With just a few years into his acting career, Mathew Ngugi is proving to be one of Kenya’s brightest new stars; equal parts charm, depth, and pure talent. From stealing scenes in Mo-Faya and Big Girl Small World to leaving fans swooning (and tweeting) after MTV Shuga Mashariki dropped, the Kenyatta University–trained performer is on a fast track to glory. But behind the rising star is a self-confessed introvert who still gets stage jitters and loves gaming more than movies.
Now starring in Showmax’s Adam to Eve, Mathew brings his signature humor and emotional range to life as Jackson; the office loudmouth with zero filter and surprising heart. Offscreen, the Mathew remains grounded, drawing inspiration from childhood memories, faith, and the belief that his craft is a lifelong journey.
In an exclusive, Mathew speaks on his fast-rising career:
What inspired you to pursue a career in acting?
I had always wanted to become an actor ever since I was 10 years old. I actively participated in extracurricular activities in school like music and drama. I never quite had a solid career choice growing up, I would always shift, and I figured the only job giving me an opportunity to be anyone and everyone is acting.
In 2024, we saw you in Big Girl Small World, Mo-Faya and then MTV Shuga Mashariki which brought you the limelight. Tell us how it has been for you in the past one year.
It has been such a huge blessing getting to witness this amount of growth in just a few years of my career in film. I will admit adjusting from a quiet lifestyle to one that exposes you to the public was a struggle because I had to learn how to interact with fans and the press. To make matters worse, my introverted nature was not helping in any way (lol). One thing I have learnt through this journey is that the minute you think you have reached your destination, when you look up, there is still more road to cover. There is still so much to learn and grow from this journey and I am excited to see where the road will lead me as I rely on God’s wisdom to help me navigate this path.
Fan reactions to MTV Shuga ranged from humorous memes to critical commentary. How does engaging with that fan feedback impact your future performance?
The reason as to why I am in this career is because of the audience. Feedback is very important because that is one of the sources that lets you know how your audience think and feel. Without fan feedback (positive/negative) you are denied the opportunity to discover the loopholes which need fixing.
You have had an opportunity to work with legendary filmmakers from Nick Mutuma to Reuben Odanga. And now the power couple Lizz Njagah and Alex Konstantaras. How has this impacted your budding career? How was it working with Lizz and Alex?
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Every director has their directing signature and approach to things Part of being a professional actor is learning how to collaboratively work with directors and effectively communicating your ideas with them because at the end of the day, no one on set knows your character better than you do as an actor. I particularly appreciate the fact that Lizz and Alex gave me the liberty to make Jackson my own character. I’m super excited to see how he turned out to be.
If Adam to Eve was to have any crossover with any Showmax Original, which show would that be?
LOL!!! Single Kiasi
Which artist or filmmaker would you like to work with?
Timothee Chalamet
In the show, Jackson says what everyone else is thinking. How did you make him relatable and not just comic relief?
I crafted Jackson in a way that he doesn’t know how to read the room, and given his outspoken and unpredictable nature, he becomes comically out of touch with reality, which is something I once observed with one of my primary school classmate which was fascinating to me and I was able to draw a few characteristics from him to Jackson.
Which line or scene do you think audiences will quote most from Jackson?
There is this one scene where we have a party at the office. Jackson invites his cousin to be the DJ. Eve asks who he is and Jackson replies, ‘He’s DJ Bang…gi… DJ Bangi’ I’ve never forgotten that scene, I don’t know why.
How does being part of an ensemble like this sharpen you as an actor?
In such a set up, you get to receive different energies from different actors just like in real life, no man is an island, we all coexist and interact with each other differently and with that, you get to learn diversity.
What’s next for you?
I am particularly excited for MTV Shuga Mashariki Season two coming early 2026.
What’s your go-to comfort snack after a long day on set?
Urban Bites
Which castmate breaks the character during serious scenes?
I might say me.
Who has the most contagious laugh on set?
Ellah Maina’s laugh is so posh, it just sounds like money.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I rarely watch movies, I play story driven, action-adventure video games. Currently, it’s Uncharted – A Thief’s End.
If you could swap characters for one day, who would you choose and why?
I would like to know how it feels to be in Eve’s shoes.
What’s one thing fans would be surprised to learn about you?
I have a crippled left arm which makes me low-key ambidextrous.
Watch Mathew Ngugi in Adam to Eve, now streaming on Showmax.
