Catherine Kamau

Catherine Kamau (born February 3, 1987)^[2] is a Kenyan actress, popularly known as "Celina"^[3] (or "Selina"^[4]) and "Kate Actress".^[5][6][7]

She came into the limelight for her role in the Citizen TV show, Mother In-Law where she played Celina. She has also featured in other films such as Sue na Jonie, Nafsi, Plan B, and Disconnect.

Catherine attended Chogoria High School where she joined the drama club and became well known for her talent, before moving to Loreto Convent Msongari where she won the 'Miss Loreto' Award.^[8]

She has a Diploma in Communications, majoring in public relations from Kenya College of Communication and Technology which was upgraded to MultiMedia University of Kenya.

Catherine Kamau is the brand ambassador^[9] for Harpic Kenya and the Nice and Lovely Petroleum Jelly.^[10][11]

She was married to Philip Karanja but divorced as of 19 September 2023.

Catherine played the role of Selina (or Celina) the wife of Charlie (Patrick Oketch) on the Citizen TV drama series Mother-in-Law^[4][5][12] which began in 2006. She then left the show for the Swahili language TV series Sue Na Jonnie, in which she played the role of Sue.^[13][14]

She won the Best Lead Actress in the TV Drama Series category in the Kalasha Awards 2017^[15] and again received a nomination for Best Actress in a TV Drama in 2018,^[16] for her role in "Sue Na Jonnie".^[17][18] She was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress in a Film category of the Kenya Film Commission Kalasha Awards 2018 for her role in the film "Disconnect".Sarah Hassan^[19]

She played the role of Joyce in the 2019 romantic comedy film, "Plan B", produced by Sarah Hassan and directed by the Nigerian film maker, Dolapo Adeleke (Lowladee).^[20][21] For her role as Joyce, she was once again nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in Film category in the 9th edition of the Kenya Film Commission Kalasha Awards 2019.^[22][23]

Catherine Kamau has also recently featured in two movies The Grand Little Lie (GLL), produced by '"Phil-It Productions" as part of the main cast. The movie premiered in October 2021 and it made a debut on the international streaming platform Netflix^[24]

She is also a content creator and a YouTuber. On her YouTube channel, she speaks on fashion, style, acting, lifestyle and motherhood. She is passionate on the issue of teenage pregnancies. Having been a teen mother, and has a dubbed phrase 'Queens must wait', in which she encourages young girls to wait first before deciding to be mothers.^[25]

In May 2024, She visited the USA as part of President Ruto's entourage for the state visit. Her invitation, as a representative of the Kenyan Creative industry, came from the Former US ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman.^[26]

During the Jamhuri Day celebrations in Kenya in December 2024, she got awarded with an Order of The Grand Warrior (O.G.W) Presidential Award in recognition of her role in the Film industry.^[27]

Kamau has been married to Philip Karanja (alias Director Phil), a film director and former Tahidi High actor from November 17, 2017, to September 2023 when they officially announced their separation and divorce plans.^[28] Their honeymoon was celebrated in Seychelles.^[3]

While in Kampala International University in Uganda, at the age of 19, she gave birth to her first son, Leon Karanja, in 2006^[2] who Philip adopted.^[29] In December 2019, the couple had their first child together, Karla Njeri.^[30]

Catherine and Philip Karanja announced their divorce on September 19 through a joint statement posted on their respective Instagram accounts.^[28]