The text message read: “Hey. In case my phone dies, I’m inside at the corner.” Seated at the corner inside Java, I saw a woman in a face mask, dressed in black. I introduced myself to the actress and took the seat opposite her. She took off her mask to reveal her full face. Kiplagat was enjoying a milkshake and by her side was a bag full of groceries. We had agreed to do a breakfast interview. Here was a woman who seemed to already have had a full day behind her at 10 am in the morning, shopping ostensibly done, and her phone was dying.
Melissa Kiplagat is the leading lady in Country Queen, Kenya’s first homegrown Netflix series, which has been trending on the streaming service since its release on 15 July 2022.
CO: What does ‘Kenya’s first homegrown show’ mean? Was it a local production sold to Netflix, or was Netflix involved all through?
MK: I know it started in 2016. They [the producers] went around the country researching what Kenyans wanted to watch. Our executive producers are German; they were attached from the beginning. Then they had an all-Kenyan writing room. They wrote for quite a while; it started as an idea for a telenovela. When we were being cast Netflix wasn’t involved. After we did the pilot, they took it to Netflix, who partially funded the show.
At this point the waiter showed up with a plate of fries and a hearty burger for her. Melissa was bubbly and nervous in an honest and unarming way. Adorably, she needlessly excused herself: “Excuse me, I’m having a real breakfast.” (giggles) I ordered a cappuccino and a croissant.
CO: I know we hardly discuss a woman’s age, but how old are you, Ms. Kiplagat?
MK: I don’t mind discussing it (laughs). I’m thirty one.
CO: You studied Theater Arts at Mountainview University in London. How long were you there?
MK: I was there for a year for a masters program. Very intense year. It was actor’s training. It was very physical, on your feet training, very intense, but a fantastic experience.
CO: Any Shakespeare?
MK: Yeah, of course.
CO: I guess that’s what they mean by ‘classically trained’.
MK: You do voice, you do dance, everything involved in it.
CO: Do you prefer film or theatre?
MK: I always say theatre is the best actor training. I think it’s easier to hide your flaws behind ‘take two’. A theatre actor can perform on screen but sometimes a screen actor can struggle on stage. Where do I express myself most? I love theatre. I don’t do drugs, but I imagine the high people get from drugs is what it feels like on stage. Plus, the reaction is immediate, you know?
CO: Yeah. What was your director on Country Queen like?
MK: Vincent Mbaya, he’s one of my favourite directors to work with. Him and Gilbert Lukalia.
We discussed any similarities between her and Akisa, the character she plays in Country Queen. The mother-daughter relationship depicted in the series, she told me, is emblematic of a lot of women’s experiences. I agree, of course, having two sisters and a mother. Kiplagat assured me her relationship with her mother isn’t bad at all, she, in fact can speak as both a daughter and a mother. The Country Queen pilot was shot in 2019, then all the other episodes were shot in the later half of 2021. Between that time, Kiplagat welcomed a child. “So when I became a mom, I could even relate to that part of Akisa more,” she says.
She tells me she’s Kalenjin and Embu but that the latter is where she recognises as home. This topic naturally evolves to include that of family and acceptance. I ask her whether she always wanted to be an actor from the beginning, and whether her parents were supportive. “Well, I did economics so it was either Wall Street or acting for me. But when I told my parents I wanted to do acting they were so supportive. My dad even asked me why I didn’t do that as an undergraduate,” she says.
We talk about her favourite movies. “I loved Supa Modo. My family and I love watching Uradi. Nairobi Half Life of course.” I agree that Nairobi Half Life is one of our few masterpieces. And now that her guard is down, I decide to ask her a rather difficult question. Difficult, maybe, in my judgement, but a question she answers with showmanship ease.
CO: There’s a critique floating around that in the Kenyan film industry, all we see are the same familiar faces. And Country Queen, Kenya’s first Netflix series, does boast some recognisable actors. Do you think that’s fair?
MK: Robert Agengo said something in an interview he did: “If you go to see a surgeon, would you want a newbie, or one who’s seasoned?” And (giggles) there’s a director, I’m not going to say his name, he said only in Kenya are people punished for excellence. People don’t tell Denzel Washington, “Stop acting, you’ve done enough, leave so that Michael B Jordan can act.” Denzel Washington is great, let him keep working!
