Daina Njuguna: From New York drama graduate to Big Girl Small World

Daina Njuguna, one of the newest faces on our screens, stars in the Showmax Original comedy-drama series Big Girl Small World. The newcomer plays Aisha, a wild card whose free-spirited nature and carefree outlook to life often lands her in trouble. After years of self-exile, Aisha returns to Nairobi seeking new purpose and redemption for her past mistakes. All 13 episodes of the Nick Mutuma-directed series will be available to binge on Showmax from Wednesday 24 July.

Njuguna is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she walked the same halls as Hollywood royalty Grace Kelly and Hollywood legends like Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada) and the Ant-Man Paul Rudd.

“It’s awe inspiring,” she says. “It’s a really old school and they have all these class photos from the 20s. It’s wild to think Grace Kelly walked down those same halls.”

Why did you decide to come back to Kenya?

After graduation, I had a year to work and I felt what it would be like working in America. By the end of it, it made more sense for me to come back home to Kenya.

How would you describe your experience at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts?

It was incredible, the best two years of my life. The program was like art therapy in a lot of ways and I left it having found the most honest version of myself. And I got to do it in New York City. Magic!

You play Aisha in the Showmax series Big Girl Small World as your first-ever role. Were you nervous?

It all happened so fast, I didn’t actually have time to feel nervous. It wasn’t until the test shoot that I started to panic. Most of my acting experience is on stage so being in front of the camera had me shaking in my boots!

Your character Aisha is described as a wildcard and a free spirit. What drew you to her?

I could see a lot of myself in Aisha. But she didn’t fully come into focus until I saw her wardrobe. I realised she’s like me, without brakes on. Her centre is much like mine; she moves through this earth feeling her way around. Also, the fact that she had just moved back home. I know the feeling of starting over somewhere familiar. It’s a strange feeling: this is home, but where do I fit in?

What do you think about female friendships and how it’s portrayed between Aisha and Ciku (June Njenga) on Big Girl Small World?

I love female friendships. And as you get older, you realise female friendships are the sturdiest ships, so seeing Ciku and Aisha resolving their past and coming back together is my favourite thing. With all their history and all the time that has passed between them, reconnecting can get so complicated but it’s beautiful to see them navigate it with as much love as they can give.

As a newcomer, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt about the film and TV industry in Kenya with this role?

Creatively, there are always lessons to learn when working with such a dynamic group of people. The one thing that is more of a reminder than a lesson is that people care about what they do and how they do it – it’s so inspiring to be around that consistently. I’ve also learnt that in the Kenyan industry, networking is the prime directive.

As a newcomer, what more roles do you want to play in future?

I’m very excited to see how Aisha evolves. Hopefully, Big Girl Small World comes back for another season so we can see more of her and the story. Other than that, I’d love to find my complete opposite in a character; now that would be a funny experiment of extremes.