Her laughter is a delightful cackle, like her childlike innocence, which you can glean from her beautiful face that is matched by her beautiful soul. But beyond this playful mien lies a very strong-willed lady, who is as strong as steel and quite difficult to break. Tenacity is her middle name. One who will plunge neck deep into anything she knows it’s for the greater good. With a weakness for friendship, hard work and acting. The last one (acting) being a major weakness for her. You can ’cheat’ her to take less of what she ordinarily will take as fees for a role when that role has everything a role should. Lol. But that is who she is.
For someone to leave a high-paying job as a Senior Planning Engineer in oil and gas construction and delve into the uncertain waters of Nollywood tells a lot about character and ambition; ’I am a book girl by virtue of my dad. I love reading and acquiring knowledge. I also speak light French I picked up while working with French people and attending the French School-Alliance Francaise’. I can say that she has
acquired a lot of knowledge since her entrance into Nollywood in 2016. Her depth in role interpretation is something else and unmatched by many in her class.
I guess many of you didn’t know she is a trained engineer, but know her more as an actor of immeasurable range in the art and craft of Method Acting. An Edo Pride and one who flaunts her ’Edocentric’ background at every opportunity she has. Oh, lest I forget, there was also a time she was an Uber driver, despite the fact that she was already gaining traction and popularity as an actor. Such is the restless spirit she possesses. Back then and even till now, I usually wonder where she gets the strength to do all of these. She’s always busy every time. Idleness is like cancer to her. I know you all want to know who this person is. Lol.
With a body of works like ’Losing Control’, ’Alter Ego’, ’Stormy Hearts’, ’Chairman’, ’Gold Statue’, ’Blood of Enogie’, ’Izoduwa’, ’Progressive Tailor’s Club’, ’A Tribe Called Judah’, and many more, ETINOSA IDEMUDIA is a jewel and pride of Benin. She radiates the heart and the indomitable spirit of the people. With a very creative and analytical mind, Etinosa has weathered many storms in her eight years in the film industry. But like the proverbial Phoenix, she remains unwavering, accepting her flaws but never breaking her Spirit. Her journey should be a motivation to so many young girls who seek to pursue their dreams.
“I started my Nollywood journey in 2016 by going to Film School,” she said. “Right from childhood, acting and creating videos have always been my passion. My father got me my first camcorder when I was 7 years old. Back then I’ll make films in my mother’s garden with the plants. Playing ’pretend’ was my favourite sport. However, in my adulthood I had to face reality and please my parents who spent so much to train me as an engineer both in Nigeria and in the UK. It was after I became completely financially independent as an engineer I had the courage to tell my parents I was going for my dreams.’
When probed about her journey in Nollywood from the beginning, this is what she had to say: ’Becoming visible is a challenge every upcoming actor faces. When you know you have it in you but nobody is ready to risk their investment on you because at that time you are not a known actor and you may not generate sales.’
She went further to say: ’I got my first lead role in a box office movie same 2016 just few months into my Nollywood journey and one of the producers told me that I deserve the role by merit but his Co-Producer/investors were considering replacing me because I was not popular and the only way I could hold on to that role was if I could get to 10k followers on Instagram. Hahahaha, then I was barely on 5k. But trust the Edo blood, hustling spirit! I started posting content back to back, messaging blogs to save my life and grow my page. Now I think of it, I laugh but then it was not funny. I actually got the 10k followers and played the role and I was so happy and proud of myself. I will not tell you the movie but it’s on Amazon Prime right now. I even got a cool pay out in royalties few weeks ago, courtesy of the same movie, I just smiled. Lol. Indeed visibility (getting known, getting seen/noticed) was a big challenge but I conquered like it was nothing. Today, I have over 5 million fans across my social media platforms and much more than that in real life and I’m grateful.’
This is the tenacity we are talking about and what every young actor in the business should imbibe. Etinosa’s journey is like a mirror of what many go through in their quest for fame in the creative industry.
When asked about her roots as a Benin girl, she enthusiastically said: ’There’s a saying that Edo comes first in everything. Edo’Odion. I’m happy to be a Benin girl. Sometimes I attribute my resilience to the Edo blood that flows in me and that resilience has helped me achieve so much in a strange land where I have no family or pre-arranged helpers. I’m talking about Lagos State. I didn’t know anyone here when I decided to come to pursue my dreams. Also, Benin people are so loving and supportive, both nationally and internationally. Naturally when I meet an EDOCENTRIC person I’m always so excited. I love my people, our culture, everything.’
I asked her if there’s a special feeling she gets when playing roles in Benin-themed stories. Her answer was a straight, ‘Yes! I always feel a different vibe when I take on Edo-centric projects. Something I can’t explain in words.’
Looking back at her migration to Lagos State in search of the proverbial ’greener pastures’ and what the creative industry in Edo State has transformed to in the past couple of years, she was profuse in her praises: ’I want to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to the Edo State governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, for his genuine passion not only for the gainful employment of Edo youths, but in preserving and exporting our arts and culture and the great length he has gone to improve the creative industry in Edo State with the building of infrastructures, policies and Human Capital development.’
When asked about her dreams for the future, she said: ’I am currently living my dreams, so right now I’ll say my dream is to excel at what I do and make my family proud continually.’
Asked if there was any advise she could give to upcoming actors, she said: ’My advice to upcoming actors/producers or engineers are, first, acquire the necessary skills in your given field. Explore the power of networking for information and opportunities. Be visible. Be prayerful. Stay positive and active as you wait for God’s time and, lastly, Don’t ever give up.’
Perfect advice to young people seeking a career in Nollywood, I would say. They also don’t have to look too far to get their inspiration for the long-haul journey because, if Tenacity was a person, that person would be Etinosa Idemudia. “EDO TO THE WORLD!”
