Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo is a South African actor and writer who gained international recognition for playing Sheriff Ritchie Santiago in Netflix’s hit series Wednesday. Their journey from theatre productions in South Africa to major international screen projects reflects years of acting practice, professional training, and dedication to storytelling. Over time, they have expanded their work across television, film, theatre, and video games.
Beyond their role in Wednesday, Luyanda has appeared in productions such as Devs, Top Boy, The Magic Flute, How to Date Billy Walsh, and Back in Action. They have also built an impressive voice-acting portfolio through video games, including Baldur’s Gate III and titles connected to the League of Legends universe. Luyanda identifies as non-binary, uses they/them pronouns, and has spoken about the importance of representation for queer actors. This biography explores their early life, family background, education, acting career, notable roles, identity, and future projects.
Quick Facts About Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo |
| Profession | Actor and writer |
| Nationality | South African |
| Birthplace | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Raised In | Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Current Residence | United Kingdom, according to the supplied source |
| Active Years | 2020–present, according to the supplied source |
| Known For | Playing Sheriff Ritchie Santiago in Wednesday |
| Famous Role | Deputy Ritchie Santiago / Sheriff Ritchie Santiago |
| Gender Identity | Non-binary |
| Pronouns | They/them |
| Sexual Orientation | Pansexual, as reported in the supplied source |
| Education | National School of the Arts; Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Career Areas | Film, television, theatre, and voice acting |
| Popular TV Shows | Wednesday, Devs, Top Boy |
| Notable Movies | Back in Action, How to Date Billy Walsh, The Magic Flute, Dreamers |
| Voice-Acting Credits | Baldur’s Gate III, League of Legends titles, Eternal Strands, among others |
Who Is Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo?
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo is an actor and writer from South Africa who became widely recognized after appearing as Ritchie Santiago in Netflix’s Wednesday. The series introduced their work to an international audience and helped establish them as a familiar face among viewers of the supernatural comedy-drama.
Before gaining attention through Wednesday, Luyanda had already begun building a career across television, film, and theatre. They also explored voice acting, contributing performances to video games and other audio projects. These opportunities allowed them to develop different performance skills and work across several areas of entertainment.
One distinctive feature of Luyanda’s career is their versatility. Their credits include dramatic television roles, film appearances, stage productions, and characters brought to life through voice acting. They have continued to explore different kinds of storytelling rather than limiting themselves to a single medium.
Their growing recognition has also brought attention to their experiences as a non-binary actor. Through their professional work and public comments about representation, Luyanda has become a notable figure for viewers interested in more inclusive casting and storytelling.
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Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Early Life and Family Background
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. They spent much of their childhood in Gqeberha, a city in the Eastern Cape that was formerly known as Port Elizabeth. Their experiences growing up in different South African settings formed part of their early life before they pursued acting professionally.
According to the supplied biography, Luyanda’s parents left them in their grandmother’s care when they were young. Their grandmother played an important role in raising them and providing support during their childhood. This period was a significant part of their family history, although detailed public information about their parents and wider family remains limited.
After their grandmother passed away, Luyanda returned to live with their parents and continued their education in Johannesburg. During their early years, they developed an interest in performing, storytelling, and being on stage. Those interests gradually grew into a serious passion for acting.
Luyanda’s early experiences helped shape the path they eventually followed. Although they have not made every detail of their childhood public, their move from South Africa into professional training and international acting work reflects a journey built over several years.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Education and Acting Training
Education played an important role in Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s development as a performer. They attended the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg, a school known for combining academic studies with creative training. Their time there helped them explore their artistic interests and build the foundations of their acting skills.
While studying at the school, Luyanda participated in stage productions, including The Jungle Book and Robin Hood & the Babes in the Woods. These performances gave them practical experience in front of an audience and helped them develop confidence, stage presence, and an understanding of character work.
Luyanda later moved to London to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. According to the supplied biography, they spent three years training at the institution, where they further developed their knowledge of acting and performance.
Their training helped them understand character development, dialogue, physical expression, and storytelling. The experience also prepared them to work across different performance settings, from live theatre to television, film, and voice acting.
How Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo Started Their Acting Career
Luyanda’s professional acting journey began with theatre. After exploring film and advertising studies for a period, they returned to acting and joined a theatre group led by actress and director Dorothy Ann Gould. This experience helped them reconnect with performance and gain further practical experience.
Theatre gave Luyanda opportunities to explore different characters, develop their delivery, and learn how to connect with audiences. Working on stage also helped them understand the discipline required to prepare for performances and collaborate with other actors and creative professionals.
Luyanda eventually began securing television roles. In 2020, they appeared in the science-fiction television series Devs, playing Angela. The role gave them experience working in front of the camera and introduced their acting to a wider television audience.
They later appeared in Top Boy, further expanding their screen credits. These early projects helped Luyanda develop professionally and prepared them for the more internationally visible role that followed in Wednesday.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Theatre Journey
Theatre has remained an important part of Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s creative background. Before gaining wider recognition through television, they developed their performance skills through stage work, where actors must communicate a story directly to a live audience.
Performing on stage helped Luyanda develop control over their voice, facial expressions, body language, and emotional delivery. Unlike screen acting, theatre often requires performers to sustain a character throughout a live performance without the opportunity to repeat a scene. This experience can help actors build concentration, adaptability, and confidence.
Their theatre background also provided a foundation for moving into film and television. Skills developed through live performance can help actors understand character motivations, respond naturally to dialogue, and express emotions convincingly on camera.
Luyanda has continued to explore stage productions alongside screen and voice work. Their involvement in a stage version of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, alongside actress Pamela Nomvete, reflects their continuing interest in theatre. This balance between stage and screen allows them to keep exploring different forms of storytelling.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Wednesday Success
A major turning point in Luyanda’s career came when they appeared in Netflix’s Wednesday. The supernatural comedy-drama premiered in 2022 and attracted a large international audience. Luyanda played Deputy Ritchie Santiago, a police officer connected to the town of Jericho and the events surrounding Wednesday Addams.
The series starred Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, with Catherine Zeta-Jones appearing as Morticia Addams. Its mixture of mystery, supernatural elements, dark comedy, and the Addams Family story helped it become a widely discussed television production.
Luyanda’s appearance in the series introduced their work to viewers beyond South Africa and the United Kingdom. The role became one of their most recognizable screen credits and helped increase interest in their earlier performances and other projects.
They later returned to the series as Sheriff Ritchie Santiago, continuing the character’s connection to the police department in Jericho. This progression from deputy to sheriff became a notable part of their Wednesday story.
The show’s success created opportunities for Luyanda to reach new audiences. Their work on Wednesday also contributed to wider conversations about representation and the opportunities available to non-binary performers in mainstream television.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Movies and TV Shows
Following the global success of Wednesday, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo continued expanding their career with a mix of television and film roles. Their growing list of credits highlights their ability to take on characters across different genres, from science fiction and crime drama to comedy and adventure.
Before earning international recognition as Sheriff Ritchie Santiago, Luyanda appeared in the 2020 science-fiction series Devs, where they gained valuable on-screen experience. They later joined the cast of Top Boy in 2023, another role that helped strengthen their presence on television.
Their film career has grown steadily as well. Luyanda appeared in The Magic Flute (2022), How to Date Billy Walsh (2024), and Back in Action (2025), where they portrayed Airport Immigration Officer Keita. They also took on the role of Nisma in Dreamers, adding another memorable performance to their filmography.
These projects reflect Luyanda’s steady career growth, showing how they have moved from supporting roles to high-profile productions while continuing to build a diverse and impressive acting portfolio.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Voice Acting
Alongside their work on screen and stage, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo has developed a portfolio in voice acting. This work includes video games, podcasts, and audio projects, allowing them to perform characters without appearing physically on screen.
One of their notable voice roles is Illaoi in Legends of Runeterra and Ruined King: A League of Legends Story. These projects draw on the wider League of Legends universe and require performers to communicate a character’s personality through vocal delivery alone.
Luyanda has also contributed voices to Baldur’s Gate III. Their listed roles include Adventurer Rosanna, Brawler Weneg, and Clerk Zollerix. The game features a large cast of characters, giving voice performers opportunities to create distinct personalities and help bring its fictional world to life.
