Fulu Mugovhani (born 7 September 1990 in Thohoyandou) is a South African actress. In 2015, she starred in Ayanda as the title character, a role that earned her many accolades and nominations including the Africa Movie Academy Awards, South African Film and Television Awards, and Africa International Film Festival awards.
Fulu Mugovhani | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 September 1990 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Alma mater | Tshwane University of Technology |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Notable work | Scandal! |
| Spouse | Tumi Modibedi aka Miza |
Personal life
editMugovhani was born in Thohoyandou, a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa.[1] She studied musical theatre at Tshwane University of Technology, where her father taught, finishing her degree in 2011.[2][3] She married her sweetheart, Tumi Modibedi, who works as a DJ and record producer, in June 2018.[4]
Career
editIn 2012, Mugovhani joined an international production of the musical The Lion King, produced by Hong Kong Disneyland, in the role of Nala. For the production and performances, she moved to Hong Kong for a year and a half.[1] In 2013, she landed her first role in television, acting in the mini-series Remix,[2] as well as acting in the soap opera Scandal!.[1]
In 2015, Mugovhani starred in the lead role of the movie Ayanda, directed by Sara Blecher. This role earned her many accolades, including the Best Actress in a leading role award at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards,[5] the Best Actress in a feature film award at the 10th South African Film and Television Awards,[6][7] and the Best Actress award at the 2015 Africa International Film Festival.[8] At the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama, but didn't win.[4]
In 2017, Mugovhani had a recurring role in the soap opera Isidingo on SABC 3.[4] Also, in the same year, she starred in the soap opera Ring of Lies in the role of Rendani, a Musangwe fighter who pursues her dream of becoming a champion boxer, despite her conservative father's desires.[4] In 2020, after a hiatus of a year, she starred in the series Still Breathing, where she portrayed a mother and wife for the first time,[9] and in the South African comedy film Seriously Single.[4][10]
Mugovhani has said in an interview that there is a difference performing on stage and on screen, needing to project her voice differently. This challenged her when she transitioned from theatre to television and film, as well as made it hard for her to be able to perform on stage after filming.[11]
Filmography
edit- Remix (2013)
- Scandal! (2013)
- Ayanda (2015) as Ayanda Olandele
- Happiness Is a Four-Letter Word (2016) as Lindiwe
- The Lucky Specials (2017) as Zwanga
- Isidingo (2017)
- Ring of Lies (2017)
- Still Breathing (2020) as Noli
- Seriously Single (2020) as Dineo
- One Night kwa Mxolisi (2021) as Funi
- Umakoti Wethu (2021) as Khathu
- Burns and Song (2024) as Risimu
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actress in a leading role | Ayanda | Won | [5] |
| South African Film and Television Awards | Best Actress in a feature film | Won | [6] | ||
| Africa International Film Festival | Best Actress | Won | [8] | ||
| 2016 | Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards | Best Actress in a Drama | Nominated | [4] |
References
edit- ^ a b c Tjiya, Emmanuel (6 August 2015). "Who's that girl? Fulu Mugovhani's star on the rise". The Sowetan. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017.
- ^ a b "10 Things You Didn't Know About Fulu Mugovhani". youthvillage.co.za. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ Matiso, Siyamthanda (7 August 2020). "Father had a big influence in me discovering my love for arts - Fulu Mugovhani". Radio 702.
- ^ a b c d e f Rashid, Salma (7 September 2020). "Fulu Mugovhani bio: Age, husband, education, profile, awards, net worth". briefly.co.za.
- ^ a b Mzinyane, Mbali (12 June 2016). "Local movies win big at the African Movie Academy Awards". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Fulu Mugovhani wins her first award at Saftas". eNCA. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016.
- ^ "Mughovani scoops best actress Safta for Afro-hipster Ayanda". Gauteng Film Commission. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ a b Mofokeng, Lesley (17 June 2016). "Fulu's 'African Oscar'". The Sowetan – via PressReader.
- ^ Tjiya, Emmanuel (17 February 2020). "Fulu Mugovhani returns to TV after year-long break". The Sowetan.
- ^ Tjiya, Emmanuel (31 July 2020). "Fulu and Tumi prove an unlikely hit in Seriously Single". The Sowetan.
- ^ Zeeman, Kyle (4 September 2017). "Fulu Mugovhani's theatre troubles: 'I just can't seem to get any roles'". TimesLIVE.
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