From Lagos to Rome: Onyinye Odokoro's Acting Journey
On this edition of Conversations with Mutuals, I chat with one of Nollywood’s emerging stars, the actor Onyinye Odokoro
I would love to begin this piece with a profile of Onyinye Odokoro. But all that matters to be said is Onyinye Odokoro is an actor and she’s fantastic! I saw her for the first time on Africa Magic's Dilemma late last year and became a believer. She was working with a number of people we would consider veterans of the craft here, but she stood out. Her acting was nuanced. And she had presence. I guess it's called having a je ne sais quoi? Like you see her and just know, "ah. This one was born to be a star."
Onyinye and I follow each other on Instagram and Twitter, so I decided to utilise the privilege and speak to her about acting, her career, and her current job on a TV series being shot in Italy. Yeah, Onyinye is an international actor! Here's how our WhatsApp chat went:
So I saw you for the first time as Rekiya in #AMDilemma and I was shocked. I said who's this girl? Why is she this good? Why do I not know her? I just want to know, How did you become Rekiya? Take me through getting the role and preparing to be her.
I had sent in a monologue when I saw an audition call from Blink Africa on Instagram. Then, a few weeks later, I got an email to read for a character, Rekiya. A few hours after I sent in my audition, I got a follow-up mail to send my contact details and the rest they say is history.
To be honest, I didn’t think I could do Rekiya. Because she is NOT me. I mean, every actor says yes, embrace those characters, and I agree. But I wasn’t sure if I could. And it was all on me, you know. Rekiya, amongst many things that she is, is sultry, I don’t consider myself that way so I had to find a way to, find my sultry, I guess. In preparing for her, it was to find her motives. Why? Why? And why? And I worked with what the script gave me and then the ones I had to fill up. That was basically it really.
You did well. I don't know if you saw this but I'd show it to you now regardless because I was in awe. Here:
🥺😘
This acting thing, is it all talent? Did you train professionally? The subtlety to your performance is not something one would associate with actors new in the game. And I don't just mean Dilemma where you play a feisty character and achieved that without being melodramatic. I also saw you recently in Mavin's Liza. You're good good.
Talent. Yes. I cannot take credit for that.
Training school? Not yet. The most I’ve been to is AFRIFF acting MasterClass in 2018, while I was in 400L studying Nursing.
But I have studied a number of acting books. In improving my skill, Sanford Meisner has taught me a technique, Michael Caine’s Acting in Film, An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavsky. These are my holy grails. I'm definitely a better actor than I was last year and in the past years. I do want to go to acting school, maybe soon. If not that, then I’ll get myself an acting coach.
Well done! You graduated from Uni last year, right? Do you intend to combine nursing with acting?
I couldn’t. Studying Nursing at UniCal, you don’t even have time to breathe. Lol. But that was when I was studying acting books. I was also on my church’s drama team. And we did pull out top-notch productions, better than some whole Nollywood films if I do say so myself. It was hugely because of the writer and director we had. His name is Jack Opukeme. He spoilt me. Because I came into Nollywood expecting scripts as good as what we had, but I was shocked to my bone marrow. 😂
But yeah, that was my training ground.
Oh, I’ve just read your question again. If I intend, sorry I thought you asked if I did. Well, no. For now, no.
Has Jack made films? I'd like to see his stuff.
Jack's works were theatre productions. He wrote Liza. He’s a genius. But alas, Nigeria. But his time is coming. Soon soon.
Ah. I liked Liza. Did you have to audition for it or you got it due to the already existing relationship with him.
Oh, I auditioned for it. But me even auditioning for it because of my relationship with him and the head of production of FilmOne, who’s my Godsent, Mimi Bartels. But the approval and selection were in the hands of the Mavin group and thank God they liked my audition.
I also like that you're critical of the industry. So tell me have you already started turning down scripts? Or have you worked on something you knew deep down that was shit, even if not as an actor on the project. 🌚
You don't have to name names but feel free to do so if you want to. 😅
😂😂
Oh yes, I am critical of the industry as I am of Nigeria because I love them both and know we can be better. So much better.
Haha, my journey has been a short one, and to be honest, I have been privileged in the kind of projects that came my way. There’s no one I would hide in shame if I saw it. I have turned down a few, one or two jobs because of pay, and didn't even get to the script part. I have also turned down one script and it was a beautiful process because the producer of that film took my critics of the script and had it rewritten before they shot it. She came to tell me. She’s one of the realest in the industry. You’d know her, but I don’t think I want to mention her name (maybe off record).
