Kenyan actress Marya Okoth says her latest television role comes at a time when her life off screen has changed just as dramatically as the characters she plays.
The 26-year-old, widely recognised for her breakout performance in A Nurse Toto, now stars in the dramedy Adam to Eve, a project she describes as her most honest chapter so far.
Okoth rose to prominence quickly, balancing acting with influencing, entrepreneurship and motherhood, all while navigating public scrutiny following a highly publicised breakup.
She says learning to live through different identities has reshaped how she approaches both fame and craft.
“Motherhood, acting and influencing each pull from different parts of my personality, but they all come from the same core I show up as myself,” she says.
“It’s less about balance and more about harmony, knowing what needs me most in each moment.”
Before acting, she trained and worked in interior design, a background she says still shapes her performances today.
“Design trains you to be detail-oriented and emotionally intuitive. I naturally observe how wardrobe, set design and lighting support a character’s truth,” she says.
“Both design and acting are storytelling, one through space, the other through emotion.”
Her earlier role in A Nurse Toto helped establish her audience but also pushed her technically.
“That role demanded vulnerability, humour and grit,” she says. “It taught me discipline and how powerful it is when a character feels grounded in everyday life.”
In Adam to Eve, she plays Ciku, a character navigating connection and emotional growth. She credits her on-screen chemistry with co-star Blessing Lung’aho to deliberate preparation rather than improvisation.
“Chemistry is about trust and communication. We talked about our characters’ vulnerabilities and allowed the friendship to develop naturally,” she says.
Beyond entertainment, she believes the series explores everyday empathy rather than dramatic romance
“Love and empathy are choices we make every day — small acts of kindness, listening and showing up for each other,” she says.
Despite her growing public visibility, Okoth says her private personality remains quieter than audiences might assume.
“One thing people might be surprised to learn is that I’m actually quite shy and introverted at heart. I love people and connections, but I need a lot of quiet time to recharge. My creativity really flows when I have stillness, and I’m happiest when I can retreat, reset, and pour back into myself,” she says.
As her career evolves, she insists authenticity, rather than reinvention, has guided her.