In a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, popular Nollywood actress Ini Edo opened up about her childhood aspirations and how she eventually found her calling in acting.
Despite initially dreaming of becoming a lawyer or a newscaster during her formative years, Ini Edo’s career took an unexpected turn.
Reflecting on her early influences, the mother of one revealed that she had always admired the late Tokunbo Ajayi, who served as her role model. However, acting was not something she actively pursued at the time. Rather, she pursued a diploma in theatre arts while awaiting the opportunity to study law.
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Interestingly, fate had other plans for Ini Edo. Unexpectedly, she found herself in the world of stage acting, which eventually paved the way for her foray into film.
“I wanted to be a lawyer or a newscaster. My role model was the late Tokunbo Ajayi; I always loved to watch her on the news. That was who I wanted to be like. Although I had never really wanted to be an actor, I have always been in the arts in church and in school.
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‘‘I did a diploma in theatre art while waiting to go do law. Then I started doing stage acting and an opportunity to do a film came and I just became an actor. I think it was destiny.”
Speaking on the success of her series, Shanty Town, she said, “To be honest, we knew what we had done. I knew it would blow people’s minds, what I didn’t expect was the kind of reaction I got from some people who I least expected, people who didn’t watch Nigerian films, I didn’t expect the reach.
“It became a movement, because we are carrying everybody along. It was that part I didn’t see coming. Did I know that it would blow people’s minds? Yes, because I saw it beforehand, and it has just been incredible.”