Who is Masali Baduza? All about the South African star playing Michaela Stirling in 'Bridgerton' Season 4

Masali Baduza has won the hearts of many across the globe with her magnetic screen presence and varied skillset in the Regency-era drama series ‘Bridgerton’. The South African actress, aged 29 years and born on March 12, 1996, in East London, Eastern Cape Province, is the epitome of resilience and skillfulness rooted in her heritage.Her current role as Michaela Stirling in the Netflix series 'Bridgerton' truly ignited curiosity about the actress.

About Masali Baduza's early years

Masali Baduza grew up as the youngest of six siblings in a home where her father was a journalist and her mother worked in the government. According to an interview with The Independent, she was raised partly in Cape Town. She faced post-Apartheid school restrictions that stifled Black girls’ self-expression, yet she thrived in plays that ignited her passion.





After high school, Masali Baduza moved to the United States for intensive training at the New York Film Academy's Los Angeles campus. She graduated in 2016, obtaining her Associate of Fine Arts in Acting, developing her skills in stage performances like 'Trifles' and 'The Crucible'. As Baduza described it to British Vogue, “The point of the story is to turn white supremacy on its head and use African culture to explain what it’s like to live in a world where the culture is predominantly white.”

As a speaker of English and isiXhosa, her Xhosa background brings depth to all her performances, combining authenticity with relatability.

Breakthrough on stage and screen

Masali Baduza launched her career in South African theatre, starring in an all-female 'Taming of the Shrew' at Maynardville Open-Air Theatre. Her film debut came in 2019 as Thandi in the comedy-drama 'Bhai’s Cafe', directed by Maynard Kraak. Television followed swiftly with Thandi Makebe in M-Net’s hit crime thriller 'Trackers', M-Net’s top show that year. The Royal Television Society named Masali Baduza a rising star to watch in 2019, spotting her raw potential early.

Her international stride came in 2020 in BBC’s ‘Noughts + Crosses,’ where she played Sephy Hadley. This role allowed her to showcase her emotional depth in a dystopian romance that sought to bridge the divide between races.

Hollywood strides and versatility

Masali Baduza has shown her range in the horror genre in the 2021 movie ‘Slumber Party Massacre,’ in which she starred. She later proved her prowess in ‘The Woman King,’ released in 2022, where she played the role of Fumbe, a young female warrior. She starred in the movie alongside Viola Davis. Her cameo in ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ further cemented her stride. Her net worth is estimated to be between USD 5 million and $8 million. She is single but focused on her career, keeping her life private.

More about her role in 'Bridgerton season 3'

Masali Baduza plays Michaela Stirling in the Netflix series Bridgerton. Introduced in Season 3, Michaela is the cousin of John Stirling and becomes an important character connected to Francesca Bridgerton’s storyline. Her role marks a significant new arc in the series and expands the show’s romantic narrative.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”