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Rising Nollywood star Pamela Okoye reflects on her journey, producing films, future aspirations

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Pamela Okoye Nollywood journey

Anambra-born actress and producer Pamela Okoye, who has helmed over 10 films, discusses her Nollywood career, navigating challenges, and her vision for empowering new talent, all while expressing her desire for Nollywood talent development

Pamela Okoye Nollywood journey has quickly established her as a sought-after talent within the Nigerian film industry. Hailing from Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State, the Accounting graduate has impressively produced over 10 films within a relatively short period, showcasing her multifaceted skills.

Also read: Iyabo Ojo, Paulo rule out marriage, prioritise space

In a recent interview with Saturday Sun, Okoye opened up about her experiences as both an actress and a producer, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs she’s encountered.

Addressing a prevalent issue in the industry, Okoye firmly stated that she has never personally experienced sexual harassment. “No, I didn’t experience it.

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I knew some people fall into situations like that, but I was never in a position where someone would tell me that I had to sleep with them for a role, never,” she affirmed, while expressing empathy for those who do.

When asked about the veterans she admires, Okoye was effusive in her praise. “I admire Aunt Kate Henshaw, Adesua Etomi Wellington, Rita Dominic, and Genevieve Nnaji.

Honestly, if I started to mention names, I would call everybody’s name,” she admitted, highlighting her respect for the diverse talents in the industry. “Everybody is different in their crafts, so I try to learn from my senior colleagues as much as I can.”

Looking to the future, Okoye’s career projection is ambitious. She aims for more local and international collaborations in both acting and producing. More significantly, she aspires to create a platform dedicated to Nollywood talent development.

“I am looking forward to having some sort of platform where I can empower people and give people the opportunity to showcase themselves because it takes one person to see you and believe in you,” she shared.

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“When God expands me, I want to uplift people and bring up new talents. I want people to see new talents. There are a lot of people out there; I’m looking forward to all of that by the special grace of God.”

Regarding the attention she receives from male fans, Okoye acknowledges it as part of being in the public eye. “I get that a lot. Sometimes, people come up to me or send crazy messages to my DM or email,” she said, noting that while some messages can be “very sick” or “sexual,” she understands it’s a consequence of putting herself out there. She emphasises the importance of drawing boundaries and not allowing it to diminish her sense of being loved.

When comparing acting and producing, Okoye finds both challenging in different ways. Acting requires her to step into another persona, while production involves managing numerous variables, which can lead to frustration and unexpected hurdles.

“Production is a lot of work; you will get frustrated and angry, and things will happen on your set… It puts you under pressure sometimes and sometimes too, you will have a smooth production,” she explained.

On dealing with difficult actors, Okoye stated her preference for a positive set environment. “I think I’ve been very lucky not to have petty people on set with me, but the truth is that when I go on set, I like a very good energy on set because, as an actor, it helps to bring out the best in you,” she remarked.

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Her philosophy is to approach each set with “brand new clean energy” and respect, fostering an atmosphere conducive to building chemistry quickly for the sake of a good film.

On the topic of marriage, Okoye has an open mind. While she initially thought she wouldn’t marry someone from the entertainment industry, she now believes “never say never.”

“There’s nothing wrong with marrying someone from my industry; they are humans, and there are loads of amazing people in my industry,” she concluded.

She views marriage as a beautiful, God-designed institution, and her only fear would be as a human being, not specifically as an actress. The key, she believes, is being with the “right person” characterised by respect, communication, understanding, and commitment.

When asked about roles she wouldn’t accept, Okoye drew a clear line: “Aside from going completely nude in a film, I can play any role, I can fit into any character, name it.”

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She believes her uniqueness and authenticity are what truly set her apart in the competitive world of Nollywood. “Pamela Okoye stands me out because I am unique, I am me, and I am not trying to be anybody… My uniqueness alone stands me out anytime, any day.”

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My Wife Knew About Actresses I Dated, Says Yinka Quadri

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Veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri has revealed that his wife was aware of his romantic relationships with some actresses in the industry and treated them cordially.

