Nkem Owoh Says Acting Career Began By Accident

Veteran Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has revealed that his journey into acting was accidental, noting that he initially preferred working behind the scenes as a scriptwriter.

Speaking during a recent episode of the Selah Meditate podcast, Owoh explained that his colleagues encouraged him to appear on camera after discovering his talent for making people laugh.

According to the actor, he was content with scriptwriting until persistent pressure from colleagues led him to explore performing.

“My coming in front of the camera was an accident. I was a scriptwriter behind the scenes and people started telling me to start performing in front of the camera,” he said.

Owoh recalled that in the 1980s, the Anambra Television (ATV) created a seven-minute stand-up comedy programme specifically for him after recognising his comic abilities.

He said the positive reception from audiences convinced him to pursue acting, a decision that eventually launched one of the most successful careers in Nollywood.

Reflecting on the challenges of stardom, the veteran actor noted that fame has come at a personal cost, particularly the loss of privacy and freedom.

“Fame took away my freedom. A lot of people want to be celebrities; they only know the benefits but not the downsides. When you become famous, you can’t do a lot of the things you were doing freely before. You become restricted in a lot of ways,” he said.

Owoh remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated comic actors, known for his memorable performances and significant contributions to the growth of the country’s film industry.