Skip to content
MovieCove
Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton

Actor, also producer · Born November 6, 1972 (53) · London, England, UK

Primetime Emmy winner · BAFTA Award winner · Screen Actors Guild Award winner · 2 other major award bodies

Melanie Thandiwe Newton OBE (born 6 November 1972), formerly credited as Thandie Newton, is a British actress. 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). Newton has received various awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and two Critics' Choice Awards, in addition to nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, a Saturn Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to film and charity. Description above from the Wikipedia article Thandiwe Newton, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 6, 1972 (53)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 58 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

What are Thandiwe Newton's films like?

Across their 39 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Mystery3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Mystery movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Self
22%
Morality
20%
Power
12%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 13 · Dark 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 10

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 16 · Intense 18

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 6

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 10 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 15

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 21 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 21 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 21
Hero
7 of 21
Herald
3 of 21
Shapeshifter
2 of 21
Shadow
2 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
29
Melancholic
19
Contemplative
10
Dread
7
Thrilling
8
Other
39

How their films linger

Thought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Thandiwe Newton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Thandiwe Newton's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

58 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 23 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Anaconda(2025)

    as Claire Simons

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Mufasa: The Lion King(2024)

    as Eshe (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget(2023)

    as Ginger (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • President(2021)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Wednesday(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Rachael Fairburn

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • God's Country(2022)

    as Sandra Guidry

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • All the Old Knives(2022)

    as Celia Harrison

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Human Resources(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Mona (voice)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Reminiscence(2021)

    as Emily 'Watts' Sanders

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 14 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

  • The Death & Life of John F. Donovan(2018)

    as Journalist

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Solo: A Star Wars Story(2018)

    as Val

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Gringo(2018)

    as Bonnie Soyinka

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Family Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Joan

  • Big Mouth(2017)

    Show 9 episodes · as Mona (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Liyana(2017)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Westworld(2016)

    Show 36 episodes · as Maeve Millay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Slap(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as Aisha

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Half of a Yellow Sun(2013)

    as Olanna

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Rogue(2013)

    Show 40 episodes · as Grace Travis

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Line of Duty(2012)

    Show 6 episodes · as DCI Roz Huntley

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Good Deeds(2012)

    as Lindsey

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Retreat(2011)

    as Kate

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Prophet(2011)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • For Colored Girls(2010)

    as Tangie / Orange

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Vanishing on 7th Street(2010)

    as Rosemary

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Huge(2010)

    as Kris

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • 2012(2009)

    as Laura Wilson

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • W.(2008)

    as Condoleezza Rice

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • RocknRolla(2008)

    as Stella

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Run Fatboy Run(2007)

    as Libby

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Father and Son: On Screen and Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Norbit(2007)

    as Kate Thomas

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Pursuit of Happyness(2006)

    as Linda

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Interrogation of Leo and Lisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as The Mona Lisa

  • Crash(2004)

    as Christine Thayer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Makeva (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Chronicles of Riddick(2004)

    as Dame Vaako

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Shade(2003)

    as Tiffany

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Truth About Charlie(2002)

    as Regina Lambert

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • It Was an Accident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Noreen Hurlock

  • Mission: Impossible II(2000)

    as Nyah Hall

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Beloved(1998)

    as Beloved

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Besieged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Shandurai

  • In Your Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Clare

  • Gridlock'd(1997)

    as Cookie

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Leading Man(1996)

    as Hilary Rule

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Journey of August King(1995)

    as Annalees

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Jefferson in Paris(1995)

    as Sally Hemings

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles(1994)

    as Yvette

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 10 episodes · as Kem Likasu

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Loaded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Zita

  • The Young Americans(1993)

    as Rachael Stevens

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Pirate Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Becky Newton

  • Flirting(1991)

    as Thandiwe Adjewa

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Cry to Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • First Day on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show as Anya

  • The Wanted Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 58 titles, 55 of them dated from 1991 to 2025; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

2012 (2009)

$791M worldwide

Highest rated

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Westworld (2016)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19912025

Peak 2007 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 17 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1991Screen debut· Flirting
  • 1998First top-billed film· Besieged
  • 2005BAFTA Award win· Crash
  • 2012Career best· Line of Duty
  • 2012BAFTA Award nomination· Line of Duty
  • 2016Primetime Emmy win· Westworld
Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting56 of 58: 56 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stProducing2 of 58: 2 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s13 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s17 · 16 acting · 1 crew2020s10 · 9 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 12% of 33 roles
91011121

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy, a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 2 other major awards from 12 major nominations, 2006–2020.

WinNomination
  1. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  2. 2019
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  3. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Leading Actress
  4. 2017
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  5. 2006
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 1 win
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Acting Ensemble

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Thandiwe Newton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

The Prophet (2011)

94th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Line of Duty (2012)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Thandiwe Newton's work okay for kids?

Across up to 28 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore20 titles32–90 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity28 titles18–67 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity18 titles29–85 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs17 titles26–70 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense18 titles32–79 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Thandiwe Newton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Thandiwe Newton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Duigan shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers