Sarah Hassan (born 5 September 1988) is a Kenyan actress, producer, director and former TV host. She is notable for her roles in television series such as Crime and Justice, Tahidi High,The Wedding Show and Zora [1] and films that include the Nigerian-Kenyan romantic comedy Plan B and Family Vacation.[2][3]Sarah Hassan also features in DSTv's show, Zari, as Nina.[4]
Sarah Hassan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 5 September 1988 Mombasa, Kenya |
| Alma mater | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, New York Film Academy |
| Occupation(s) | Actress Host |
| Years active | 2007-present |
| Spouse | Martin Dale |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | Official website |
Her awards include Best Actress (2014) for the short film Now That You're Here; Best TV Host (2014) at the Kalasha Awards (Discovery+ 254); Best East African Journalist (2015) at the Swahili Fashion Week (Mashariki Mix and Maisha Max); Best Actress at the Kalasha Awards in 2019 (Plan B);[5] and again in 2021 (Crime and Justice).[5] In 2022, alonside Willy Paul, she was a Brand Ambassador for OPPO's Reno 8 phone series.[6][7] She is currently the Brand Ambassador for Dettol Skincare.[8]
Early life
editSarah Hassan was born on September 5, 1988 in Mombasa, Kenya as the only child of her parents. She started acting at the age of five.[9] For her secondary school education, she went to Machakos Girls' High School and later attended Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where she pursued a Bachelors of Science in Actuarial Science.[10] She later on went to study Television and Film at the New York Film Academy in 2016.[11]
Career
editHassan made her debut on TV in 2009 as Tanya, on the Kenyan high-school drama series Tahidi High and became one of the lead characters at the time. She also starred in several series such as Demigods, Saints, and Changes, and even went on to host the East African Dance show Sakata Mashariki. In 2013 she took over Noni Gathoni's role in The Wedding Show as the main host until December 2014.
Sarah Hassan was a lead producer for 40 Sticks which won several awards.[11] Through her own Production Company, Alfajiri Productions, she has produced Plan B in 2019, Reflections- a short film and Just In Time.[12][11][1]In 2018, while in Los Angeles after her studies, she also wrote, directed and produced a film,The Company You Keep.[11]
In August 2024, Netflix released Family Vacation, a Kenyan drama co-directed by Voline Ogutu and Edwin Kamau, in which Hassan stars as an internet influencer who tries to save her marriage and family.[2]
Besides acting, she is a brand ambassador to several Kenyan fashion lines.[13] She is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Personal life
editSara Hassan married Martin Dale on February 25, 2017 and together they have a son.[14]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Nefertiti and the Lost Dynasty | Debut | |
| 2009 | Tahidi High | Tanya | Won—Chaguo la Teeniez Awards |
| 2010 | Demigods | Kamila | Supporting role |
| 2011 | Saints | Lora | |
| Sakata | Herself | Host | |
| Changes | Liza | ||
| 2013 | House of Lungula | Chichi | Film |
| 2014–present | Jane & Abel | Leah | Main cast |
| 2014 | Live or Die | Catwoman | Film |
| Now That You're Here | Katherine | Short film | |
| 2015–present | Discovery +254 | Herself | 26 episodes |
| How to Find a Husband | Carol | Lead role | |
| Maisha Max | Host | Reality show | |
| 2019 | Plan B | Lisa | Main cast |
| 2021 | Just In Time | Muthoni | Main cast |
| Zora | Zora | Lead role | |
| 2021-2022 | Crime and Justice | Detective Makena | Lead role |
| 2023 | Zari | Nina | Main Cast |
| 2024 | Family Vacation | Yara Maleki | Lead role |
Nominations and awards
edit| Year | Award | Category | Show | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Chaguo la Teeniez Awards | Best Actress | Tahidi High | Won | |
| 2013 | 2013 Kalasha Awards | Best Supporting Actress | House of Lungula | Won | |
| 2015 | 2015 Kalasha Awards | Discovery +254 | Best TV Hosts | Won | [15] |
| 2018 | Festigious International Film Festival 2018 | Best Actress | The Company You Keep | ||
| 2018 | L.A Shorts Awards 2018 | Best Actress Silver Award | The Company You Keep | [9] | |
| 2018 | L.A Shorts Awards 2018 | Best Short Film Silver Award | The Company You Keep | [9] | |
| 2019 | Kalasha
Awards |
Best Actress | Plan B | Won | [9] |
| 2021 | Kalasha
Awards |
Best Actress in a TV Drama | Crime and Justice | Won | [9] |
| 2021 | Kalasha
Awards |
Best Actress in a Film | Just In Time | Won | [9] |
| 2022 | Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Actress in A Comedy | Just In Time | [16] | |
| Best Movie East Africa | |||||
| Best Movie Overall |
References
edit- ^ "Sarah Hassan's biography". Retrieved November 6, 2012.
- ^ a b "Family Vacation: A dose of family drama sponsored by social media". Business Daily. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Kanja, Kirsten. "It's Sarah Hassan's season". www.tnx.africa. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ "Meet Nina - Zari". MaishaMagicPlus - Meet Nina - Zari. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ a b "Meet Nina - Zari". MaishaMagicPlus - Meet Nina - Zari. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ "Willy Paul, Sarah Hassan Chosen as OPPO Reno8 O-Stars - Techspace Africa". 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ "Willy Paul and Sarah Hassan to headline OPPO Reno 8 Series - Techish Kenya". 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ "Actress Sarah Hassan named brand ambassador for newly relaunched Dettol skincare soap". Capital Business. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sarah Hassan". Retrieved 2021-10-29.
- ^ Kimani, Sheila. "WCW: Sarah Hassan - Quiet beauty and elegance". Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ a b c d Kanja, Kirsten. "It's Sarah Hassan's season". www.tnx.africa. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ Mahugu, Jacqueline. "'Just in Time' is a sunshiny, feel-good type of movie that makes for easy watching, a new-ish genre in Kenya". The Standard. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ "Sarah Hassan's beauty and elegance". Standard Media Group. August 26, 2015.
- ^ SDE. "Sarah Hassan: This is where I met my husband Martin Dale". Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ "Kalasha awards winners". allafrica.com. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2022-03-26.