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Khanyi Mbau

  • Producer
  • Actress
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer1:35
Meet the Khumalos (2025)
From humble beginnings, raised by a single parent and Grand Mother in Soweto, Mofolo Village, Khanyi had always had big dreams and great mind, being raised in a family that celebrated arts with her Grandfather - Mr Babes Mbau (a great saxophonist) - Khanyi was destined to play a role in the arts. Landing here first television role at the age of 8, on a popular children's program, Gallooby on CCV, popularly known as SABC 1, today. Thereafter, at the age of 12, presenting a children's fitness show called Sasko Sam 'you're a star'. With the demand of school she then had to focus on her education. In 2004 she landed a role on the popular drama series Soul City as Katlego - a popular Soweto girl - not knowing her fortune was about to change. After the tragic shooting of Lindiwe Cibi, who played Doobsie on the popular series called Muvhango, she then went onto the biggest role of her career, playing the troubled villain, Doobsie, on Muvhango. With her personal life taking the lead, she then met Mandla Mthembu and became the tabloid queen - which served as the beginning of her dark days; and, facing the challenges of reality, gave birth to a beautiful little girl Cannes (pronounced as Khan) in 2006. Surviving abuse, and the many stigmas she had to bear - from controversial statements made by her and the media; she then chose to write a book as a source of healing and reflecting called "Bitch Please I'm Khanyi Mbau" (2011), out selling most celebrity biographies at the time. Since then the sky had been the limit and she has gone on to achieve many great things, and returns to our screens even bigger and better. Khanyi Mbau: a true life's lesson on always re-inventing yourself.
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    • Agent info
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    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Known for

    The Wife (2021)
    The Wife
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Zandile
    Khanyi Mbau in Red Room (2019)
    Red Room
    5.1
    • Producer
    • 2019
    Meet the Khumalos (2025)
    Meet the Khumalos
    5.2
    • Gracious Khumalo
    • 2025
    Happiness Is a Four-letter Word (2016)
    Happiness Is a Four-letter Word
    6.5
    • Zaza
    • 2016

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • Khanyi Mbau in Red Room (2019)
      Red Room
      5.1
      • executive producer
      • 2019
    • Khanyi Mbau in The Scoop (2017)
      The Scoop
      TV Series
      • associate producer
      • 2017–2018

    Actress



    • Meet the Khumalos (2025)
      Meet the Khumalos
      5.2
      • Gracious Khumalo
      • 2025
    • The Comedy Central Roast of Khanyi Mbau (2022)
      The Comedy Central Roast of Khanyi Mbau
      TV Special
      • Roastee
      • 2022
    • The Wife (2021)
      The Wife
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Zandile
      • 2022
    • Who's My Daddy? (2022)
      Who's My Daddy?
      7.1
      • 2022
    • A Grave Confession (2021)
      A Grave Confession
      Short
      • Yolanda Hadebe
      • 2021
    • Happiness Ever After (2021)
      Happiness Ever After
      4.7
      • Zaza
      • 2021
    • Khanyi Mbau in Red Room (2019)
      Red Room
      5.1
      • Zama Marawa
      • 2019
    • Leon Schuster, Kenneth Nkosi, Thembalethu Ntuli, and Khanyi Mbau in Frank & Fearless (2018)
      Frank & Fearless
      5.4
      • Beauty
      • 2018
    • Khabonina Qubeka and Gugu Zulu in She Is King (2017)
      She Is King
      6.2
      • Vivan
      • 2017
    • Tricia Musanhu in Every Woman (2017)
      Every Woman
      Short
      • (voice)
      • 2017
    • Happiness Is a Four-letter Word (2016)
      Happiness Is a Four-letter Word
      6.5
      • Zaza
      • 2016
    • Thapelo Mokoena in Ayeye (2015)
      Ayeye
      8.4
      TV Series
      • (credit only)
      • 2015–2022
    • Mzansi Love: Big City Love (2014)
      Mzansi Love: Big City Love
      TV Series
      • Lebo
      • 2014

    Writer



    • Tricia Musanhu in Every Woman (2017)
      Every Woman
      Short
      • co-writer
      • 2017

    Videos12

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:35
    Trailer [OV]
    Season 3 Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Season 3 Official Trailer
    Season 3 Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:00
    Season 3 Official Trailer
    Season 2 Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:09
    Season 2 Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Official Trailer
    Official Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 0:54
    Official Teaser Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:54
    Official Trailer

    Personal details

    • Official sites
      • Facebook Fan Page
      • Google Plus
    • Height
      • 5′ 2″ (1.57 m)
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Print Biography
      • 1 Interview
      • 2 Articles
      • 3 Magazine Cover Photos

    Did you know

    • Quotes
      Living rich was the loneliest time of my life
    • Nicknames
      • Khanyi Mbau
      • The Queen of Bling

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