Veteran Nollywood comedian Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has shared how his journey into acting was never planned, describing it as something that happened by accident.
According to him, he originally wanted to work mainly as a scriptwriter behind the scenes, but things changed when people around him noticed his natural sense of humour.
Speaking on the Selah Meditate Podcast, Owoh said colleagues in the industry kept encouraging him to step in front of the camera because of how funny he was off-screen.
He recalled that in the 1980s, African Television (ATV) even created a short programme for him, about seven minutes long, where he performed stand-up comedy after being pushed to appear on screen.
Owoh said the constant pressure from people who believed in his talent eventually made him try acting in front of the camera, even though it was not his original plan.
To his surprise, audiences loved his performances, and that positive response marked the beginning of his acting career.
However, the actor also spoke about the challenges that come with fame.
He explained that becoming popular took away a large part of his personal freedom, something many people do not consider when dreaming of celebrity life.
According to him, fame brings restrictions and changes how a person lives daily, as public attention limits the ability to move or behave freely like before.
Despite that, Osuofia’s accidental start in acting eventually turned him into one of Nollywood’s most loved comic figures.