COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kei Kamara is hoping to make the move from star striker to movie star.
A brief mention in his recent Rolling Stone profile revealed that the Crew SC forward has hopes of an acting career when his soccer days are over.
Kamara, 31, knows his career is reaching its final years and says he’s “definitely” going to be taking acting classes at Ohio State University.
“I’ve always wanted to be an actor,” he said. “It’s getting close to where I need to be taking classes and really getting into it. I just thought I could just jump into it and do it, but they said I can’t really do that. So now I have to take classes.”
The Sierra Leone native isn’t quite sure what roles would be best for him. He said he loves “motivational movies” and doesn’t do comedies. He says he’s been given “a lot of tips” that his athleticism and African heritage could help him find a role.
“Obviously, being an athlete is good,” he said. “There are a lot of movies out there, and I don’t just play soccer. I do all the sports, all around. So when you have stuff like that, it’s a really good trait. And being African, my accent does come in. So I can have my American slang and also my African.”
Kamara says he loves television and the screen and has been interested in the process and art of films since he was young.
“I’ve always been really interested in doing it,” he said. “This was [since] maybe in high school, really looking into it and seeing how it’s done. Going forward and seeing some of the opportunities [from] people that I’ve met, it’s something I think I’m really going to take a shot at.”
While many players say they take their careers one day at a time, Kamara is always thinking ahead. He says his acting goals are simply to have a post-soccer career as rewarding as the one he has right now.
“I can’t say I’m a day-by-day guy,” he said with a smile, “but I enjoy my moments right now. But definitely, I want to do something I love doing like I’ve been doing for the past 11 years. I want to get into something I’m going to enjoy. That’s why you have to start thinking about it.”
His Crew SC teammate Wil Trapp says Kamara’s talent in front of a camera and his “great personality” mean an acting career makes sense.
What kind of film could Trapp see Kamara starring in?
“He’s more of a Leo (DiCaprio),” Trapp said with a laugh. “I could see him in The Revenant, part two.”
