Nomzamo Khoza 
Vuyo Biyela (born 22 April 1995) is an award-winning South African actor. He is best known as bad boy Mlilo Hlophe in 1Magic drama The River. He had a 10-month run on the show before a dramatic exit.
In less than a year of joining the telenovela, it earned him Outstanding Newcomer at the Royalty Soapie Award. He has appeared in many theatre and television productions.
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| Background Information | |
| Full name: | Vuyo Biyela |
| Born: | 22 April 1995 (age 28 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Drama |
| Alma mater: | Durban University of Technology |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Known as: | Mlilo Hlophe from The River |
| Children: | 2 |
| Award: | Royalty Soapie Award |
Early Life
Vuyo Biyela was born on 22 April 1995 in Umlazi, a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He grew up as the only child and was always close to his mother.
The actor watched many movies growing up on the VCR with his late cousin, who treated him like a brother. They loved The Karate Kid and would act out the moves and act on the scenes they loved.
Biyela acted in church and also joined the choir.
Education
Vuyo Biyela completed his studies in drama at the Durban University of Technology in 2020. He matriculated from Wentworth Secondary School and was popular in high school.
Career
Even though he loved acting, Biyela wanted to pursue a career in soccer, but he got expelled.
Two years after his graduation from the tertiary institution, one of the producers of The River called him. A friend had asked him if he was interested in an audition for a role in the production.
Biyela had appeared in many other series, but The River was his big break. His character died in a hail of bullets fired by Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana.
The actor appeared in the 2021 film Salamina, acting alongside the actress Mbalenhle Mavimbela. He played Detective Mbele, a supporting role, in Durban Gen, appearing for six to seven months.
His years of acting have earned him awards and recognitions. He received at least two awards for the character uMlilo Hlophe. He bagged the Best Newcomer Actor award at the Simons Abela Awards.
Biyela won the Viewer’s Choice Best Actor: Outstanding Newcomer at the Royalty Soapie Awards in 2023. He played Mark Antony, aka Antoniyase, in a Play titled uSiza, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
The actor bagged another award for the Best Supporting Actor at the 2019 Dut Drama Awards.
Vuyo starred as Kwenzo Dlamini, a young designer, in the Mzansi Wethu telenovela Sibongile & The Dlaminis.
Personal Life
Vuyo Biyela has two children. He shared videos of himself, seemingly getting married, on his Instagram account on 6 June 2023.
Filmography
- The River as Mlilo Hlophe
- Salamina
- Durban Gen as Detective Mbele
- Sibongile & The Dlaminis as Kwenzo
