Samantha Mugatsia (born 1992) is a Kenyan actress.

Biography

Mugatsia was born in 1992, the child of Grace Gitau. They grew up in

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

and served as the drummer for the band The Yellow Machine. They also did some modeling work. Mugatsia studied law at

Catholic University of Eastern Africa Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), is a multi-campus private university in Kenya. It is accredited by the Commission for University Education in Kenya. Location The main campus of the university is located along Bogani East Road, ...

, but put their studies on hold to begin their acting career. In November 2016, they were attending an artists' pop-in when they were introduced to film director

Wanuri Kahiu Wanuri Kahiu (born 21 June 1980) is a Kenyan film director, producer, and author. She is considered to be “one of Africa's most aspiring directors, being part of a new, vibrant crop of talents representing contemporary African culture”. Sh ...

, who told them she was writing a script and wanted to show Mugatsia. Even though they had never acted, Mugatsia accepted the role. In 2018, Mugatsia played Kena Mwaura, one of the two leading characters, in Kahiu's ''

Rafiki is a 2018 Kenyan drama film directed by Wanuri Kahiu. ''Rafiki'' is the story of romance that grows between two young women, Kena and Ziki, amidst family and political pressures around LGBT rights in Kenya. The film had its international prem ...

''. The story is based on the novel ''Jambula Tree'' by the Ugandan writer

Monica Arac de Nyeko Monica Arac de Nyeko (born 1979) is a Ugandan writer of short fiction, poetry, and essays, living in Nairobi.

and details the love that develops between two young women where homosexuality is forbidden. In order to prepare for the role, Mugatsia took several months of acting lessons and practiced using mirror exercises and mentally living in the character. The film was banned in Kenya, where homosexuality is illegal. ''Rafiki'' became the first Kenyan film to be screened at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

. Ann Hornaday of

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

called Mugatsia's performance "quietly watchful." Mugatsia won the Best Actress award at the 2019

FESPACO The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou or FESPACO) is a film festival in Burkina Faso, held biennially in Ouagadougou, where the organization is based. It ...

festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso for their portrayal of Kena. The ban on the film was briefly lifted after Kahiu filed a lawsuit, in order to be screened in Kenya to be eligible for the Academy Awards. Mugatsia identifies as spiritual. They have refused to comment on their own sexuality, but are sympathetic to the LGBT community.

Filmography

*2018: ''

'' as Kena Mwaura *2018: ''L'invité''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mugatsia, Samantha 1992 births Living people Kenyan film actresses 21st-century Kenyan actresses Actors from Nairobi