Sarah Hassan

EARLY LIFE

Sarah Hassan was born on 5 September 1988 in Mombasa, Kenya, as the only child of her parents Hassan and Lucian. She began acting at the age of five. She attended Machakos Girls’ High School, where she excelled academically and in extracurriculars (including winning the Miss Mac Gee title and holding leadership roles). She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). In 2016 she furthered her training in television and film at the New York Film Academy in the United States.

CAREER

Sarah Hassan is a multi-award-winning Kenyan actress, producer, and director who rose to prominence in the late 2000s and has become one of the country’s most recognised screen talents. She made her professional television breakthrough in 2009 as Tanya in the popular high-school drama Tahidi High (Citizen TV), a role that earned her Chaguo la Teeniez Awards for Best Actress. Subsequent early credits included Demigods (Kamila), Saints (Lora), Changes (Liza), House of Lungula (Chichi – Kalasha Best Supporting Actress), Jane & Abel (Leah), and various films and shorts such as Now That You’re Here (Katherine – Best Actress award). She also built a strong presenting profile, hosting The Wedding Show (taking over as main host 2013–2014), the East African dance show Sakata Mashariki, Discovery +254 (Kalasha Best TV Host 2014/2015), Mashariki Mix / Maisha Max, and other programmes. She received recognition as Best East African Journalist at the Swahili Fashion Week. Later lead and notable roles include Lisa in the Nigerian-Kenyan romantic comedy Plan B (2019 – Kalasha Best Actress), Muthoni in Just In Time (2021 – Kalasha Best Actress in a Film; also AMVCA-nominated), Detective Makena in Crime and Justice (2021–2022 – Kalasha Best Actress in a TV Drama), the title role in Zora, Nina in Zari, and Yara Maleki in the 2024 Netflix film Family Vacation. She has also been involved with productions such as 40 Sticks. Through her production company Alfajiri Productions she has produced and directed projects including Plan B, Reflections, Just In Time, and the short The Company You Keep (written, directed, and produced while in Los Angeles). She is a brand ambassador for OPPO Reno 8 (with Willy Paul) and currently for Dettol Skincare, among other fashion and commercial partnerships. In December 2024, during the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations, she was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) by the President for her contributions to the film industry.

PERSONAL LIFE

Hassan met South African national Martin Dale at a gym in Westlands (ABC Place), Nairobi, around late 2014. He proposed in October 2015. The couple married in a private garden ceremony at Karura Forest, Nairobi, on 25 February 2017. They welcomed a son in March 2019 (she affectionately refers to him as “baby Dale” and keeps his full name private). In late 2024, reports indicated that Martin Dale had filed for divorce after about seven years of marriage; sources stated the couple had been living separately for some time and handled the separation privately and civilly. As of 2025, Hassan has not publicly confirmed a new relationship and continues to prioritise privacy regarding her personal and family life. She is based in Nairobi.

Hassan is widely regarded for her versatility across drama, comedy, and presenting, as well as her work behind the camera as a producer and director. She has helped elevate Kenyan content on both local television and international platforms (including Netflix). She continues to balance acting with production through Alfajiri Productions and maintains a professional presence focused on high-quality storytelling and brand partnerships while protecting her private life.