If there’s a character that is hard to forget in Kina, it has to be Mary Mwakazi. She is a typical Christian woman who is very firm with her children and very warm and loving at the same time.

Mary’s real name is Caroline Midimo. She developed a love for the craft at a very young age and started acting at St. Mary's Girls Primary School. She then further developed and honed her skills during her time as a student at Menengai High School in Nakuru.  She has won several awards, including the coveted ‘Best Performing Artist’ at the National Drama Festival.

After high school, she relocated to Nairobi to follow her acting passion. She started out as a traditional dancer at the Kenya National Theatre, which wasn't part of her plan, but she did it anyway, to make ends meet.

Midimo started acting professionally in 1996, performing in stage plays like Government Inspector and Romeo and Juliet.

Caroline Midimo is a versatile actress, which is evident in the acting roles she has taken on in the past. She has appeared in local and international TV series and films, and her first local television production was Reflection where she played sister to Lydia Gitachu (who plays a housemaid in the Kina TV series).

Her breakthrough

Caroline’s breakthrough came when she became part of the first-ever soap opera in Kenya called Heart and Soul where she played the role of a prostitute. She has also appeared in Makutano Junction, Mali and the ongoing Shamba Shape Up, amongst others. Midimo has appeared in several movies that have contributed to her growth and internationally she has appeared in award-winning films like Walking with Jesus and Lost in Africa.

Midimo is a method actor who depends on real life experiences and situations; some observed and some personally experienced, to bring out her characters. She is motivated by the zeal to grow and to keep evolving. Contrary to Midimo's achievements, the weakness that stands out is that she is afraid of failure and being caught off guard in life. She, therefore, wakes up every day and strives to be a better person.

Midimo’s influences

The artists that have inspired and influenced her in the industry are the late Ann Wanjugu for her role in the film Majangwa with Paul Onsongo and Wangu wa Makeri, Jacob Otieno, Prof. David Mulwa, her high school teacher Dr. L. P. Barasa and primary school teacher Mr. Abuti.

Her advice to up-and-coming actors is: “Nothing comes easy. you have to sweat for it. You have to show up for auditions, be prepared to fall enough times but always rise up and show up!”

Catch Mary Mwakazi every Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm only on Maisha Magic East DStv 158 and GOtv 4.