Dennis Mailu is no stranger to the camera. The Kenyan-born actor has appeared in numerous international movies so far, and there isn’t any sign of him slowing down. We caught up with Dennis to learn more about the Hollywood star.
We read somewhere that you mimic animal sounds. Can you expand on that?
Yes indeed! I grew up mimicking animal sounds as I was around them. Our traditional home had a mini farm and I mingled with the livestock from a young age.
If you could voice any animal in an animation TV show or movie, what would it be and why?
When I was younger, I was surrounded by various animals in my grandmothers’ village home, predominantly goats and chicken. I would voice those as they have sentimental value in terms of memories.
Are there any creature comforts you miss from home?
Well, I do miss the occasional visits to my traditional home and seeing various farm animals. That sense of belonging one gets with revisiting familial roots is unparalleled.
You have been in multiple Hollywood movies. Which have been your favorite?
Yes, I have. That is a tough question to answer! I gain a different perspective and experience from every film I have been a part of. However, I recently worked on a Sony feature film doing voiceover and the process was novel and eye opening. ADR work is both expressive and rigorous, a process that helps one to test their vocal capacity! I fell in love with the process.
Can you tell us about the new movie, ‘Bald Patch (The Black Supper)’
Yes, the movie is a psychological thriller that follows Bola Rhodes, who after losing her family is left with the difficult burden of moving on. However, her decision making takes an ominous turn when she meets Daniel and the Mute Man of the Bridge, a cult like organization who make her contemplate between her own life and death. This is a story of mental health, love, and acceptance.
The project was written and directed by Jide Kol and Prince Adu Mensah Ombrempong.
Do you find it easier to work on a more of a drama-thriller film to that of say a romantic comedy?
Both genres present different challenges however I feel it is slightly more difficult to work on a romantic comedy. With drama and thriller projects, I can rely purely on the subtext and script work however with comedy there is much more emphasis on tone & delivery as well as improv that relates to your character in the moment.
Do you think you may like to dabble in directing in the future?
Yes. I am currently working on writing a short film that I am looking to direct and act in. This will give me a better understanding of working behind the lens and feed some experiences to my performances in future.
Tell us 5 things people most likely don’t know about you?
- I love learning and taking Calligraphy classes.
- My favorite meal is wagyu beef, potato dauphinoise accompanied with a nice glass of pinot noir.
- My favorite fountain pen is Mont Blanc! I have a few pens from them!
- I was part of a dance society and love popping and locking.
- My favorite color is green.
What can we expect to see you doing over the next few months?
Expect to see me expand more on my voiceover journey with more animation projects in the pipeline. I am also expanding on my comedic experience, so I am taking time to train more on that.
How can people find and follow your journey?
Yes, my work can be found on IMDb.me/DennisMailu, socials are instagram.com, facebook.com and my website is dennismailu.com
