She makes her screen debut in the Hollywood action drama Blood Diamond, as Djimon Hounsou’s wife. Living in exile with her father, Benu fled for her life from her native country Zimbabwe and came to the states.

She knew at a very young age that she wanted to become an actress so, while in high school, she wrote poetry, became a member of the school choir, and joined a drama group. But ,like she says, most African parents will not let you get by without your education so she continued on to Diablo Valley College where she was awarded an Associates degree in Education.

Acting continued to be her number one passion, so much so that Benu is believed not to have even attended her graduation. She basically got her degree, gave it to her mom and left for Southern California in search of her “African Dream”. Four years later, she landed the role to play in the major Hollywood motion picture Blood Diamond, alongside Djimon, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jennifer Connelly.

Benu’s heritage stems from the Zulu tribe. Five of her siblings and their parents were born in Zimbabwe, while Benu and her sister were born in London. Her family left London and went back home , where her father was a politician, but after only two years of living at home, they had to flee for their lives from Zimbabwe to Botswana, to escape the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe.

Another year later, they left Botswana, to go to South Africa where they lived for several years, returned to Botswana, then back to South Africa and on to Lesotho, before the U.S finally granted them asylum. They settled in San Francisco, by which time Benu was now a teenager.

To play her big screen role of Jassie Vandy, the wife of Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), Benu was able to draw from her own life experiences of being on the run all the time, being a refugee, and living in exile. She left her country Zimbabwe when she was only two years old and ‘grew up’ while on the run.

She says that playing the part of Jassie Vandy was real for her, it took her back to those sad times, but also knew that she had to deliver strongly in her role because she believes that as Africans, we have to show that we are just as capable as the next person. She also wants to be an inspiration and a voice to young girls back in Africa who do not believe in themselves.

We will definitely keep watching out for more projects in the future with this determined and talented young African sister!