women to watch in the Kenyan film and television industry

LUPITA NYONG’O, 20s
ACTRESS / DIRECTOR
Why she is a woman to watch: Lupita started acting at 14 for school musicals at Saint Mary’s in Nairobi before venturing onto the stage, clinching the lead role in Romeo and Juliet at the Phoenix. She then moved into TV, playing Ayira in the popular drama series Shuga. She has a degree in film and theatre from Massachusetts and is currently doing her masters in acting at Yale. She both acts and directs, has taken the role of Ayira to the next level, and we can’t wait to see her in the second season!
If I were not an actress, I would be a filmmaker and still co-direct like I’m doing now for Shuga. Shuga is a series about the sweet things that we want – love, sex, beauty, fame, money, success, and the price we pay to get them. It’s also about knowing yourself well enough to avoid compromising yourself in the name of the things you want. Other than that I would go into the field of alternative medicine. The most difficult role I’ve had to play is Ayira. I had little time to prepare and it was such a fast-paced show. I had to really act with courage because I had no time to second-guess myself. I always like to think that my next role will be my biggest. But for now, Ayira in Shuga is the biggest.
The most memorable character I ever played was Venus, from Suzan-Lori Parks’ 1996 play Venus. This character was based on an African woman taken from South Africa in 1810 to be exhibited in London and Paris as a “freak”. It was a role that was close to my heart because it told an African story. The movie I would have most liked to act in is the The Color Purple. I’d have loved to play Celie, Whoopi Goldberg’s character.
To be a successful actress, you have to be emotionally available to take on the role of your character. Be open, a good listener, and be able to play off your co-actors. I would advise all upcoming actresses not to do it for the fame only. Act because you can’t live without it. Do it because you want to tell a story or understand human behaviour. It took me four years to decide to act and I remember being told “this industry will eat you alive, especially as a woman – only act if you feel like you can’t live without it”. And that is the same advice I would give to someone who wants a career in acting.
The first film I directed was In My Genes, a documentary about being white in a black world, mainly focused around the social challenges albinos face in Kenya as a minority group.
I like where the Kenyan film and TV industry is heading, and the Kenyan market’s demand for our own stories to be told as we did with Shuga. It would be amazing to see the industry being supported and sponsored by local companies and organisations, instead of relying on NGOs for funding. Right now acting in Kenya is all fame and no fortune.
My parents are very supportive. My dad was an actor so it wasn’t such an unusual path. I don’t really see myself as a celeb, I think other people decide if you are a celeb or not. What is important to me is to stay humble and grounded.
In the future, I want to do more action films and continue directing with the hope of providing jobs and training for budding actors. Actually I’m working on a Kenyan TV show right now, but that’s all I can spill!
I enjoy a good movie and book. But right now it’s books and my favourite is Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
I’m not seeing anyone special but when the opportunity arises I would like to get married, but I don’t believe in planning my life out or being too busy for family.
My strongest attribute is that I am honest and sensitive. My weakness is indecision. I have trouble with menus that are longer than two pages.
Before I die, I would like to take a cruise or skydive – the two most unlikely things I would do!