Amaka Anakwe is a Nollywood actress , entrepreneur and producer. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde , she talks about her passion, memorable moments and more.
Tell us about life as an actress?
Life as an actress is a fun and it has been an adventurous one for me. I would say that it has been a very interesting and awesome journey so far. Of course, we have the tough times. When you look back you would see that sometimes it is not easy at all, but generally I would admit that it has been fun.
Interestingly, I would say that I did not come into the industry seeking to be an actress. I was just lucky to be in the right place, at the right time. Though acting comes easy to me but I did not choose that part as a profession, that part chose me. I would therefore describe the journey and experience as so far, so good; it’s been an interesting journey.
What was your very first role and what are your memories?
I started out with Tracy Nwapa’s reality show “Reality Access Charm School’, and it was a great learning curve for me. I was among the three badly behaved girls that had to go through the charm school, my movie first role was a Pastor, I acted as a Pastor in the movie ‘Uwa Umunwanyi’ by Chima Okereke. You can see how in one, I acted a badly behaved person and in the other, a Pastor. So, in movies, the roles you played are what you keep remembering. Another interesting experience for me is how we behave like one big family every time we are on set, and the rigmarole of transforming into any character. These are just some of the memories for me and they actually spur me to do better.
What are some of the memorable moments in the sector?
Looking back, I would say that the memorable moments for me are fun times. Usually, this are the great times that I shared with great friends I met on set and outside, the events. The adventures, and also, being able to act who you are and who you are not, they are all fun, sometimes, tedious but they give long lasting memories.
What inspires the things you do?
A number of things inspire what I do. These include love and passion, and the desire to make an impact in the world.
What are some of the challenges?
There are different types of challenges on the job. For me, the major one would be meeting the expectation(s) of the producer, the director and the general public. From experience, you find that sometimes actors outdo themselves just to be acknowledged.
You have your hairline range that you are also passionate about. . How did this start and what does this mean to you?
Yes, Prime HairNG is my range of hair product line. Prime HairNG deals in original Super bone straight and wavy hair direct from Vietnam, the best in comparism to others. I have always wanted to be a fashion entrepreneur, owning a clothing line and having a hair brand and I started working towards this. So, when the idea to go into the business was brought to me to partner with this brand, I grabbed it with my two hands. It’s a dream come through.
What are the other things that occupy your time?
Apart from acting I am also into charity and mission work which I also find very fulfilling. In addition, I am also into real estate business.
How has acting influenced your personality?
It actually played a major role in changing and discovering my hidden talents. I used to be a very shy person but acting has changed all that for me.
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If you had to advise young people who want to come into the creative sector, what will you tell them?
There are so many opportunities here and so I would encourage them to come in and play a great role. In addition, I would tell them to be patient and remain focused. A lot of young people these days find it hard to exercise patience but yet, it is the key, everybody has their time. When it’s not your time, it’s not your time, if you force it, you attract many sorrows to yourself. Usually, I always tell people to allow God to lead them and to be patient, but be focused while waiting.
Do you have young people that you are mentoring?
Yes I do, and they are all looking up to me.
What are you looking forward to in the next few years?
I look forward to doing more in the industry, feature in more movies, have my own production company and to see Prime HairNG take over and become a house hold name, home and abroad.
Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?
God. The reverence I have for God, influences what I do.
How would you describe the impact of COVID-19?
COVID-19 to me is an eye opener; it made us to see that life can change at anytime, heartbreaking for the many lives lost. Also, I would say that COVID-19 exposed a lot of the ills going on in this country, very sad, but it also showed that man is wired to overcome anything. The world is finding a way around it now which is a good thing, we all cannot be locked up forever. It also showed the Supremacy of God over man and all things.
What are some of the changes that you would like to see in Nigeria today?
There are so many changes that I would like to see in our country today. One of this is the value we place on human life. Sadly, life is no longer valued in Nigeria today; you find insecurity here and there. I believe that if this challenge can be nipped in the bud, then a lot has been achieved.
Tell us about the things you cherish in your wardrobe?
I love shoes, so I cherish them. I also like my ankara outfits. I am not much of a jewelry person but dresses and shoes, I love them and recently my Prime Hair wigs, oh I love them.
What is your assessment of Nigerian designers?
They are top-notch; the way Nigerian designers have turned things around is amazing, if given the necessary support, they will be number one in the world.
How do you relax?
I relax by reading and listening to music. Sometimes, I would just go to a very quiet place where I can access nature for inspiration. Usually, this helps me to relax.
Tell us about the people you admire?
I admire people with high calling, I always wonder how they cope being able to attend to the needs of many people, I don’t like loud people, that’s why in the industry, Genevieve Nnaji still remains my role model, I like people that are real, I respect Mercy Johnson Okojie for that, and there are others too, I admire people that allow their deeds to speak for them.
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