International award-winning South African actress Thuso Mbedu recently marked her 35th birthday, turning a standard milestone celebration into a deeply moving tribute to a loved one who has passed away.
The The Woman King and The Underground Railroad star shared stunning visuals of herself posing with a sleek black Porsche, but it was her vulnerable, heartfelt words on loss, faith, and choosing joy that resonated deeply with her millions of followers worldwide.
A Deeply Personal Milestone: “Lunga Is Gone”
Opening her birthday note with a classic Dr. Seuss quote—“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You”—Thuso quickly peeled back the layers of her emotions, revealing the sudden heartache that accompanied turning 35.
She opened up about the heavy presence of her late friend, Lunga:
“35. Unexpectedly bittersweet. The arrival of 35 dragged along with it an unexpected knot in my throat and a tightness in my heart. It wasn’t meant to be a milestone birthday until Lunga decided it would be. What started as a joke turned into a ringing memory I’m carrying into this new year. We were supposed to laugh with and at each other when the timer ran out. And now 35 is here, but Lunga is gone.”
Choosing Joy Over Sorrow
Despite the emotional weight, the L’Oréal Paris brand ambassador shifted her perspective toward profound gratitude, citing her strong spiritual foundation as her guiding light.
“It would be shortsighted of me not to take inventory of how good God has been to me,” Thuso shared. “He has been so faithful in big ways and small. I know Lunga would be one of the loudest ones celebrating today. So I choose joy. I refuse to postpone it because I have learned time and time again that tomorrow isn’t promised.”
Industry Icons Flood the Comments
The South African acting royalty concluded her post by extending a beautiful scripture-based blessing to her fans (“The Lord bless you and keep you…”), which was immediately met with a massive wave of love from some of Mzansi’s biggest names:
- Minnie Dlamini: “Happy birthday movie star yethu.”
- Nandi Madida: “Happy birthday beautiful.”
- Thando Thabethe: “Happy birthday Thuso.”
