Uganda’s television audiences have been gripped by the stellar performances of Ann Marie Nattabi, Faith Kirabo and Derrick Baka in the hit drama series ‘Beloved’ who have not only captivated audiences with their compelling portrayals but also became household names.
During the fourth episode of Home of Our Stars, the actors sat down with host Judithiana Namazzi Ndugwa and talked about navigating the complexities of fame while staying true to their craft.Ann Marie Nattabi is no stranger to the spotlight having built a remarkable career spanning journalism, music and acting for two decades as a radio and television news anchor.
A graduate of performing arts, Nattabi has honed her skills across stage and screen, bringing a unique depth to each character she embodies. However, her transition from theatre where she has done most of her acting to television was challenging.
“It is kind of challenging because when you are acting on stage, you do everything quickly and in a short period of time whereas for screen, it has to be more believable and real because you are living somebody else’s life,” she told Judithiana.
In Beloved, Nattabi portrays Monica Kaaya, the matriarch of the wealthy Kaaya family, cheating on her husband with a much younger family chauffeur. For one and a half years, she immersed herself in the role drawing from personal experiences to bring authenticity to her performance. “I loved this show because I literally lived my life through it. I was telling some stories that were real and happening in my own life,” she said.
However, despite it being a career defining role, Nattabi faced public backlash in real life because of her on screen character with people always shouting and calling her names whenever they would spot her in public. One of such unforgettable experiences was when she was visiting her teenage daughter at school and was insulted by some parents in front of her daughter. At first such reactions used to make her feel bad, but she says not anymore because she has learned to embrace her role and the impact which comes with it. “When you get a role, try your best to live it, accept it, and take on all the traits that come with it. That is how you will be a star,” Nattabi advised aspiring actors.
For Faith Kirabo, she stumbled into acting almost by accident. She had just graduated from aviation college and was job hunting when one afternoon while taking a nap, she received a call from a casting director requesting to meet her. She later learned that she had been recommended by a friend and after being impressed by her Instagram pictures, the casting director set out to meet her.Landing a leading role on her first acting gig was no small feat but Kirabo embraced it with enthusiasm. “I like to try out new things all the time and when I was presented with this role, I was like yeah, let me try it out and I have put in everything to see that I do it perfectly,” Kirabo said. She further told Judithiana that the role of Suubi has been a defining part of her life to the point that even in real life, she still embodies her on screen character.
“I think I lived as Suubi for so long and now I am like 70 percent Suubi. My lifestyle greatly changed because most of my time in that period was being spent on set as Ssuubi and I think it has impacted my life as well.”Unlike Nattabi, Kirabo has received a warm reception from fans, especially children and airline workers who always offer her the best seats on the plane whenever she is travelling. Despite being nemesis in the series, Kirabo and Nattabi are good friends in real life, a bond they created through their fighting scenes on set.For aspiring actors, Kirabo’s advice is straightforward.
“Be ready to put in everything you got into a role. The job looks to be bougee and fun but it is not for the weak, you must put in the work.”Derrick Baka, another standout actor from Beloved was not a new face to viewers having made his television debut in False Dreams on Pearl Magic and had a short stint in Damalie on Pearl Magic Prime. In Beloved, he acts as Dylan, the troubled elder sibling of the Kaaya family. He described his experience acting alongside veteran actor Andrew Benon Kibuuka as exciting and a privilege.“Andrew Benon Kibuuka is a very amazing man. I was very excited to be on set with him and at a certain point it felt like he is my real father because my father in real life is as calm as him,” Baka said adding, “Mr Kibuuka is the most humble, talented actor I have met in my life, with a very big name but still down to earth. It was a privilege working with him.”To demonstrate his dedication to his roles, Baka revealed that in intense scenes such as fights, he demands to be slapped live and direct, so the moments and reactions feel real and authentic for the viewers.
“The problem with Ann Marie she doesn’t think twice. If the script says slap, it will come,” he joked before she (Ann Marie) jumped in to defend herself. “I never slap a fellow actor on set before I ask them where they want to be slapped because behind the scenes, we are human and we feel pain,” Ann Marie said.
You can catch Beloved Monday to Friday at 8 p.m. on DStv’s Pearl Magic (Channel 161) and GOtv (Channel 301). Viewers can also stream the show live or catch up using the DStv Stream and GOtv Stream apps. Manage your subscription on the go with the MyDStv or MyGOtv App, available on iOS and Android.
Not yet subscribed? Join Ka Weekie on Dstv Access or GOtv Plus today and get access to local favourites like Beloved. With so much to watch and more value packed in, there’s never been a better time to tune in.
