She rose to prominence for her performance in the South African teen drama series Is'Thunzi for which she was nominated consecutively for an International Emmy in 2017 and 2018.

In 2025 January Deadline reported that Mbedu has been cast in the lead role on Paramount upcoming film "Children Of Blood And Bone" as Zélie amongst Viola Davis,Cynthia Erivo,Damson Idris,Amandla Stenberg,Idris Elba and Tosin Cole[10] Mbedu was born at Midlands Medical Centre in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal to a Zulu mother and a father of Sotho and Xhosa descent.

[15] She went on to study Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), graduating in 2013 with honours,[16] after also having taken a course at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City in 2012.

[21] After being unemployed for six months, Mbedu landed her first starring role in television in the Mzansi Magic teen drama series Is'Thunzi, which premiered in October 2016.

[25] Mbedu made her international debut as Cora in the 2021 Amazon Video historical limited series The Underground Railroad, based on the novel of the same name by Colson Whitehead and directed and executive produced by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins.