Veteran Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has described his entry into the film industry as an “accident,” revealing that he never initially planned to become an actor.
The comic actor said he started his career as a scriptwriter and had no intention of appearing on screen until colleagues persuaded him to step in front of the camera.
Speaking about his journey, Owoh explained that his natural humour and ability to make people laugh behind the scenes eventually convinced others that he should perform publicly.
He shared these reflections during a recent episode of the Selah Meditate podcast, where he recounted how his acting career began in the 1980s.
“My coming in front of the camera was an accident. I was a behind-the-scenes scriptwriter, and people started telling me to start performing in front of the camera,” he said.
He further recalled being given a short television programme to host, which marked his first major on-screen experience.
“I remember ATV created a seven-minute programme for me to do stand-up comedy in the 1980s. They told me to come in front of the camera because I was making people laugh behind the scenes,” he added.
According to him, consistent encouragement from colleagues eventually pushed him into acting full-time, where he discovered that audiences appreciated his performance style.
Owoh also reflected on the impact of fame, noting that celebrity status has significantly limited his personal freedom.
“Fame took away my freedom. A lot of people desperately want to be celebrities; they only see the benefits, not the downsides,” he said.
He explained that being famous comes with restrictions that prevent individuals from living as freely as they once did.
The 71-year-old actor also weighed in on the growing trend of casting based on social media popularity rather than acting skill, insisting that online fame cannot replace genuine talent.
“I don’t think social media fame is replacing real talent. It can’t. There is absolutely no way social media popularity can replace raw talent,” he stated.
