Thuso Mbedu marks first-ever win at Independent Spirit Awards [watch]

The annual Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday 6 March in Santa Monica in Los Angeles, California. South Africa’s star actress Thuso Mbedu walked away with the Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series Award for her powerful role in Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad. The 30-year-old actor’s win marks her first-ever Independent Spirit Award.

WHAT ARE THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS? 

Founded in 1984, the Independent Spirit Awards celebrates the best in independent film and television. According to their website, the Independent Spirit Awards are described as the “premier awards event for the independent film and television community”.

2022 marked the 37th anniversary of the Awards. Traditionally, the Independent Spirit Awards are held one week before the Oscar Awards, but the Awards were moved up three weeks earlier.

According to Variety, this was done to boost the impact of the Spirit Awards on the Oscars.

THUSO MBEDU BAGS A MAJOR AWARD

South African actress Thuso Mbedu was nominated in the Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series category alongside the likes of British-Nigerian actress Deborah Ayorinde, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Jana Schmieding and Anja Vasan.

While accepting her award for her performance in The Underground Railroad, Mbedu thanked the Independent Spirit Awards for the recognition and The Underground Railroad production team.

“Every single person who was involved in The Underground Railroad…There was no person that was too small in making the project what it was. I really hope that you guys will take the time to watch it because it’s an absolute masterpiece.”

TAKE A LOOK