Age, Biography, and Wiki
Thandiwe Newton, formerly known as Thandie Newton, was born on November 6, 1972. She is recognized for her versatility in acting, having starred in films like Beloved, Mission: Impossible 2, and The Pursuit of Happyness, as well as her iconic role as Maeve Millay in the HBO series Westworld. Newton was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2019 for her contributions to film and charity.
| Occupation | Voice Actress |
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| Date of Birth | 6 November 1972 |
| Age | 52 Years |
| Birth Place | Westminster, London, England |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | England |
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific details about Thandiwe Newton's height and weight are not widely published, she is known for her striking presence on screen. Her measurements are typically not publicly disclosed, but she is often praised for her fashion sense and style, having been named one of the best-dressed women in 2018.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Thandiwe Newton has been married to writer and director Ol Parker since 1998. The couple has two daughters, Nico and Ripley. Newton is known for her private yet supportive family life, often expressing her gratitude for her family in interviews.
Her mother was a member of a Shona chieftaincy family, and her father worked as a laboratory technician and artist. "Thandiwe" is a name of Nguni origin and means "beloved".
When Newton was three years old, she returned with her family to England, where they settled in Penzance so her father could help run his family's antique business. She attended St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School. She later said of her upbringing, "From about the age of five, I was aware that I didn't fit. I was the black atheist kid in the all-white Catholic school run by nuns. I was an anomaly." She began dropping the letter "w" from her middle name, making it "Thandie" (pronounced ). She studied dance at the Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, then studied at Downing College, Cambridge, where she obtained a degree in social anthropology in 1995.
Newton made her film debut in the coming of age comedy-drama Flirting (1991), filmed in 1989 but shelved for two years. She was credited as "Thandie Newton" and subsequently continued to use this name professionally. She then portrayed the slave "Yvette" in the Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise film Interview with the Vampire (1994). Newton appeared in the Merchant Ivory production of Jefferson in Paris as Sally Hemings. Next, she played in Jonathan Demme's drama Beloved (1998), based on Toni Morrison's novel, in which she played the title character, the ghost of a young slave girl whose mother kills her to save her from slavery. The film also starred Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. Newton starred as Nyah Nordoff-Hall, again opposite Cruise, in Mission: Impossible 2. Her next role was in the low-budget film It Was an Accident, written by her husband, screenwriter Ol Parker.
Between 2003 and 2005, Newton played Makemba "Kem" Likasu, love interest of John Carter on the American television series ER. She reprised the role for the series finale in 2009. She took a supporting role as Dame Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004). She acted in the ensemble drama Crash acting opposite Terrence Howard, playing a woman who was groped by a police officer played by Matt Dillon. Her performance earned widespread acclaim earning her the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as well as a nomination with the cast for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She played Chris Gardner's wife, Linda Gardner, in The Pursuit of Happyness opposite Will Smith. Also in 2006, Newton performed on radio in a pantomime version of Cinderella.
In 2007, Newton co-starred with Eddie Murphy as his love interest in the comedy Norbit. She played opposite Simon Pegg as his ex-girlfriend in the 2007 comedy Run Fatboy Run. She next portrayed Condoleezza Rice, US National Security Advisor and then Secretary of State in W., Oliver Stone's biography of President George W. Bush. The film was released in October 2008. Newton was an introducer at Wembley Stadium on 7 July 2007, for the UK leg of Live Earth. She was due to introduce former US Vice President Al Gore to the concert, but he was delayed, leaving Newton to tell jokes in an attempt to entertain the audience. Newton next portrayed fictional US First Daughter Laura Wilson in 2012, a disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich and released 13 November 2009. In July 2011, Newton delivered a TED talk on "Embracing otherness, embracing myself." She discussed finding her "otherness" as a child growing up in two distinct cultures, and as an actress playing many different selves. She acted in Tyler Perry's movie For Colored Girls (2010), adapted from Ntozake Shange's 1975 original choreopoem for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf.
Newton married English filmmaker Ol Parker in 1998. They separated in 2022. They have two daughters, Ripley (born 2000) and Nico (born 2004), and a son, Booker (born 2014). All three were home births. Nico is also an actress. Newton has been close friends with Nicole Kidman since 1989. Newton is currently in a relationship with American musician Elijah Dias, better known by his stage name Lonr.
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| Husband | Ol Parker (m. 1998-2022) |
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Net Worth and Salary
Thandiwe Newton's net worth is estimated to be around $14 million, primarily from her successful film and television career. During her time on Westworld, her salary increased to $250,000 per episode by the third season. Her participation in major franchises like Mission: Impossible and Star Wars has also contributed significantly to her earnings.
Career, Business, and Investments
Newton's career is marked by a variety of critically acclaimed roles across film and television. Some of her notable works include:
- Beloved (1998)
- Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
- Crash (2004)
- 2012 (2009)
- Westworld (2016–2022)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Line of Duty (2017)
Social Network
Thandiwe Newton maintains a strong presence on social media platforms, where she engages with fans and promotes her work. However, she is not as active as some other celebrities, preferring to focus on her personal and professional life.
Newton is known for starring roles such as the title character in Beloved (1998), Nyah Nordoff-Hall in Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), Tiffany in Shade (2003), Dame Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), Christine in Crash (2004), Linda in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Libby in Run Fatboy Run (2007), Stella in RocknRolla (2008), Condoleezza Rice in W. (2008), Laura Wilson in 2012 (2009), Tangie Adrose in For Colored Girls (2010), Maeve Millay in Westworld (2016–2022), Roz Huntley in Line of Duty (2017), and Val in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). She also voiced Mona in the Netflix adult animated sitcom Big Mouth (2019–2025) and its spinoff Human Resources (2021–2023).
Newton appeared as Val in the Star Wars film Solo: A Star Wars Story, which was released in May 2018 to generally favorable reviews but bombed at the box office with a worldwide gross of $393.2 million. Newton became the first black woman to have a major non-alien role in a Star Wars film; however, she expressed disappointment in the role as the fate of the character was changed during filming and found it to be a mistake for the franchise in the sense of what it meant for black women in the franchise. Additionally, Scott Mendelson for Forbes felt that Newton was "underutilized" and David Edelstein for Vulture wrote in praise of her performance: "The only thing wrong with Thandie Newton’s performance is that there’s not enough of it."
Education
Thandiwe Newton was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where she studied social anthropology. Her educational background has provided her with a rich understanding of cultural dynamics, which she often incorporates into her roles.
As of 2025, Thandiwe Newton continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for her talent, philanthropy, and enduring presence on screen.
