Young actress conquering the movies

By NANJINIA WAMUSWA

At only 11 years, Nelly Mukiri has already discovered her talent. And the Standard Six pupil at Kwa Njenga Primary School in Nairobi vows to do all it takes to become a feted actress both on local and international scenes.

"I dream about acting and would grab any opportunity that comes my way to succeed in acting as a career. If others have made it then nothing can stop me," said Mukiri during an interview with Generation Next.

She says she is the first one in her family with a talent in acting and neither her parents nor relatives have ever featured in any movie.

She developed interest after watching programmes like Vitimbi and Vioja Mahakamani. But it is Nollywood movies that inspired her most.

Mukiri says, "Their acting looks real and l want to look that real when acting."

She wanted to start acting when she was six years, but no one then allowed her to feature in any movie or music video.

She is, however, grateful to Chanuka Girls, a non-governmental organisation that sensitises young poor girls from the slums on importance of education, educates them about the adolescence stage, peer pressure, discovering talents while funding their education.

Chanuka Girls picked her because she comes from a poor family that at times couldn’t afford a meal a day, which made her beg for money for food before the organisation came to her rescue.

Already Mukiri has starred in two short movies — Jealous Sisters and Secrets of the Devil, shot in the slums by Media Focus in Africa.

The movies highlight the struggle of young girls and how they are exposed to risky behaviours in the slums.

In JealousySisters, Mukiri acts as Catey a polite, respectful and kind girl and who attended school despite setbacks such as poverty, while others busied themselves collecting and begging for money in the slums.

In the second movie, Secrets of the Devil, she is the devil who incites others into fights and unending wrangles in a small community.

"I want to feature in as many movies as possible before l discover the character in which my strength lies," she says confidently.

She loves Mathematics and science subjects. Locally Mukiri adores Sarah Hassan popularly known as Tanya of Tahidi High and Nigerian actress Ini Edo.

Apart from acting Mukiri is also a good dancer and singer, actively involved in her school’s music and drama. She hopes to work hard and join a national girl’s school and later university as she pursues to realise her acting dream.

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