Thuso Nokwanda Mbedu was born and raised in Pelham, a borough of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.[8] She was raised by her grandmother who was her legal guardian after the passing of both her parents at an early age.[9] When Mbedu was eighteen, she attended the University of Witwatersrand, where she studied Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management, resulting her graduating with an honours.[10] In 2012, she attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York, USA.[11]