Former Rhythm City Zimbabwean actor Themba Ntuli is one of the most loved actors and comedians in South Africa mostly because of his small stature and demeanour.
Ntuli looks like a regular 12-year-old boy when he is actually 31 this year, with a height of 120cm. This is because he was born with a growth deficiency.
However, his immense talent makes him one of the most popular faces on South African television.
Coffee and Sonia
Zimbabwean actor Themba Ntuli with Black Coffee and Sonia Mbele [Image: @thembab_m/Instagram]
Early Life And Education
Thembalethu Brian Ntuli was born in Zimbabwe on 7 March 1991 to Kenneth and Nokuthula Nthuli. He grew up with his siblings Zathemba and Msizi.
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli [Image: @thembab_m/Instagram]
His family however relocated to Ekhuruleni in East Rand, South Africa at a tender age.
Themba recounts that as a kid, he used to be bullied a lot by his peers because of his tiny stature.
He started acting in school drama in Grade 8 and the bug never fell off. After realising the passion and fascination that he had for acting, Themba reckoned he could pursue this as a career.
Upon completing his matric, Themba enrolled at the AFDA Film Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Directing, Writing, television and Production.
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli [Image: @thembab_m/Instagram]
Acting Career
His big acting break came when he joined etv series Rhythm City as a young car guard named Pule, who was adopted by Suffocate Ndlovu, played by Mduduzi Mabaso.
In 2011, he was the script supervisor at Bomb Shelter Productions and got to direct Hoek-Line, his first movie. On its release in 2012, he dedicated it to his father who passed on in 2011.
Later that year, Ntuli joined Vusmo Media as an editor and cinematographer. He produced the short movie Njengo Thando and it scooped three gongs at the Mpumalanga Film Festival.
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli [Image: @thembab_m/Instagram]
Since his acting debut, Ntuli has featured in series like Kanye Kanye, Soul Buddyz, Mampara, Meerkat Maantuig, Ntunjambili, The Last Face, Young Leonardo, Rhythm city, Frank and fearless, Poppie Nongena and so many others.
In 2018, he was featured in a Leon Schuster movie called Frank & Fearless, playing the role of Fearless. Their role was to kidnap the ambassador of a south-east Asian country to end rhino trading.
Personal Life
Zimbabwean Actor Themba NtuliZimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli
Zimbabwean Actor Themba Ntuli and his wife Hope Masilo [Image: @thembab_m/Instagram]
Ntuli is married to Hope Masilo. They tied the knot in 2019.-iharare
