July 10, (THEWILL) – Eninnaya Nwigwe has had a smooth ride as an actor, taking lead character roles in some blockbuster movies. A humanitarian who also enjoys cooking, he speaks with Ivory Ukonu about his life as one of the most sought-after Nollywood actors. Excerpts:
Is acting for you a means to an end or a dream come true?
It is both for me actually.
How did your journey to the acting world begin?
It was by accident, which I like to call serendipity. I was in the right place at God’s ordained time.
How easy or difficult was your acceptance in the industry?
Like every career journey, there will always be obstacles. Some set by self, some by others and some by the system. But in all, I’ll say the universe has navigated me over time through what I do or drop. I can say I have enjoyed a level of grace such that acceptance has never been a concern.
Which movie gave you your big break and launched you to the group of A list actors?
That would be between Black November and The Wedding Party 1 & 2.
You have played quite a number of roles over the years. What determines the kind of roles you take on in movies?
Whichever role speaks to me on the first script read I go with, if the terms of the project work for me.
Do you sometimes have an input into the kind of roles you play?
Yes, I do. It is always important to learn from experience as an actor, beyond acting, as sometimes you find that you have a better understanding or experience with the character’s experience or work exposure, than the director/producer you are working for. Let me put it this way, a working actor is constantly working across projects with different directors, cast and crew, not forgetting the travel experiences and exposure to cultures and people, behavioral patterns and past character research. The actor also knows better what kind of actor he/she wants to be seen as and should have some level of control over their choices.
Did you ever think in your wildest imagination that you would be as big and as recognized as you are today?
In all sense of modesty, I was confident about my vision for success in the space, reading it from the start.
Which role and in which movie would you say challenged your craft as an actor?
Quite a number, but I’ll leave that between BADAMASI, the biopic on former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, which I was shooting alongside Living in Bondage due to scheduling clash and a recent movie I just finished in the Caribbean island of St Maarten titled CHOKEHOLD.
Speaking of BADAMASI, why do you think you were approached to play the role of IBB?
In the director, Obi Emelonye’s first words when he ran into me one early morning while jogging around 1004 Housing Estate where we were both living at the time, “I woke up from a dream to make a biopic on the controversial Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and no other person came to mind that would be able to carry such a role as you. So get ready. I don’t know when, but it will be made.”
Three years later, we were on set. And to add, he had taken 10 photos of Nigerian actors home, across regions and abroad to give the man a chance to pick who plays the role in this all-telling story and the wand fell on my photo. So the universe confirmed it.
What went through your mind then you were approached and were you at any point hesitant about playing the lead role, considering Babangida’s antecedents?
I was actually super excited. I mean, it is a biopic and not just that, that of our most controversial military president. It is an actor’s dream role really.
Why did the movie only premiere in London after several postponements and not in Nigeria?
I believe the producer will be in a better place to answer the question.
Do you have a dream role in your bucket list?
Not really. But I have a few exciting international roles in the works and excited for what the future holds for our industry. God leads, I follow.
Like some of your colleagues who have ventured into movie production, are you looking in that direction as well?
Yes, I am. At some point, we have to evolve from the show to the business of the show to come full circle in show business. I have been producing in the shadows collaboratively, but I have kept focus on the acting aspect.
If you had to change one thing about your industry to take it to another level, what would that be and how would you go about it?
So many things can be structured better, including the work of the guilds in protecting the industry players. Also constant capacity building, especially now that we are encroaching more into the global audience space with the influx of the big platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV and others.
What would you consider to be your greatest challenge as an actor?
It would be finding work/life balance. I believe I’m getting a better hang of that now. Choosing what I do and when, to allow me time to focus on other business priorities and personal life.
What was growing up like for you, did it in any way impact on your acting career?
Not at all, I had a normal childhood like the average child in Nigeria and like I mentioned earlier, I did not go into acting intentionally. Intentionality came after I started.
What would you say must have significantly shaped you to be who you are today?
It would be my upbringing and other influences like books, associations and travel.
Who are some of the people you look up to in Nollywood and why?
Richard Mofe Damijo easily tops the list from the acting perspective. He has been able to sustain a brand, transcending time. Also Ramsey Noah’s transition from leading man to one of the top directors today is also admirable.
You seem to be adventurous when it comes to food and you enjoy cooking. How did that aspect of you evolve?
I believe it must have been my mother using our hands and company in the kitchen growing up. I think that demystified the kitchen space early for me as a male child. Also my older and only brother had some interest in cooking during our teenage days and that also must have further pushed the normalcy of it. So when I got into the university it was normal for me to make my own food whenever I felt like it. So during the lockdown, the passion grew as it became a sort of therapy for me.
You have a YouTube channel showcasing your prowess and that of others in the kitchen. Are you dreaming beyond YouTube and perhaps having your own cooking show on TV?
Absolutely, cooking shows, competitions and beyond that, I am working on merchandising as well.
Who in your honest opinion do you think are the best cooks, men or women?
I can’t say categorically, but I can tell you there are more successful male chefs in the world today than women. It could be different on the home front. It is a woman’s place to be in the kitchen, but without knowing it, a man’s default love language is ‘Act of service.’ If you think of the saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” then you might catch the drift. When men take cooking as ‘work’ and earn from it, they do magic. However, for women, it is part of their nurturing nature.
You also run your own foundation. What is it all about?
Enyinna Nwigwe Foundation is focused on helping the less privileged children and the physically challenged in our communities. We have on our own done a few outreach programmes. Some were held during the COVID-19 lockdown and recently we donated several wheelchairs and cash to the physically-challenged community in Karamajiji Abuja. By God’s grace, we hope to do more while seeking support, volunteering and collaborations from bigger organisations and well-meaning people.
When did you set it up and how would you assess its impact since inception?
It’s been three years since it was set up and considering my schedule, I believe I have done the much I could within the time and I am looking to do more with more help.
Has there ever been a time you thought of quitting as an actor?
Of course, every actor in the world has been there one or more times on their journey.
How do you let off steam when you aren’t working?
I either go to the gym or stay indoors, figure out a new recipe, try out a new dish and perhaps binge watch a trending series. Also I find time to connect with friends since my work routine isn’t the most conventional.
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