Noma Dumezweni

**Noma Dumezweni** (born 28 July 1969) is a South African-British actress. Making a robust debut in the late 1990s, she has well-established herself in South African and British theatre, television, and film scenes. Noma's phenomenal acting credentials got her the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in 2006 for her spellbinding portrayal of Ruth Younger in _A Raisin in the Sun_ at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Later in 2017, her remarkable representation of Hermione Granger in the original West End run of _Harry Potter and the Cursed Child_ won her the same award. She reprised the role for the show's original Broadway run and in 2018, got nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Noma has worked with renowned theatre companies like the National Theatre, London; Young Vic at the Lyric Hammersmith, and Chichester Festival Theatre among others. She was born in Mbabane, Swaziland, and spent her early years in multiple African nations before relocating to England as a refugee with her family. Her acting journey traces back to her teenage years in London, where she discovered her passion for theatre and fine arts. Besides her illustrious theatre career, Noma has also showcased her acting prowess on television, appearing on shows like _Black Earth Rising_ and _The Undoing_, as well as in films such as _Mary Poppins Returns_ and _The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind_. She also voiced various characters in BBC Radio 4 dramatic recordings and a young adult adventure series Steeplejack.