{{short description|South African actress and dancer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Lorcia Cooper | other_names = | image = Lorcia Cooper.png | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|11|9|df=yes}} | birth_name = Lorcia Emmarslade Cooper | birth_place = Cape Town, South Africa | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | alma_mater = | education = | height = | years_active = 1999–present | party = | spouse = Mandla Khumalo | children = 2 | awards = SAFTA AWARD for best Actress in a tv drama for Lockdown | father = | mother = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actress * dancer * singer}} }}
'''Lorcia Emmarslade Cooper-Khumalo''' (née Cooper, born 9 November 1978) is a South African actress and dancer.<ref name = tvsa>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=4384| title=Lorcia Cooper: Born: 09 November 1978 (42 years old) |publisher=tvsa | access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref> She is best known for her roles in the popular television serials ''Backstage'', ''Scandal!'', ''Lockdown'' (2017-2020) and ''Red'' ''Ink'' (2024), and in films ''Hey Boy'' (2003) and ''Zulu Wedding'' (2017).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.702.co.za/articles/239838/actress-lorcia-cooper-swaps-dance-moves-for-prison-life| title=Actress Lorcia Cooper swaps dance moves for prison life |publisher=702 | access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life== She was born on 9 November 1978 in Cape Town, South Africa. She is married to Mandla Khumalo.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailyvoice.co.za/lifestyle-entertainment/celebrity/call-me-mrs-khumalo-19693366| title=Call me Mrs Khumalo |publisher=Daily Voice | access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref> The couple has one daughter and one son.<ref name = briefly>{{cite web | url=https://briefly.co.za/33358-lorcia-cooper-biography-age-eyes-married-family-khumalo-lockdown-backstage-instagram.html| title=Lorcia Cooper bio |publisher=briefly | access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>
In 2019, she suffered from swollen lymph nodes in her thyroid and had to take carbon dioxide injections to reduce the puffiness around her eyes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2019-11-01-watch--lorcia-cooper-opens-up-about-her-struggles-with-her-thyroid/| title=Lorcia Cooper opens up about her struggles with her thyroid |publisher=timeslive | access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>
==Career== When she was four years old, her parents enrolled her in a dancing class. At the age of five, she won her first competition in a provincial championships for both Ballroom and Latin American dances. Aged eight, she attended the Academy of Dance and studied dancing under choreographer Debbie Turner, who became her mentor. Later she joined the North West Arts Council's Dance Academy. When she was 19 years old, she won the FNB Vita Best Female Dancer Award.<ref name = briefly /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.osmtalent.com/artist/lorcia-cooper-kumalo/| title=Lorcia Cooper Kumalo |publisher=osmtalent | access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>
She later joined SABC2 channel as a host of ''Travel Xplorer''. During this period, she took on the lead role of Cindi in the film ''Hey Boy'' (2003) directed by Andre Odendaal.
In 2008, she was appointed as one of the judges in the dancing competition, ''Dans! Dans! Dans!'' aired on ykNET. That same year, she became the choreographer and judge of the reality competition, ''High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa'' aired on M-Net.<ref name="briefly" /><ref name="tvsa" />
In 2017, Kumalo appeared in the first season of Mzansi Magic's crime drama series, ''Lockdown'' as Tyson, a lesbian inmate, a role she would play for the series' entire 4 season run. That same year, she played the supporting role of Marang in the romantic comedy ''Zulu Wedding,'' a film whose plot centers on the complexities of marrying into the Zulu royal family. In March 2019, she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the SAFTAs for her role in Season 2 of ''Lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LORCIA COOPER KUMALO DANCING TO HER OWN RHYTHM |url=https://www.jetclub.co.za/2023/12/lorcia-cooper-kumalo-dancing-to-her-own.html |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Jet Club}}</ref><ref name="tvsa" />'' She was again nominated in the same category the following year, but did not win. In September 2020, she appeared in the Mzansi drama series ''Housekeepers'' in the role Mkhonto.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lorcia Cooper on playing Mkhonto and the lack of leading roles for coloured actors |url=https://www.snl24.com/drum/celebs/news/lorcia-cooper-on-playing-mkhonto-and-the-lack-of-leading-roles-for-coloured-actors-20200904 |access-date=18 November 2020 |publisher=snl24}}</ref>
In 2024, Kumalo appeared in the role of Detective Morapadi in the Showmax crime series ''Red Ink,'' an adaption of Angela Makholwa's novel of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dladla |first=Zibuyile |date=2024-03-27 |title=Lorcia Cooper Kumalo from Red Ink on her intentions when choosing roles |url=https://stories.showmax.com/za/lorcia-cooper-kumalo-from-red-ink-on-her-intentions-when-choosing-roles |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Showmax Stories |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eyaaz |date=2024-02-25 |title=Red Ink: True crime television can teach |url=https://mg.co.za/friday/2024-02-25-red-ink-true-crime-television-can-teach/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
In December 2024, Kumalo will appear in ''Neelan & Kevin,'' a South African comedy action film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neelan & Kevin - Cast {{!}} IMDbPro |url=https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt34162580/companycredits?rf=cons_tt_cocred_tt&ref_=cons_tt_cocred_tt |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=pro.imdb.com}}</ref>
==Television roles==
=== Actress === * 2000 - 2007— ''Backstage'' * 2009-13 — Scandal as Erin * 2017-20 ''— Lockdown as Tyson'' * ''2020 —'' ''Housekeepers'' as Mkhonto * 2020 ''— Still Breathing as Lucille'' * 2021-23 ''—The Estate'' as Jo Mohammed * 2023 ''— Nikiwe'' as Mimmimi Cooper * 2024 — ''Red Ink'' as
=== Host/Presenter/Guest === * ''#Karektas'' as a celebrity guest judge * ''Change Down'' as a celebrity guest judge * ''Eish! Saan'' as a celebrity prankster * ''It's OK We're Family'' as herself * ''The Bantu Hour'' as a guest * ''The Comedy Central Roast'' as herself * Host of Season 2 of ''Showville'' * Presenter of Seasons 11 and 13 of The South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA)
== Film roles == * 2003 — ''Hey Boy'' as Cindi * 2017 — ''Zulu Wedding'' as Marang * 2020 — ''New Material'' as Laylah (sequel to the 2012 ''Material'') * 2022 — ''Nandi'' as Jayan * 2024 — ''Neelan & Kevin'' as Mercia Holby
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm1789137}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Lorcia}} Category:Living people Category:People from Cape Town Category:South African television actresses Category:1978 births Category:South African dancers Category:South African film actresses Category:South African choreographers Category:South African women choreographers