This archive report was first published on 2 January 2020.
Published on January 2, 2020, by Amina Wako
Grace Wacuka Njoroge's journey to stardom was not an easy one. At 14, she was already acting in various Nairobi theatres for free, but it wasn't until she was 26 that she landed a role in a US Christmas film titled A New Christmas film.
Despite her family's initial disapproval, Grace persisted in pursuing her passion for acting and music. Her childhood was marked by hardship, especially after her father's death from alcoholism at the age of 10. Her mother, who was the sole breadwinner, struggled to make ends meet.
As a result, Grace had to take on part-time jobs to support her education, including acting for free in various theatres. However, it was not until she saw Lupita Nyong'o's success in Hollywood that her mother began to support her dreams.
"I am really appreciative of Lupita because without her, my dream wouldn’t have been validated," Grace said in an interview with NTV. "For long I said I wanted to be an actor and a musician but my family would ask, why? But when Lupita succeeded, people started saying, ‘you can do it’."
Today, Grace is a New York-based actress and singer who has undergone extensive training in the arts sector. She has studied at various institutions, including the American Theatre Wing, Eugene O'Neill Theatre Centre, Smith College, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
Looking ahead to the new year, Grace plans to release a song every month, starting with her hip-hop single "Drift". Her message to parents is clear: support your children's dreams, even if it's in the arts.
