The “Black Panther” actress was 72 years old

Connie Chiume, a South African actress who appeared in Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Beyoncé’s Black is kingdied. She was 72 years old.

Chiume died Tuesday at Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, her family said. announced on InstagramThe cause of his death was not immediately available.

“The Chiume family regrets to inform you of the passing of award-winning and internationally acclaimed actress Connie Chiume,” they wrote in a statement. “The family requests privacy during this difficult time. The family will share further details.”

Born on June 5, 1952 in Welkom, South Africa, Chiume trained as a nurse and qualified as a teacher before finding her calling in the film and television industry. The Independent It was not until 1977 that she began her acting career, moving to Greece to join the cast of the musical Alone Alone.

She later became better known within South African communities through her role as Thembi in the series A cow eats alone in 1989.

From there, she continued to make a name for herself as an actress, starring as Mamokete Khuse in the South African soap opera The city of rhythmas well as dozens of other projects, including Warriors of Hell, Line, I dreamed of Africa, That’s it, Zone 14, Internal Affairs, Blessings, Mother And Jewel.

Chiume also played the role of a Zawavari, a mining tribe elder, in the 2018 Oscar-winning film. Black PantherShe reprised the role in the 2022 sequel. Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwhich saw his character succeed Zuri (Forest Whitaker) in the role of the Elder Statesman of Wakanda.

She had already told South Africa On Sunday In 2022, she could never have guessed how successful she would be. Black Panther “I went to an audition not knowing what I was doing,” she said at the time. “I went in and they gave me a piece of music to perform. I could see that this person was an African woman speaking to the nation. I wore my African regalia, I learned my lines. I did my best.”

Chiume also played Simba’s mother, Sarabi, in Beyoncé’s film Black is kinga musical film performing the soundtrack of the global icon’s album The Lion King: The Gift.

Throughout her career, she won the NTVA Avanti Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in The City of Souls in 2000. Almost a decade later, she won the SAFTA in 2009 for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role in Zone 14.

The Independent Chiume is survived by four children. She was married from 1985 to 2004.