It takes a lot of grit to stay relevant, continue to deliver brilliant performances, and rise through the ranks, especially in this fast-paced competitive industry. From an early age, Thando Thabethe has made a seamless transformation since landing her first major role in the hit sitcom My Perfect Family, acting alongside industry legends such as Lillian Dube, John Lata, and Baby Cele. The SAFTA-nominee has been on our TV and movie screens since she was 14 years old.
After a successful stint as a child star, Thabethe has continued her ascent as an actress, TV/Radio host, and entrepreneur. She has worked on the biggest television shows and movies including the undercover thriller Housekeepers, Showmax’s epic drama Blood Psalms and the International Emmy-nominated series Reyka.
Below is a list of all the shows you can watch, to experience the actress who boasts over 10 years working in this industry and shows no sign of stopping.
Housekeepers S1-3
The undercover thriller stars Thando Thabethe, who reprises her role as Linda, and Paballo Koza as her brother Mtho. The series follows an agent solving criminal cases – while undercover as the house help. And while Linda has massive crime to uncover in Housekeepers Season 3, now streaming on Showmax, her biggest fight is her desperate attempt to save Mtho’s life. Can Linda prove his innocence while keeping her true identity hidden from her dangerous new employers?
In 2023, Thando got nominated for Best Actress in a TV Drama at the SAFTAs, while the series won Best Scriptwriting in a TV Drama. Housekeepers Season 3 cast includes Gabriel Simphiwe Mini, Ernest Ndlovu, Andile Mxakaza, Noxolo Dlamini, Fezile Makhanya, and TV presenting legend Zandi Nhlapo. The series is produced by the multi-award-winning Ochre Moving Pictures, and the season 3 supporting cast includes Kenneth Nkosi, Connie Chiume and Chichi Letswalo.
Watch Thando Thabethe in Housekeepers now »
Reyka S1
Reyka follows criminal profiler Reyka Gama (SAFTA winner Kim Engelbrecht) as she investigates a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer in the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal. Thando Thabethe plays the role of Constable Nandi Cele, who loves her job and is always immaculately turned out in her uniform. She is forthright and empathetic, acting as a moral compass for her colleagues.
The series got nominated for International Emmy in 2022, with Kim Engelbrecht getting nominated for Best Performance by an actress. The series received eight nominations at the 2022 SAFTAs, winning four of them, including Best Actress in a TV Drama for Kim Engelbrecht.
The eight-part contemporary crime drama also stars SAFTA winners Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Hamilton Dhlamini, Kenneth Nkosi, and Desmond Dube, as well as SAFTA nominees Nokuthula Ledwaba, and Fiona Ramsey. Directed by SAFTA nominee Zee Ntuli and SAFTA winner Catharine Cooke, Reyka was sold by Fremantle to 80 territories, including BritBox North America, CANAL+, Channel4 in the UK, HBO LatAm, and Sky Italia.
Reyka is jointly produced by Serena Cullen for Serena Cullen Productions in the UK and Harriet Gavshon for Emmy-nominated Quizzical Pictures in South Africa.
Watch Thando Thabethe in Reyka now »
Blood Psalms
The epic, action-packed Showmax Original African fantasy series Blood Psalms follows a young Princess Zazi (played by Bokang Phelane) who must save herself and her people from the end of the world. She faces warring tribes, angry gods – and her own father in this groundbreaking fantasy epic.
Thando Thabethe plays the Emissary of Heka who is responsible for foretelling everybody’s future. Blood Psalms is a fantasy epic unlike anything made in South Africa before, created by award-winning duo Jahmil X.T. Qubeka and Layla Swart. The incredible cast includes SAFTA winners like Mothusi Magano, Bongile Mantsai, Hamilton Dlamini and Zolisa Xaluva, as well as favourites like Faith Baloyi and Sello Maake Ka Ncube. Bokang Phelane takes on the role of a lifetime as Princess Zazi.
Watch Thando Thabethe in Blood Psalms now »
How To Ruin Christmas
South Africans were introduced to two families who immediately became their favourite dysfunctional, not-so-guilty pleasure – The Twalas and the Sellos were the messy, yet relatable onscreen family we never knew we needed!
Thando Thabethe plays Beauty, the nervous wreck of a bride-to-be in Season 1. The actress won Best Actress at the SAFTAs in 2023, with the show having a total of 14 wins in its 3 seasons run. The series also stars the likes of Rami Chuene, Sandile Mahlangu, Desmond Dube who scooped Best Supporting Actor in 2021 and 2022, Saint Seseli who won Best Actor in 2022, Charmaine Mtinta, Denise Zimba, the late Busi Lurayi who won Best Actress in 2021, Motlatsi Mafatshe and Thembi Nyandeni, to name a few.
Also watch How to Ruin Love: The Proposal, the first South African spin-off on Netflix, expanding on the existing and beloved How To Run Christmas universe, audiences are introduced to another set of equally chaotic and messy families. Thando Thabethe reprises her role as Beauty in this spin-off
Love Lives Here
In Love Lives Here, Thando Thabethe plays Zinhle, a hard-working single woman with a modern outlook but traditional values. She knows what’s best for her, and that the next step in her life is to get married. But can she find a man who’s ready to commit?
On her road to romance, she meets a beguiling partner (played by Lungile Radu), and they get down to business. The cast also includes Zola Nombona, Motlatsi Mafatshe, Andile Gumbi, Nandi Nyembe, Nkanyiso Bhengu, Sihle Ndaba and Clementina Mosimane. Thabethe was also an associate producer for the film.
For more on Thando Thabethe, she recently launched her new reality series “Unstoppable Thabooty” on BET Africa. You can also watch her in the Prime Video series In Your Dreams, Mrs Right Guy, and Single Guys.
