edit| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fight Like A Girl | Safi | [8] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | My Perfect Family | Naledi | Recurring role | [3] |
| 2018 | Our Girl | Grace | Series 3 part 2 episode 2 | |
| 2018 | Rhythm City | Thandi | Recurring role | [4] |
| 2020–2022 | Gomora | Nobuhle Ndaba | Main role | [4] |
| 2020–present | Blood & Water | Puleng Khumalo | Main role | [1] |
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | S.A Style Awards | The Next Big Thing | Herself | Won | |
| 2020 | Séries Brasil Awards | Revelação Do Ano | Blood & Water | [9] | |
| 2023 | The Future Awards Africa | Prize for Acting | Herself | Pending | [10] |
References
edit- ^ a b La Jeunesse, Marilyn (10 June 2020). "Ama Qamata speaks about her leading role on Blood & Water". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ Puckett, Lauren (22 June 2020). "Ama Qamata Knows Exactly What Blood And Water Should Do Next". Elle. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Tyekana, Phila. "All the way up". True Love. South Africa: 24.com. pp. 46–47. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ a b c d Malonde, Zamandulo (3 June 2020). "Eastern Cape's Ama Qamata revels in success of hit series". The Herald. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via NewsBank.
- ^ Mazibuko, Nonkulueko (18 June 2020). "Ama Qamata is the talk of the town". Move!. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Inside Ama Qamata's journey to fame". Drum. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ "A bond that goes beyond the screen". The Sunday Independent. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
- ^ a b Roxborough, Scott (20 December 2022). "'Blood and Water' Star Ama Qamata to Play Boxer in 'Fight Like a Girl'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ "Ama Qamata bags first international nod". IOL. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "FULL LIST: Asake, Tobi Amusan, Osimhen nominated for TFAA 2023". TheCable Lifestyle. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
External links
edit- Ama Qamata at IMDb
- Ama Qamata at TVSA