South African International Actress Nambitha Ben-Mazwi Makes History
Renowned international leading lady Nambitha Ben-Mazwi takes on the European market, as a lead in the longest airing iconic crime drama, Tatort.
Set in Zürich, Switzerland, Ben-Mazwi had to learn and master Swiss German for the role of “Moya” alongside Tatort stars, Carol Schuler (Tessa) and Anna Pieri Zuercher (Isabella). The series title, “Könige der Nacht” (Kings of the Night), started shooting end September 2025 in Zurich. In this case, Isabelle and Tessa find a brutally beaten young man in the Limmat River. The young bicycle courier Moya (Ben-Mazwi), who is working illegally in Zurich, witnessed the murder, but this puts her in an existential dilemma: she has seen something that could be crucial to the case. But any statement could expose her and lead to her deportation. When Moya becomes the target of the perpetrator, the two detectives are faced with the challenge of how to protect a witness who is not officially allowed to exist.
Nambitha Ben-Mazwi | Credit: @eyesofzweli
“If you had to tell me this time last year, that I would find myself in a Swiss German speaking film set, in the heart of Switzerland, starring and acting in Swiss German, I would not have fathomed that.” said Ben-Mazwi. “To be chosen after a global casting that first took place in Europe, then extended to Africa over various countries, and finally be the one chosen for this role, is an honour and testament, that a role truly chooses you. I knew the moment I received the brief, that this character of Moya was one that will heal many and bring about social awareness, and I was moved by it. I knew right then and there, I had to get it.”
Ben-Mazwi is known to be one of South Africa’s best exports, an actress who pours her all into every role, and is often led by purpose to the roles she takes. Having recently left a lasting impression and mark as a special guest and speaker at the Zürich Film Festival (ZFF), where she addressed predominantly young aspiring filmmakers in the “leading FeMales in film” event. She had already captured the hearts of European festival goers, and stole the show as one of the best dressed celebrities on the ZFF green carpet, by media publication, Tages – Anzeiger.
Well-known ensemble including Hollywood director
Next to Ben-Mazwi, Schuler, and Pieri Zuercher, are Rachel Braunschweig (prosecutor Anita), Aaron Arens (IT specialist Noah) and Igor Kovac (Milan, Isabelle Grandjean’s boyfriend) who complete the main cast of the series.
Nambitha Ben-Mazwi | Credit: @banele.j
Special guest stars for the episode roles include Basil Eidenbenz, Stefan Merki, Liliom Lewald, Nancy Mensah-Offei, and Tim Borys.
The film is being directed by Swiss Hollywood director Claudio Fäh, who has been living and working in Los Angeles for 25 years.
Tatort is the longest airing German crime series dating back to 1970. It typically gets over 10 million viewers, with top episodes drawing more than 13 million, and sometimes up to 14 million or more. The show, which airs on Sunday nights on the public broadcaster ARD, is known for its social commentary and diverse settings across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The episode is being produced by Zurich-based production company Contrast Film under the direction of Ivan Madeo and Dr Anke Beining-Wellhausen (DAVOS 1917, Landesverräter, Zurich Tatort episodes ‘Shadow Children’ and ‘Risks with Side Effects’).
We cannot wait to see how Ben-Mazwi’s talent shines and captivates European screens and households. She is known for her standout roles on Netflix such as, Happiness Ever After, Savage Beauty, and Black Mirror, to name a few. She continues to break barriers for the continent at large, and enter unprecedented market spaces with sheer talent, excellence and unrelented determination.