Benu Mabhena is an African international actress. Her parents and five brothers were born in Zimbabwe, while younger Benu and her sister hail from London. After spending four years in London, the family traveled back to Zimbabwe, where they stayed for two years. Then, they went to Botswana for a year; South Africa for several years; then back to Botswana; back again to South Africa, and on to Lesotho. Finally, the US government granted the family asylum, and they settled in San Francisco, where Benu spent her teenage years.
While growing up, Benu decided she’d like to be an actress. When she was eight, she told stories and did impressions — a practice that annoyed her sister, but always made her mother laugh. It was after she went to see a stage production of “Les Miserables” with her seventh grade class that Benu felt inspired.
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After graduating high school, Benu continued her studies at Diablo Valley College, where she performed community theatre, acted in student films and wrote and recorded songs in the studio. Yet it was acting that provided Benu with her greatest incentive.
After she graduated Diablo with an Associate Degree in Education, Benu knew exactly what she wanted to do and headed for Southern California.
Shortly after her arrival in Hollywood, Benu auditioned and landed the role of Jassie Vandy, Djimon Hounsou wife in Warners Bros. Pictures Blood Diamond (2006)’. Nominated for fourteen awards — including five Oscars — the film not only earned five wins, it garnered Box Office success and International acclaim.
