Kenyan actress Joyce Maina recently became the talk of the town when an old commercial advert she starred in over 10 years ago resurfaced on TikTok.
In the ad, which aired around 2011 to 2013, Maina played the role of a high school girl who captured the attention of boys in class but rejected their advances with a chill sign.
Maina’s journey into the entertainment industry began when she was fresh out of high school and just about to join campus.
Despite at first feeling uneasy about the role and almost giving it up, through a TikTok video of her explaining how she landed the role, Joyce claims that once the cameras started rolling, she figured that acting was her calling, she landed the role in the abstinence ad and took acting as a career.
Since then she has worked tirelessly to build her career and she has made a name for herself in Kenya’s film industry.
However apart from the chill advert most Kenyans still don’t know who she is or what she has been up to, so here is a breakdown of her career’s journey ever since she chilled
In 2015, Maina began to make waves in the industry, starting with her role as Tindi in the television series Sumu la Penzi.
Her performance in the series was widely acclaimed, and it opened doors for her to star in more productions.
In 2017, she starred in the TV movie Aisha, where she played the lead role of Aisha.
The same year, she appeared in the short film Neophobia, playing the role of Fiona Bosibori.
In 2018, Maina was cast as Samantha in the film Disconnect, which explored themes of love and technology.
She also had a recurring role as Collette in the telenovela Selina, which aired from 2018 to 2020. Her role in Selina was well-received, and it cemented her status as one of the rising stars in the Kenyan entertainment industry.
In 2021, Maina landed a major role in the TV series Monica, where she played the character of Vivian Jiwe. The series, which aired for 38 episodes, was widely watched and garnered critical acclaim.
In 2022, Maina starred in the film Kamtupe and made a guest appearance in the TV series Crime and Justice.
Maina’s latest project is the upcoming film The Lion Roars No More, where she plays the role of Mrs. Makonge.
The film is set to be released in 2023, and fans are eagerly anticipating Maina’s performance.
Despite her success in the entertainment industry, many Kenyans still associate Maina with the abstinence ad. However, with each role she takes on, Maina continues to showcase her talent and versatility as an actress, proving that she is much more than just the “chill girl.”