Celestine Gachuhi

Gachuhi was born in Murang'a County, Kenya and is the second-born in a family of four siblings.^[4] Her father is a military officer and her mother died when she was 11 years old while she was in primary school.^[5]

Following her mother's death, she was raised by her father and stepmother and later moved between different regions, including Nakuru and Narok, during her schooling years.^[6] She attended Ole Tipis Secondary School, where she began participating in drama festivals and developed an interest in acting.^[7] After completing secondary school, she moved to Nairobi, where she lived with her sister and pursued further studies while working part-time jobs, including as a salonist.^[8]

Gachuhi began her acting career in theater productions and Kikuyu-language television shows before gaining national recognition.^[9] In 2017, she auditioned for the lead role in Selina and was cast during the final round of auditions.^[10] The series premiered in January 2018 and became one of Kenya's most popular television dramas, running for six seasons and over 900 episodes.^[11] The show followed the life of Selina, a young woman from a disadvantaged background navigating social and economic challenges.^[12]

Her performance in the role brought her widespread recognition and established her as one of the prominent faces of Kenyan television.^[11] For her work on the series, Gachuhi was nominated for Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama at the Kalasha Awards in 2018 and 2019.^[13]

Following the success of Selina, Gachuhi continued to expand her acting career, appearing in television productions such as Kiu and later taking on new roles, including in the Showmax series Adam to Eve.^[14][15]

In addition to acting, she has pursued music, particularly in the gospel genre and has expressed interest in expanding her musical career after collaborating with Phil Kimenia on the single 'Yeye Ni Mkuu" in 2020.^[16] She has also developed a presence in digital content creation following the conclusion of Selina, engaging audiences through online platforms.^[17]

Gachuhi is involved in mentorship and advocacy initiatives, including Film Connect Africa, which supports young creatives by providing industry exposure and guidance to young creatives in schools and colleges.^[18] She has also been active in advocating against cyberbullying and promoting positive online engagement.^[19] Additionally, she is involved with the SIMAMA Initiative, which advocates against gender-based violence and supports women's empowerment.^[20]

Gachuhi is in a relationship with gospel musician Phil Kimemia and the couple got engaged in 2021.^[21] They have one child together, born in 2022.^[22][23]