Kenyan university student Yvonne Grundy made her debut as a character in a new project by movie company Mattel Incorporated.
Mattel, who are behind the international cartoon series Thomas & Friends introduced a Kenyan train engine character with the name "Nia", voiced by the Bournemouth University art student.
Yvonnes's character was modelled after Standard Gauge Railway's (SGR) Madaraka Express and promotes United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the newly released movie, Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!
Speaking during the premiere of the movie, Ms Grundy expressed her excitement at the role that she played, emphasizing the positive impact the character would have on children.
[caption caption="Kenyan actress Yvonne Grundy speaks to press during the premiere of "Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!" where she voiced the Nia character"]
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"I am very excited and pleased about the movie. I play 'Nia', she's the first African railway engine and she's from Kenya, I'm Kenyan myself and I'm really proud that I get to represent Kenya.
"The film promotes inclusivity, diversity and the need to accept each other. Thomas' work with the UN and the Royal African Society helped to make the film very authentic.
"Also with how Nia and Thomas become great friends and Thomas realises that we're much better off as a team and that two engines are better than one," she told reporters.
Speaking to The Standard, Yvonne revealed that she got the casting call from Mattel after they viewed her LinkedIn profile.
In the series which follows the movie, Nia will be riding through the Nyika Plateau across the Tsavo, stopping in Mombasa and going back through the Rift Valley with friends.
The film highlights the landscape of Kenya and is likely to give a boost to Kenya's tourism industry.
Mattel also enlisted Kenyan musician Patricia Kihoro for the singing parts of the Nia character.
[caption caption="Nia, a Kenyan railway engine introduced to international series "Thomas & Friends" voiced by actress Yvonne Grundy"]
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