When Paul Ogola got a call to audition for a role in the Showmax-produced TV drama, Crime and Justice, he had high hopes of getting the role of the pathologist. But he didn’t make the cut for the role mainly because the casting director didn’t think Ogola ‘looked the part’.
However, Ogola did not give up but kept pushing to get any other role in the now hit TV series.
He engaged the casting director, sent a monologue, auditioned for other roles until he finally got a role as Sokoro - a 50-year-old prosecutor. Not what he expected but he was up to the challenge.
“I was given a 55-page script of episode one and I had to read it and understand the character. I was also given a short scene to perform, which I did and secured the role,” explained Ogola.
Ogola, who acts alongside other accomplished actors such as the main stars Sarah Hassan (Mekana), Alfred Mutua (Silas), Makbul Mohammed (Kebo) amongst others, knows his work is cut out, and that getting the role is just the beginning of a steep learning curve.
“I had to study and understand sections of Kenya’s constitution and laws in relation to the cases I was prosecuting. In episode one, for example, I had to research on the details of the murder case, episode two was about children’s rights….this research helps me to build confidence as a prosecutor,” added Ogola.
Episode two was particularly challenging bringing out the dichotomy of processing sensitive cases when Sokoro had to prosecute a minor.
“As a human being, its killing me that I am sending this kid to jail, but I know legally, I am doing what I am supposed to do,” Ogola said.
This kind of persistence has been the hallmark of Ogola’s career helping him land international roles including two Netflix Original series, Sense 8 season 1 & 2. He has also acted in Sacred Games Season 2 and in an award winning film, Kati Kati, Nairobi Half Life and also featured in the Austin, Texas horror and comedy film ‘Blood Fest’.
The 31-year-old actor has received Best Actor award in the Kenyan Theatre Awards ‘Sanaa Awards’ and two nominations in the Kalasha TV and film international awards East Africa.
Set in Nairobi, Crime and Justice combines police investigation and legal drama. It is both Kenya’s first Showmax Original and Showmax’s first co-production with global broadcaster CANAL+.
The eight-part series follows one ripped-from-the-headlines case per episode, all the way through to the courtroom verdict.
Below is a teaser:
{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/ELtpTM9ByHA.jpg?itok=LpJrn3fX","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}