Thandiwe Newton Reverts to Original Shona Spelling of Her Name Naman Ramachandran, provided by FacebookTwitterEmail British actor Thandiwe Newton is reverting to the original Shona spelling of her name, after decades of being known and credited as “Thandie Newton.” The Emmy-winning “Westworld” actor was born Melanie Thandiwe Newton Parker. “That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine,” the actor said in an interview with British Vogue. The Vogue article also states that “the W was carelessly missed out from her first credit.” More from Variety The actor is of Shona heritage, from Zimbabwe, on her mother’s side. Thandiwe means “beloved.”