Their other video game credits include Orphe in Immortals of Aveum, characters in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, and Sola in Eternal Strands. The supplied biography also lists Illaoi in 2XKO.
Voice acting requires different skills from traditional screen performance. Actors must communicate emotion, intention, and character through their voices, often while working without the physical setting or other performers present in a scene. Luyanda’s range of credits demonstrates their involvement in this side of the entertainment industry.
Their work in games and audio projects adds another dimension to their career. It also allows them to reach audiences who may know their performances through interactive entertainment rather than television or film.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo’s Identity and Personal Life
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. The supplied biography also describes them as pansexual. Their identity is an important part of their personal story and has influenced conversations about representation in the entertainment industry.
According to the original article, Luyanda began exploring their identity during their teenage years. They have spoken about wanting more queer actors to receive opportunities to play meaningful roles in films and television shows. Their perspective reflects a broader interest in making the entertainment industry more inclusive.
Despite their growing public profile, Luyanda keeps much of their personal life private. They have focused public attention primarily on their acting, theatre work, and other creative projects rather than sharing extensive details about their relationships or family life.
Their role in Wednesday also gave viewers an opportunity to see a non-binary actor in a major television production. According to the supplied biography, Luyanda described working on the show as a positive experience. Their career continues to contribute to conversations about diversity and representation in mainstream entertainment.
What Is Next for Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo?
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo continues to explore opportunities in acting, theatre, writing, and voice performance. Rather than concentrating exclusively on film and television, they have shown an interest in different forms of storytelling and creative expression.
One of the projects mentioned in the supplied biography is a stage production of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, featuring Luyanda alongside actress Pamela Nomvete. Their involvement reflects their continued connection to theatre, which played an important role in their early development as an actor.
Voice acting is another area of their career that offers opportunities for further growth. Their work on titles such as Baldur’s Gate III, Eternal Strands, and other video games demonstrates their ability to contribute to interactive storytelling. Future roles could allow them to explore additional characters, genres, and performance styles.
Luyanda’s international recognition through Wednesday has also helped introduce their earlier work to new audiences. As they continue developing their career, viewers can look forward to seeing how their interests in theatre, television, film, and voice acting evolve. However, specific upcoming projects should be treated as confirmed only when reliable announcements become available.
Final Words
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo has developed a diverse acting career through professional training, theatre experience, and a willingness to explore different kinds of performance. From their early life in South Africa to their studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, their journey reflects years of preparation and creative development. Their appearances in Devs, Top Boy, The Magic Flute, How to Date Billy Walsh, and Back in Action have helped establish a varied screen portfolio.
Their role as Sheriff Ritchie Santiago in Netflix’s Wednesday brought them greater international recognition, while their video game credits have expanded their work beyond live-action performances. Luyanda’s identity as a non-binary actor and their interest in queer representation have also become meaningful parts of their public story. As they continue exploring theatre, film, television, and voice acting, their career offers plenty of opportunities for further growth.
FAQ’s
1. Who Is Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo?
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo is a South African actor and writer best known for playing Sheriff Ritchie Santiago in Netflix’s Wednesday. They have also appeared in television series, films, theatre productions, and video games.
2. What Role Did Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo Play in Wednesday?
Luyanda played Deputy Ritchie Santiago in Wednesday and later returned as Sheriff Ritchie Santiago. Their character is connected to the police department in the fictional town of Jericho.
3. Where Is Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo From?
Luyanda was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, and spent much of their childhood in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. They later moved to London to study at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
4. Is Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo Non-Binary?
Yes. Luyanda identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. The supplied biography also describes them as pansexual. They have spoken about the importance of giving queer actors opportunities to play meaningful roles in film and television.
5. What Movies and TV Shows Has Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo Appeared In?
Their screen credits include Wednesday, Devs, Top Boy, The Magic Flute, How to Date Billy Walsh, Back in Action, and Dreamers. They have also performed in theatre productions and voiced characters in video games such as Baldur’s Gate III, Eternal Strands, and titles associated with League of Legends.
What Is Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo Doing Now?
Luyanda continues to pursue acting and voice work, with experience across television, film, theatre, and video games. They have also been associated with a stage production of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus alongside Pamela Nomvete. Specific upcoming projects should be confirmed through reliable announcements.