CO: That’s the best argument I’ve heard against that.
MK: Plus, if you look at a lot of the new shows, you see a lot of new faces. Most of the leads are completely new. Even I’m new. Though not new new, like, people in the industry know me, but I’m new to the audience.
CO: What’s your dream project?
MK: Oh, my dream project… is to be in a show with Viola Davis. People say we kinda look alike. (laughs)
CO: (laughs) I am so glad you brought that up.
MK: Or to work with Denzel Washington. I can just imagine how much one can learn from working with such pros, you know?
CO: Yeah, I can imagine too. So Hollywood is something definitely in the cards, huh?
MK: Well, I would like to go there, for projects, but I wouldn’t stay. Because, I mean, now I have a little girl, and I want her to grow up here, where I did.
CO: That’s a noble reason.
MK: Also, in terms of dream projects, I’d really really love to work with Likarion Wanaina (director of Supa Modo). I just looove all the stuff he’s done. His work is so artistic. He’s the kind of director you trust with ease because his vision is so precise.
CO: Have you ever met him?
MK: Oh yeah. We go way back. We just haven’t worked together yet.
CO: Would you ever consider stepping outside of acting and doing something different in the same industry? Directing maybe?
MK: I would love to write, but I don’t know how I’d feel about directing. It takes a certain kind of talent and brain. You’re the head of soo many departments so you have to be an expert on light, cinematography, make up, you have to think a certain way. So no, not directing. But for my project in Mountainview University I did a one woman show.
CO: Oh, yeah? What was it about?
MK: I was representing six different kinds of women from where I’m from. It was hectic, yeah. But it’s still one of my favourite things that I’ve ever done. I love theatre. I would direct that.
CO: But doesn’t the same apply, as movie directing?
MK: Not really. Theatre is more streamlined. It’s not shot out of sequence like a film, and it’s not as complicated.
CO: What’s the last theatre thing you did?
MK: I don’t know. Let me think, must’ve been quite a while ago. Sometime in 2019 maybe.
CO: Anything you’re working on? Anything coming up?
MK: Fingers crossed for a Country Queen season two. But other than that, no, nothing as of yet.
CO: What were your favorite movies growing up?
MK: I’m a kid at heart, so I love most of the Disney stuff. But my favourite movie definitely has to be How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
CO: (laughs) Really? That?
MK: Yes!
CO: I saw it for the first time a few years back, didn’t really click for me as much. Seeing as it’s a kid’s movie, I must’ve seen it too old. Same mistake I made with The Wizard of Oz.
MK: See, that’s the thing. Did you see the Jim Carrey version?
CO: Of course, I saw the Jim Carrey version.
MK: I love it because of its humour. Ostensibly, it’s a kid’s movie but there’s so much for adults going on under the surface. I just love that kind of stuff.
CO: That’s kind of like Shrek. I love that one.
MK: Yeah, me too.
CO: With all the excitement going on, what’s your schedule like these days?
MK: It’s not really that hectic. But currently I’m kind of busy because I’m going to South Africa for some Netflix stuff. I’m actually running up and down getting ready for that.
CO: Well, thanks for taking time out for this interview.
MK: No problem.
CO: And once again, congratulations on Country Queen. Your performance was ravishing.
MK (honestly touched, I could see): Thank you.
I turned off the recording and we spoke for a little longer. She was zealous, infectious, and eager for the future. The bill came and went, I offered to carry her grocery bag to her car, chivalry and what not, but she declined. We said our goodbyes as she indulged me in a selfie and hauled her shopping herself. It was a little walk to her car, and we mostly underwent it in silence.)
MK: You know that awkward moment when you’ve already said goodbye, but still have to be with that person.
CO: (laughs)
MK: (laughs)
CO: Thank you for pointing it out. That made it infinitely less awkward.
MK: I know.
We split as she headed to the basement, and I, toward the exit. She told me she still had a lot of planning to do before her trip. She rushed away. She had to. Her phone was dying.
Country Queen is available to stream on Netflix.