The actor made the disclosure in an interview on the Africanalist Podcast, where he spoke about his personal life and marriage.

Quadri said some of the actresses he dated eventually became friends with his wife, Sadiat Adenike Quadri. According to him, the women would sometimes approach her and share gossip about his relationships with other female colleagues, even though they themselves were involved with him.

“It got to a stage, I won’t mention the ladies’ names in the industry. They would become friends with my wife and start giving gossip to my wife that I am dating so so so in the industry,” he said.

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He added that jealousy sometimes arose among the women. Some of those he was dating reportedly went to his home out of jealousy, only to find that his wife already knew about the relationships.

“And there were some of them that we were dating who went home out of jealousy. Meanwhile, my wife would say she was aware already and she doesn’t fight them because of that,” Quadri said.

The actor further disclosed that some actresses occasionally spent the night at his house when movie productions ended late. He said his wife knew about the relationships and still provided food and care for them.

“Sometimes when production ends late, they would sleep in my house. And my wife is aware I am dating them, she would still feed them and everything,” he stated.

Quadri has been married to Sadiat since 1989. The couple have children and grandchildren.

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Prioritise Talent Over Social Media, Fisayo Abebi Tells Young Actors

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Actress and filmmaker Fisayomi Amodemaja, popularly known as Fisayo Abebi, has urged young actors to build strong personal brands and rely on their talent rather than fame or social media visibility for a sustainable career in Nollywood.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, Abebi, who began acting as a child before moving into filmmaking and production, said having a distinct identity was essential for anyone seeking longevity in the industry.

“As an actor, you should have a brand. You should have something that makes you different. Your talent should be able to speak for you wherever your name cannot speak for you,” she said.

She also stressed the need for dedication and readiness to handle the demands of the profession.

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“Any young actor coming into the industry has to know that it is time-consuming, and you have to be fully ready to be diligent and ready for the stress,” Abebi added.

The actress reflected on her own experiences, noting that growing up in the spotlight came with pressure, particularly from being recognised for a character she played as a child.

She credited her family and friends with helping her navigate the attention and remain grounded. Her mother, she said, played a key role by helping her understand that she was separate from the character audiences associated her with.

Abebi also spoke about the challenges of combining her acting career with university education, describing it as stressful at times.

“Sometimes I might have to refund or sometimes I might have to go to the set after finishing my exam. So, that can be very stressful,” she said.

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She noted that her journey in the industry had taught her to take risks and build confidence in herself.

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Regina Daniels Spent Months In Wheelchair Due To Health Issues

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Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has revealed that she spent several months struggling with severe pain and mobility challenges that left her dependent on a wheelchair.

The actress shared the details in a video posted on her Instagram page on Saturday as she marked her 25th birthday, which she described as her “Silver Jubilee.”

Appearing in a wheelchair, Daniels explained that her prolonged absence from social media was due to the health difficulties.

“I know many of you may be surprised seeing me in a wheelchair. Well, welcome to another chapter of my life,” she said.

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She stated that the problem began as a minor issue but gradually became more serious, eventually limiting her freedom to move around as she pleased.

“For several months now, I lost my freedom to move around as I please. It started as something minor, very minor, but eventually led to this,” Daniels said.

According to her, the condition took a major turn after the last public gathering she hosted, a Children’s Day carnival. She said she underwent repeated medical tests during the period and joked that she had started calling herself a “lab rat.”

“The pain became excruciating. Sometimes I find myself walking well, and sometimes I just can’t move. I cried,” she added.

Despite the challenges, the actress said there had been significant developments in her recovery, which encouraged her to share the update publicly.

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“Well, me sitting here today, in front of this camera, sharing this with y’all, it’s because there’s been some really significant developments in my recovery. And I say, thank you, Lord,” she said.

Daniels did not disclose a specific diagnosis or the nature of the treatment she is receiving. She expressed gratitude to God and prayed for calm as she entered a new phase of her life.

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