Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton OBE is a British actress whose career spans more than three decades in film and television. Newton made her screen debut in "Flirting" and earned a degree in anthropology from Downing College, Cambridge, an academic background that informs her approach to acting and public discourse. Early film roles include a supporting part in "Interview with the Vampire" and the title role in "Beloved," followed by a global breakthrough as Nyah Nordoff-Hall in "Mission: Impossible 2."

Newton's performance in the ensemble drama "Crash" earned her the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She appeared in "The Pursuit of Happyness" opposite Will Smith, portrayed Condoleezza Rice in Oliver Stone's "W.," and played a significant role in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" as the first Black woman with a major non-alien role in the Star Wars franchise. Her television work includes appearances in ER, Line of Duty—earning a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Actress—and the animated series "Big Mouth" and its spinoff "Human Resources."

A defining role for Newton was Maeve Millay in the HBO science fiction series "Westworld." Her portrayal of a sentient android exploring consciousness, freedom, and identity earned three Emmy Award nominations, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, two Critics' Choice Awards, and nominations for a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award.

Outside of acting, Newton is known for her public speaking and advocacy. She delivered a TED Talk titled "Embracing Otherness, Embracing Myself," addressing identity, self-perception, and the experience of growing up biracial. Newton has been an advocate against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and has spoken about her own experiences, contributing to broader cultural conversations. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to film and charity. Newton also restored the correct spelling of her first name, Thandiwe, meaning "beloved" in Shona, after it had been misspelled in her early film credits.