Award-winning Nollywood actress and star, Ini Edo, recently recorded a new mileage in her acting career with her ‘Shanty Town’ movie for Netflix.
The 42-year-old and mother of one however, said he had wanted to become a lawyer, ‘but life has its own purpose at the end of the day’.
She said, “Obviously, my parents wanted me to be a lawyer and I wanted to be a lawyer myself and they believed a lot to make I stayed under course, but life has its own purpose at the end of the day. They were very liberal minded enough and encouraged me in my chosen career as long as I am being decent and modest about the things that I do. Both have really encouraged me throughout my journey; they have visited me during my film premieres and come for my events, always there to cheer me up. Yes, it might have been a little tough in the beginning, not because of the career, but acting has me travel a lot out of town and my parents didn’t understand why I should be made to travel unaccompanied at that age, because I was pretty young as well. They thought it was taking me away from within their control, but other than that, when they realized I could take care and control myself, and I was good by myself, they all threw their support behind me and resorted to advice, prayers and calls to make sure I am fine.”
Speaking on the opportunities fame has given her since she became a known face, Ini Edo said, “Now, I eat on tables with the kings, queens and dignitaries and all of that. I have had major international doors opened to me, I have had the rare opportunity of sitting with the biggest film makers around the world. I have had opportunities of sitting with presidents of countries, had opportunities to touch lives and connect with people from different backgrounds. I love the fact that it has also given me opportunities to see the world for what it is. Then when we talk about challenges, we first of all talk about the fact that you no longer own your life, your privacy, your consent in the public light which means everything you do will be scrutinized, hence you are not able to live your life the way you would want to live it. Fame has its ups and downs. For me, I would say majorly that fact that I am just too popular, perhaps I am not able to do the things I love to do or go to places that I love to visit. I love to go to the local markets a lot. These are things you cannot do because of who I have become; so even with the high side, these are also the down side of it, but in overall, the positive will always overshadow the negative.”
Advising the upcoming entertainers who sees her as role model, Ini Edo noted that humility paves way to greater heights.
“I always advise the young people, as far as your passion is right to be in this career for the right reasons, so long as you want to be in the industry for the right reasons and not just for what the career can help you achieve, then you would be able to withstand any kind of storm that you would find along the way. Then I would suggest you work on your brand as an actor, craft, keep improving in yourself, try to see where you fit in, if you are given an opportunity, humble yourself and put your best foot forward, have role models that you can learn your acts from, who can inspire you to be a better artiste. When the opportunity comes, try to make the best presentation of yourself.”
