Kenyan Actress Amalie Chopetta wins Global Hermes Award for voiceover in Showmax’s outlaws

Kenyan actress Amalie Chopetta has clinched the prestigious 2025 Hermes Award for Entertainment Localisation Excellence, celebrating her exceptional voiceover performance in the Kiswahili dub of Outlaws, a Showmax Original drama originally produced in Sesotho and isiZulu.

In a highly competitive category, Amalie stood out against global heavyweights including The Gentleman and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, marking a historic win for East African talent on the international stage.

Her win also spotlighted the growing recognition of Kenyan voice talent, with fellow actors Anthony Kihuria (Outlaws) and Eunice Chacha (Adulting) receiving nominations in the same category. The recognition is a major milestone for Kenya’s voice acting industry and a testament to the region’s growing influence in global entertainment.

Overjoyed by the win, Amalie, who currently stars in The Chocolate Empire, said:

“It is such an incredible honour to be recognised on a global stage for work that celebrates our languages and stories. I am beyond grateful to Showmax for believing in the beauty of localization and trusting me with a role in such a powerful project. This win is bigger than me—it’s a tribute to every Kenyan artist who dares to tell our stories with pride, passion, and authenticity. We are the moment.”

Set on the rugged border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, Outlaws is a gripping drama that follows two warring families—the Zulu cattle-farming Biyela clan and the Basotho cattle-raiding Ts’eoles. The series was a major winner at last year’s South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), taking home seven accolades including Best Telenovela.

The Hermes Awards, now in their third year, were established by the Entertainment Globalisation Association to honour excellence in the localisation of entertainment content. Nominees are recognised for demonstrating exceptional talent and a commitment to global storytelling.

M-Net’s Physical Productions team and their partners at TransPerfect were also nominated in the Best Overall Dubbing for a Series category, further cementing the success of Outlaws and its localisation strategy.

Amalie’s groundbreaking win signals a new chapter for Kenyan storytellers, showcasing the country’s linguistic and artistic talent on the global entertainment map.