The Woman King’s Thuso Mbedu Lived Her Princess Fantasy at the Guggenheim Gala

Thuso Mbedu has been having quite the month. The South African actor has been busy making her press rounds for her new film, The Woman King, which tells the tale of a group of all-female warriors protecting the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. “It was a special and important project because it’s a part of history that I, as an African, had no knowledge of before hearing about the project,” says Mbedu. “The audience reactions are the reason why we had to tell this story: We’ve had people come to us after watching the movie and they are in literal tears because they feel seen and heard and empowered.” Even months after wrapping, she says her character, Nawi, has continued to resonate with her. “Nawi gave me swagger,” says Mbedu. “She gave me the confidence to fully go for what I believe in and what I want. She taught me to stop apologizing for existing. I’m a warrior in spirit—and I need to step out like I am.”

At last night’s 2022 Guggenheim International Gala in New York City, Mbedu certainly took over the red carpet with full confidence. Dressed in a look by Christian Dior (the event’s key sponsor), Mbedu wanted to live out her princess fantasy in an enchanting, glamorous gown, so she slipped into a long, beige cotton-canvas dress with embroidery from the label’s fall couture collection designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri. “I’m always excited to try new looks,” says Mbedu. “The Dior Guggenheim Gala look played with a color and vibe I haven’t done on the carpet before; I loved the cut (and the pockets!), the texture, and the detailing of the patterns. It felt modern and elegant, which was fitting for the event.” The star adds that she even felt like Cinderella in the look. “You couldn’t see my shoe, but I felt like Cinderella when I slipped into my Dior slipper,” she says.

As Mbedu’s star continues to rise (with more The Women King appearances to come, we’re sure), the actor says she will continue to use fashion to experiment with different attitudes and moods. She sees it as a form of acting. “I always want to try something new,” she says. “Getting into glam and stepping into a look is like taking on a new character for me. I magically transform from being a couch potato to one of the coolest in the game. As long as I look badass, I’m happy.” Vacation wear is next on her mind: She says she’s heading to Anguilla with some friends before spending time with family for the holidays. “Good vibes only for the rest of the year,” she says.

Below, a closer look at how Mbedu got ready for the 2022 Guggenheim Gala.