23 March 2020
7 award-winning Kenyan actors to find on Showmax
We are all still on a high after our very own Pascal Tokodi won Best Supporting Actor at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2020 – no small feat for the actor who was up against beloved Nollywood veterans like Ramsey Nouah, Richard Mofe Damijo and Nkem Owoh.
Other Kenyan winners were Subira which clinched Best Indigenous Language Movie/TV Series, Plan B (Best Movie East Africa) and Promises which won MultiChoice Talent Factory Film award.
As we celebrate all the winners and the nominees, may we suggest that you check out these seven award-winning Kenyan actors on Showmax.
Pascal Tokodi – Selina
- Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Selina) – Kalasha Awards 2019
- Best Supporting Actor in a Movie (Disconnect) – AMVCA 2020
A singer, actor and all-time goofball on social media, Pascal Tokodi is a man of many talents who has won the hearts of many with his award-winning role in the Swahili telenovela Selina. Tokodi plays Nelson, the youngest son of the wealthy Mackenzies who falls in love with a girl from a humble background, Selina (Celestine Gachuhi) and so begins their tortuous romance that has captivated fans for four seasons now.
Sarah Hassan – Plan B
- Best Lead Actress in a Film (Plan B) – Kalasha Awards 2019
- Best Movie East Africa (Plan B) – AMVCA 2020
After a brief hiatus, Sarah Hassan made a comeback to our screens in 2019 with the romantic comedy film Plan B where she not only played the lead actress but produced the film as well.
A collaborative project between Hassan’s Alfajiri Productions and Nigerian filmmaker Lowladee, Plan B follows Lisa (Hassan), a woman who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand only to find out that the mysterious father of her unborn baby is a Nigerian tycoon (Daniel Etim-Effiong, Brethren). Catherine Kamau-Karanja plays her unfiltered best friend Joyce who comes up with the perfect plan to earn child support from the father.
Catherine Kamau-Karanja – Sue na Jonnie, Ma’Empress
- Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Sue na Jonnie) – Kalasha Awards 2017
Catherine Kamau-Karanja, popularly known as Kate Actress, commands a strong screen presence that has always made her a show-stealer even in movies where she’s not the lead like Tosh Gitonga’s Disconnect or the Valentine rom-com Plan B. But her most notable role to date has to be in the award-winning comedy series Sue na Jonnie where she played the street-smart Sue, a woman who becomes a girlfriend for hire in her desperation to earn some money.
Currently, Kate stars in the drama-comedy Ma’Empress in an out-of-character role as a naïve and humble housewife to a womanizing husband, alongside Neomi Ng’ang’a, Brenda Mwai, Nyokabi Macharia and Minne Kariuki.
Martin Githinji – Sue na Jonnie
- Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Sue na Jonnie) – Kalasha Awards 2017
Other than his directing chops, Martin Githinji has appeared in numerous TV shows and movies including How To Find a Husband, Best Friends Forever, The XYZ Show, Netflix film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, and most notably, the comedy-drama series Sue na Jonnie where he played Jonnie, a hustler who hits the jackpot when he lands a lucrative job that was meant for someone else with the same name.
Brenda Wairimu – Monica, Selina
- Best Lead Actress in a Film (Subira) – Kalasha Awards 2018
If there’s anything that 2019 taught us, it’s that Brenda Wairimu is one of the most versatile actors in Kenya. The actress stirred up tension and brought the much-needed drama when she joined Selina in season 4 playing the role of Rosette, an unstable villain who doesn’t take kindly to unrequited love. And while it might not have ended well for her character, no one can deny the impact she had on Selina and the sleepless nights she caused to the #Selison fandom.
You can also find her in her badass element in the drama series Monica where plays the titular Monica, an ambitious social climber who has no qualms about lying and scheming her way to the top even at the expense of losing her true love.
Lupita Nyong’o – The Roadside
It goes without saying that Lupita Nyong’o is Kenya’s best export to the world and one whose accolades would be too many to put down on this list. But just in case you need a reminder, one of her most iconic ones has to be the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress that she won in 2014 for her debut role in 12 Years A Slave. She’s been unstoppable ever since.
You will find her in the 2014 romantic comedy short film The Roadside, alongside musician and artivist Ndungi Githuku, as well as in Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave.
Raymond Ofula – Monica
- Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Nairobi Law) – Kalasha Awards 2011
- Film Warrior Lifetime Award – Riverwood Awards 2017
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Sanaa Theatre Awards 2014
Veteran Raymond Ofula is a screen legend who’s appeared in international hits like Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Jacob’s Cross and most recently, he made an appearance in Netflix’ first African Original series Queen Sono.
Locally, Ofula has appeared in Makutano Junction, Country Queen, Monica and The System (coming soon to Showmax) where he plays an incorruptible politician.
Missed this year’s AMVCAs? Watch the live show on Showmax. There’s also a wrap of the red carpet looks.
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