Catherine Kamau (born Catherine Njoki Kamau on 3 February 1987 in Nyahururu, Kenya) is a renowned Kenyan actress popularly known as Celina or Kate Actress. She rose to prominence for her role as Celina in the Citizen TV drama Mother-in-Law and has since appeared in several films, including Sue Na Jonnie (2017), Disconnect (2018), and Plan B (2019). Catherine studied at Chogoria High School and later Loreto Convent Msongari, where she excelled in drama and won the Miss Loreto award. She holds a Diploma in Communications from the Multimedia University of Kenya.
Kamau’s career spans over a decade, earning her multiple awards and nominations, including the Kalasha Awards for Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama (2017) and Best Supporting Actress in Film (2021). She has also starred in films that debuted on international streaming platforms such as Netflix, including A Grand Little Lie (2021). Beyond acting, Catherine is a content creator and YouTuber, discussing fashion, lifestyle, and motherhood, with a focus on advocating against teenage pregnancies through her Queens Must Wait initiative.
In her personal life, Catherine married film director Philip Karanja in 2017; the couple had two children and divorced in September 2023. She has served as a brand ambassador for companies such as Harpic Kenya and Nice and Lovely Petroleum Jelly. In December 2024, she received the Order of The Grand Warrior (O.G.W) Presidential Award in recognition of her contributions to the Kenyan film industry.