{{Short description|Kenyan actress and model}} {{about||the South Sudanese politician and human rights activist|Sarah Cleto Hassan}} {{Infobox person | name = Sarah Hassan | image = Sarah-Hassan.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Sarah Hassan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|09|05}} | birth_place = Mombasa, Kenya | occupation = {{hlist|Actress|TV host|producer|director}} | years_active = 2007–present | spouse = Martin Dale | children = 1 | awards = Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) (2024) | website = [https://sarahhassan.com/ Official website] | citizenship = Kenyan | education = Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science | alma_mater = Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, New York Film Academy }}
'''Sarah Hassan, O.G.W.''' (born 5 September 1988) is a Kenyan actress, producer, director and former TV host. She is notable for her roles in television series such as ''Crime and Justice'', ''Tahidi High, The'' ''Wedding Show'' and ''Zora'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actors.co.ke/en/mer/articledetail/266|title=Sarah Hassan's biography|accessdate=November 6, 2012}}</ref> and films that include the Nigerian-Kenyan romantic comedy ''Plan B'' and ''Family Vacation''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-13 |title=Family Vacation: A dose of family drama sponsored by social media |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/art/family-vacation-a-dose-of-family-drama-4723144#:~:text=Family%20Vacation%20is%20a%20Kenyan,any%20good%20movie%E2%80%94to%20entertain? |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanja |first=Kirsten |title=It's Sarah Hassan's season |url=https://www.tnx.africa/features/article/2001496273/its-sarah-hassans-season |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.tnx.africa |language=en}}</ref> Hassan also features in DSTv's show, ''Zari'', as Nina.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Nina - Zari |url=https://www.dstv.com/maishamagicplus/en-ke/show/zari/season/1/meet-nina-zari/news |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=MaishaMagicPlus - Meet Nina - Zari |language=en}}</ref>
Her awards include Best Actress (2014) for the short film ''Now That You're Here;'' Best TV Host (2014) at the Kalasha Awards (''Discovery+ 254''); Best East African Journalist (2015) at the Swahili Fashion Week (''Mashariki Mix'' and ''Maisha Max''); Best Actress at the Kalasha Awards in 2019 (''Plan B'');<ref name=":1" /> and again in 2021 (''Crime and Justice)''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Meet Nina - Zari |url=https://www.dstv.com/maishamagicplus/en-ke/show/zari/season/1/meet-nina-zari/news |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=MaishaMagicPlus - Meet Nina - Zari |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, alongside Willy Paul, she was a Brand Ambassador for OPPO's Reno 8 phone series.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=Willy Paul, Sarah Hassan Chosen as OPPO Reno8 O-Stars - Techspace Africa |url=https://techspace.africa/willy-paul-sarah-hassan-chosen-as-oppo-reno8-o-stars/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-19 |title=Willy Paul and Sarah Hassan to headline OPPO Reno 8 Series - Techish Kenya |url=https://tech-ish.com/2022/10/19/willy-paul-sarah-hassan-oppo-reno-8-series/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> She is currently the Brand Ambassador for Dettol Skincare.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=Actress Sarah Hassan named brand ambassador for newly relaunched Dettol skincare soap |url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2024/04/actress-sarah-hassan-named-brand-ambassador-for-newly-relaunched-dettol-skincare-soap/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Capital Business |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life== Sarah Hassan was born on September 5, 1988 in Mombasa, Kenya as the only child of her parents. She started acting at the age of five.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Sarah Hassan|url=https://sarahhassan.com/|access-date=2021-10-29|language=en}}</ref> For her secondary school education, she went to Machakos Girls' High School and later attended Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where she pursued a Bachelors of Science in Actuarial Science.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kimani|first=Sheila|title=WCW: Sarah Hassan - Quiet beauty and elegance|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/celeb-profiles/2000143440/wcw-sarah-hassan-quiet-beauty-and-elegance|access-date=2021-11-18|website=Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle|language=en}}</ref> She later on went to study Television and Film at the New York Film Academy in 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kanja |first=Kirsten |title=It's Sarah Hassan's season |url=https://www.tnx.africa/features/article/2001496273/its-sarah-hassans-season |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.tnx.africa |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Hassan made her debut on TV in 2009 as ''Tanya'', on the Kenyan high school drama series ''Tahidi High'' and became one of the lead characters at the time. She also starred in several series such as ''Demigods'', ''Saints,'' and ''Changes and'' even went on to host the East African dance show ''Sakata Mashariki''. In 2013 she took over Noni Gathoni's role in ''The Wedding Show'' as the main host until December 2014.
