Popular Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, widely known as Osuofia, has revealed that his journey into acting was completely unplanned. He described his career shift as a happy accident, driven by encouragement from colleagues who recognized his natural comic talent.
During a recent appearance on the Selah Meditate podcast, the veteran actor shared that he initially worked as a scriptwriter behind the scenes. It was there that his peers noticed his ability to make everyone laugh, and they urged him to step in front of the camera. “My colleagues kept pushing me to perform on screen,” Owoh recounted.
He recalled that ATV once created a seven-minute stand-up comedy slot for him in the 1980s. Despite his initial reluctance, the persistent pressure eventually convinced him to try. “When I finally did it, the audience loved it, and that marked the start of my acting career,” he explained.
However, fame came with its own challenges. Owoh admitted that celebrity status stripped him of his freedom. “Many people only see the glamour of fame, but they don’t understand the loss of privacy. You can no longer do many things you once enjoyed freely,” he stated.
His story serves as a reminder that success often comes from unexpected places, but it also requires sacrifices.