Pamela Okoye, a Nollywood actress, has revealed that while she was still trying to find her footing in the Nollywood industry, she had to forgo monetary benefits to reach her current level of success.
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The Lagos-born actress, in a recent interview, recounted how she would go to movie sets, paying for her own transportation, and receive nothing after the shoot.
She said, “One of the major challenges I faced as an upcoming actress was basically knowing that I was trying to better my skills and myself without putting money in the picture.
“There were times when I had to go to locations for filming without expecting anything in return. I literally transported myself to locations, to and fro, with my money. There was little or nothing coming in. Although I didn’t take it to heart because I saw it as a learning curve for me, and I just wanted to improve my skills,” she added.
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The actress, who is also a filmmaker, spoke about how she coped with the situation: “Before going into acting fully, I already knew I had a lot of tasks ahead of me. I knew that as a starter, you can’t expect lots of money; you have to put in a lot of work first, while the money comes in later. That stood as a driving force for me, plus I had 100 percent support from my family, which made it a lot easier.”
Speaking on life as a star in the industry, she said, “I think it is still the same. The only difference is that I have to work more than I used to. Now, I do not have a reason not to work because God has placed me somewhere, and I need to keep up with where He has placed me.”
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“So the hard work and consistency are even doubled right now. If I was working hard back then, right now I think I am working harder. I have to work harder, keep up, and keep learning, growing, and getting better. Based on my personality, I don’t think anything has changed. I’m still Pamela Okoye.”
While describing her personality, Ms. Okoye said, “I’m a happy person, very energetic, and positive-minded. I also love being around positive-minded people with good vibes and energy. I love my space a lot, and I’m quite accommodating as long as it’s not invading my privacy.”
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