Hassan was a lead producer for 40 Sticks which won several awards.<ref name=":2" /> Through her own production company, ''Alfajiri Productions'', she has produced Plan B in 2019, ''Reflections''—a short film and Just In Time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahugu |first=Jacqueline |title='Just in Time' is a sunshiny, feel-good type of movie that makes for easy watching, a new-ish genre in Kenya |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/counties/article/2001442107/just-in-time-is-a-sunshiny-feel-good-type-of-movie-that-makes-for-easy-watching-a-new-ish-genre-in-kenya |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3062843/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm] In 2018, while in Los Angeles after her studies, she also wrote, directed and produced a film, ''The Company You Keep''.<ref name=":2" />
In August 2024, Netflix released ''Family Vacation'', a Kenyan drama co-directed by Voline Ogutu and Edwin Kamau, in which Hassan stars as an internet influencer who tries to save her marriage and family.<ref name=":0" />
Besides acting, she is a brand ambassador to several Kenyan fashion lines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000143440/wcw-sarah-hassan-quiet-beauty-and-elegance|title=Sarah Hassan's beauty and elegance|publisher=Standard Media Group|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725214332/https://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000143440/wcw-sarah-hassan-quiet-beauty-and-elegance|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is currently based in Nairobi, Kenya.
During the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations in December 2024, Sarah Hassan got a Presidential Award for her contributions to the film industry. She was awarded an Order of the Grand Warrior (O.G.W) of Kenya recognition. This entitles her to add the initials of the honor after her name.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Owino |first=Michael |date=2024-12-12 |title=Sarah Hassan Awarded OGW Award by President Ruto |url=https://thekenyatimes.com/breaking-news/actress-sarah-hassan-among-those-awarded-by-president-ruto-full-list/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Sara Hassan married Martin Dale on February 25, 2017 and together they have a son.<ref>{{Cite web|last=SDE|title=Sarah Hassan: This is where I met my husband Martin Dale|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/local-news/2001310894/sarah-hassan-this-is-where-i-met-my-husband-martin-dale|access-date=2021-11-18|website=Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle|language=en}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%; margin:auto; background:#fff;" |- !Year!!Title!! Role!! Notes |- |2007||''Nefertiti and the Lost Dynasty''|| ||Debut |- |2009||''Tahidi High''||Tanya||Won—Chaguo la Teeniez Awards |- |2010||''Demigods''||Kamila||Supporting role |- | rowspan="3" | 2011 |''Saints''||Lora||Film cast |- |''Sakata''||Herself||Host |- |''Changes''||Liza||Film cast |- |2013||''House of Lungula''|| Chichi|| Film cast |- |2014–present||''Jane & Abel''||Leah||Main cast |- | rowspan="2" |2014 |''Live or Die'' || Catwoman || Film cast |- |''Now That You're Here''|| Katherine || Short film |- |rowspan=3|2015–present||''Discovery +254''||Herself ||Film cast 26 episodes |- |''How to Find a Husband''||Carol||Lead role |- |''Maisha Max'' |Host |Reality show |- |2019 ||''Plan B'' || Lisa || Main cast |- | rowspan="2"| 2021 |''Just In Time'' |Muthoni |Main cast |- |''Zora'' |Zora |Lead role |- |2021-2022 |''Crime and Justice'' |Detective Makena |Lead role |- |2023 |''Zari'' |Nina |Main Cast |- |2024 |''Family Vacation'' |Yara Maleki |Lead role |}
==Nominations and awards== {| class="wikitable sortable" width="440px" |- !Year !!Award !!Category !!Show !!Result !Ref |- |2011||Chaguo la Teeniez Awards||Best Actress||''Tahidi High'' |{{won}} | |- |2013 || Kalasha International Film and TV Awards|| Best Supporting Actress|| ''House of Lungula'' | {{won}} | |- |2015 || Kalasha International Film and TV Awards|| ''Discovery +254'' ||Best TV Hosts | {{won}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201511041292.html|title=Kalasha awards winners|accessdate=27 November 2015|website=allafrica.com}}</ref> |- |2018 |Festigious International Film Festival 2018 |Best Actress |The Company You Keep |{{Nominated}} | |- |2018 |L.A Shorts Awards 2018 |Best Actress Silver Award |The Company You Keep |{{Nominated}} |<ref name=":3" /> |- |2018 |L.A Shorts Awards 2018 |Best Short Film Silver Award |The Company You Keep |{{Nominated}} |<ref name=":3" /> |- |2019 |Kalasha International Film and TV Awards |Best Actress |Plan B | {{won}} |<ref name=":3" /> |- |2021 |Kalasha International Film and TV Awards |Best Actress in a TV Drama |Crime and Justice | {{won}} |<ref name=":3" /> |- |2021 |Kalasha International Film and TV Awards |Best Actress in a Film |''Just In Time'' | {{won}} |<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="3" |2022 | rowspan="3" |Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards |Best Actress in A Comedy | rowspan="3" |''Just In Time'' | rowspan="3" |{{Nominated}} |<ref>{{Cite news |title=2022 Africa Magic Awards Nominees don land- See who dey list |url=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-60818021 |access-date=2022-03-26 |work=BBC News Pidgin}}</ref> |- |Best Movie East Africa | |- |Best Movie Overall | |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * {{IMDb name|3062843|Sarah Hassan}} * [https://sarahhassan.com/ Official website]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hassan, Sarah}} Category:Living people Category:Kenyan television actresses Category:Kenyan film actresses Category:1988 births Category:People from Mombasa Category:Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology alumni Category:21st-century Kenyan actresses Category:Kalasha Awards winners