The Wonder Of Gugu
GLAMOUR South Africa|May 2018

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was the award-winning actress in danger of becoming cinema’s best-kept secret. Until now.

Bim Adewunmi
The Wonder Of Gugu
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, 35, and I had plans for when we met – highfalutin plans. In light of her role in Disney’s blockbuster A Wrinkle in Time (which is set to hit SA cinemas from 4 May), we were going to take in some crisp air and chat animatedly about life, the universe and everything, as we strolled around London’s Royal Observatory. London, however, had other plans, and a deep, shifting mist obscures what should be a panoramic view of the city. “Oh, wait – I can see the Thames! It’s that brown sludge,” Gugu says. She turns to me with her woolly black hat pulled low over her curls. “Is there somewhere to get a cup of tea?”

So off we go to find a cuppa. “This is cosy,” says Gugu, as we settle in at a nearby café and order green tea for her, mint for me. She smiles broadly, as well she might. The 35-year-old actress from Oxfordshire has just returned to the UK after an astonishing three-year period of near-constant filming that promises – finally – to transform her into an international star.

To be fair, if you don’t know about Gugu yet, it’s not for any lack of trying on her part. From supporting roles with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Larry Crowne to playing the feather duster Plumette in last year’s mega-hit Beauty and the Beast, as well as her captivating turn as Dido Elizabeth Belle in Amma Asante’s 2013 film, Belle, she has a steadily building fan base. And her recent lead in the romantic drama Irreplaceable You, released globally on Netflix, will have garnered her a few more. And a particular favourite came in 2016, when she starred in Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, playing Kelly in season three’s standout episode ‘San Junipero’. (“One of the most compelling pieces of TV I’d ever read,” she says.)

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2018 من GLAMOUR South Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2018 من GLAMOUR South Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من GLAMOUR SOUTH AFRICA مشاهدة الكل
Are you considering moving to UK?
GLAMOUR South Africa

Are you considering moving to UK?

Bestselling author, Sam Beckbessinger is also a seasoned mover, and her latest offering, Moving to the UK, offers helpful tips, funny anecdotes and to-do lists to help you navigate this transition.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2023 - January 2024
A beauty solution
GLAMOUR South Africa

A beauty solution

At Standard Beauty, they take pride in being an all-women-run team, bringing diverse perspectives and unparalleled expertise to the skincare industry.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023 - January 2024
3 Things to Do When You Overthink Everything
GLAMOUR South Africa

3 Things to Do When You Overthink Everything

How to overcome analysis paralysis.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2023 - January 2024
A la MODE
GLAMOUR South Africa

A la MODE

With bold looks and exceptional value for money, the new Omoda C5 has made a big splash in the local motoring scene.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023 - January 2024
Spotlighting ABANTU FOR THE PEOPLE
GLAMOUR South Africa

Spotlighting ABANTU FOR THE PEOPLE

Small businesses play an important role in the South African economy, and we're playing our part by showing them some love. This month, we shine the spotlight on Abantu Media, cofounded by Jay Wabantu who is also a tattoo artist and photographer.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023 - January 2024
CELEBRATING EMPOWERMENT
GLAMOUR South Africa

CELEBRATING EMPOWERMENT

Pan-African bank Absa partners with Glamour for their influential Women of the Year Awards 2023

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023 - January 2024
TAX SEASON UNPACKED
GLAMOUR South Africa

TAX SEASON UNPACKED

The word 'tax' stirs up many emotions, so we've roped in Tax Specialist, Natasha Lorde to answer your questions and help get you ready for Tax Season.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2023 - January 2024
It's a COMPARISON trap
GLAMOUR South Africa

It's a COMPARISON trap

Even picture-perfect couples go through rough patches. Here's how to avoid the social media comparison trap.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2023 - January 2024
Embracing CHANGE
GLAMOUR South Africa

Embracing CHANGE

It's time to stop comparing your current body to your former one. Romanticising the past is easy, but we're not meant to look the same our whole lives.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2023 - January 2024
Healing YOUR INNER CHILD
GLAMOUR South Africa

Healing YOUR INNER CHILD

The journey of self-discovery is nuanced and you may have discovered a younger you that needs to be seen and heard. Certified Meditation Practitioner, Melissa Lainn, shares her approach to healing the inner child.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023 - January 2024