Tell me off-record, please. 🙏🏿
*Onyinye mentions the filmmaker's name off record.*
I follow you on IG and you're an ardent reader! Especially of novels. I like that. Do you think immersing yourself in literature has helped your acting skills in any way?
Yeeesss!! A thousand times, yes. I would argue that actors HAVE to read, even if they are not book lovers. Reading gets you into the mind of a character in a way that only witnessing something in real-time matches. Reading has helped me even be able to critique a script. To even know what a character’s arc is, if a character isn’t fully fleshed or is very poorly written.
Yeah! We agree. And for me I just think because reading fiction helps to build imagination, it gets you in the head of characters. Their story. Their journey. When I read, sometimes I imagine myself as those characters and I was wondering if actors did that too because that would just help the acting come out naturally, so they wouldn't have to play to the camera. I don't know if you get that.
Yes. Exactly!
Just to take us back a little. About the rates. We hear actors complain. Recently Gideon Okeke has had to voice out. How bad is it?
Oh, it’s bad. And I say that as someone who’s worked on an international project.
But it’s not black or white really. It’s bad also because the country is hard and bad. It’s bad also because there’s no structure. So it’s dicey. I’ve worked on projects I knew that if this producer could pay me any better, she would. And I’ve also worked on one I knew I’d sold myself short accepting that kind of pay.
I see. So yes the international project! You were in Italy for two months? How did that even happen?
I had registered on Nolly Casting. I have been registered on there for like two years and had done two short films for Stephanie Linus, for her gender-based violence initiative. I think she took notice of me from those shoots. And according to the casting director of the Sky Original Unwanted. She said they were looking for original African actors, so she googled and came upon the Nolly Casting website and she sent an email to Stephanie. Stephanie put it on the website but sent it to me personally. She told me to do the audition and send it back to her. And so I did the audition. I was actually on the set of Dilemma when I got the call to do the audition. I did the audition and sent it to her and a few weeks later, I got a call from Stephanie and she told me I had gotten the job. That was it. Next thing I knew I was applying for Visa. I was going to Rome and I was shooting on this very big project. And it was exciting. Yeah.
Wow. Well done! Congratulations! How will you find adjusting to Nollywood after the experience there?
Same way I’m adjusting to the heat lmao. I’m still on the job though. I finish in June. I’m currently on a break.
Oh great! Wow. There are breaks!! How long is your break?
Haha! Yeess! The production is ongoing though, however, I don’t have scenes until mid-April hence my break.
Fine. So I don't know if you'd remember this now. There was a certain time you shared on your IG story about a job you had prayed earnestly for that you had to forgo for this Sky production. Mind if I asked what that was? (I hope I don't come off as a stalker 💀)
😂😂😂. Oh yes! I had landed the lead role for Domitilla, the sequel. But it was clashing. So I had to forgo it. But then again, it hasn’t been shot so…
Yo. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 Wow! Your talent dey speak for you!!! I hope it all comes together and you can work on it!
😄😄😄
And a truckload of the grace of God. Fingers crossed.
Amen. We will say prayers! Make them wait for you abeg. I want to ask now, what would give you the greatest fulfillment as an actor?
Right now? I want to be cast in the adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone. That’s it. Long-term, winning an Oscar. I mean… nothing tops that on this side of career.
It will come to pass. Amen to all of this.
Amen!
Final question now: if I told you, I wanted to become an actor, what would you say to me?
If you can, get a job on the side. You’ll need the funds to survive and pay bills. Then, have patience. Because it could take years to break out, or it could take months. But be prepared to wait it out if the former is the case.
Relationships are invaluable. Connect with people in the industry. They’re the ones that’ll mostly recommend you. Integrity is important. Talent may open the door, but character will keep you in the room. Study the industry. Back to front. Understand it. Know how the game is played. Know yourself, as a brand, you have to see yourself that way because it’s business. Who are you? What distinguishes you? Understand your own path too and what works for you. Most importantly, go with God, or whatever you believe in. Also, if it’s a big project, you’ll know if it’s the one you’ll have to get a lawyer, Read the damn contracts.
This was a really enjoyable read Dika. I love the flow of the conversations, and the questions you asked her .
Also if Dika thinks an actor is good ? Then she IS .
Now I have to head over to Onyinye’s IG.
My FOMO for not having seen Dilemma has now peaked .
I wish you great heights Onyinye and that Oscar ! Continue to soar
Onyinye has proven time after time to be dedicated and a firm believer of following her dreams. Her talent makes her work look seamless. Definitely one to look out for in the industry.
For the interview, I felt I was there in the chat😂. The seamless transition between question and answer shows the interviewer knew exactly what to ask.
Great job!!