Nyokabi Macharia, Nice Githinji shine in Netflix’s ‘Big Mouth’
After seven seasons, Netflix’s animation series Big Mouth has acknowledged a world beyond these privileged, primarily white characters.
Big Mouth is one of Netflix’s longest-running shows, and part of that can be attributed to the countless talented guest stars that appear in its episodes.
Veteran Kenyan actress Nice Githinji and theatre guru Nyokabi Macharia have been featured in a special international episode of the new Big Mouth Season 7 episode that sees the Netflix animated series go global.
This Netflix original follows a group of pre-teens as they try to figure themselves out while fearing the prospect of being teenagers.
With an entirely adult cast, the characters are all going through surprisingly accurate struggles with learning about what it’s like to grow up in a society that ultimately has conflicting messages about sex.
Every recurring character and guest star contributes to one side of that controversy during their tenure on the show.
In a special episode, which is seen in season 7, episode 6, “The International Show.” While the show usually focuses on one middle school, this episode looks at the same age group in different parts of the world.
Lupito Nyong’o’s section of the story takes place in Kenya. She plays a character called Shame Wizard. She belongs to a Kenyan girl who wants to get on a party boat. This role is different from most of Nyong’o’s renowned parts, but she does an amazing job at capturing the perfect Shame Wizard Asha energy.
Sharon (Nyokabi Macharia) looks forward to her first ride aboard a matatu, especially now that she’s developed breasts – “Let’s squeeze ourselves into the matatu with those matitties!” says her hormone monstress, played by Nice Githinji, but Shame Wizard Asha convinces Sharon she’s disgracing her family with her “slutty” behaviour.
It’s only after Sharon’s grandmother (also Nyong’o) encourages her to celebrate “the sexiness of her womanhood” that she’s able to overcome her shame (and a few rude comments from Don Cheadle) and return to the matatu with her head held high.
“Just passing by really quick to celebrate yet another win,” said Githinji. “I had so much fun voicing the Hormone Monstress Nichi and working with Nyokabi Macharia who voiced Sharon! We had a whole scene to ourselves. Mad mad fun! You can only imagine ile ujinga tulifanya studio especially considering the language and themes in that show.”
Macharia also expressed her enthusiasm for the project saying; “Your girl is on the latest season of Big Mouth, Ep 6 on Netflix alongside Don Cheadle, Lupita Nyong’o and got to play with my darling Nice Githinji and other amazing Kenyan actors. We had so much fun in the studio! Also, Alfred Munyua was the local consultant/director and this couldn’t have turned out as good as it did were it not for him. He was extremely patient with us in the studio and super encouraging during the takes.”
The series has won a pair of Emmys and, according to co-creators Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin, and Andrew Goldberg, prides itself on waxing wise about pubescent trauma.
Big Mouth Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.
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