Sharon Ooja: I look forward to playing pastor role

Sharon Ooja is an actress, who came into limelight after she played the role of Shalewa in the web series, Skinny Girl in Transit. A native of Benue State, she was born in Kaduna State and holds a degree in mass communication from Houdegbe North American University, Benin. She has since featured in countless box office movies. She speaks with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA in this interview about her dream role, career path and spirituality.

We are still in the women’s month, how much will you say women have played in lifting other women up?
I grewup in a family of girls: four girls. That alone is a foundation to show you what women can do with one another. I strongly believe that women build a nation. Aunty Mo Abudu was one of the core people who helped me in the industry. I was very new and she gave me a chance when nobody knew me. Not only did she give me a chance, she pushed me like I was her child to the front. That’s something you don’t find often. It just goes to show that is what God does for his own. He takes you to a place and makes people become at peace with you. I’m forever grateful to her. I don’t know how to not give credit to whom credit is due. She has paved the way for me and so many other people. There is a difference when you talk about people who help people on social media, and people who are actually helping people that they are not posting about on social media. I strongly believe that if we women genuinely support each other and not just say women supporting women, I swear this world will grow faster I can tell you free of charge.

How have you been able to combine the spiritual side of you and the work you do as a professional?
I feel that irrespective of where you find yourself you should be authentically who you are, I grew up in a background where I won’t say my parents were strict, but they brought us up in Christ. I told myself that irrespective of where I find myself, I will remain myself. When I first started acting, one of the things I told God was that I wanted him to be my anchor and I wanted Him to be my guide. I told God that if He does have my back and He propels me I will talk about him. I feel like I can’t afford to not talk about God, because I have to keep to my own end of the bargain, because he is keeping to his end. I will remain unapologetic and this is the beginning. For me, my spirituality has not in any way affected by career path.

You have shown your brilliant acting skills in several movies; don’t you think it is time to produce your movie?
Of course, I’m already thinking about it. As you are growing, you are learning, experiencing, and seeing things that I can do this, it’s hard but you are learning on the job. There is no better way to learn than to get experience, school is just theory. This is the practical aspect of it. I’m planning to make my own movie. It’s by God’s grace for sure.

Do you still have dream roles you look forward to playing?
Yes, I sure have a lot of dream roles. I recently completed a production with Kunle Afolayan and I played a mother. It’s my first time playing a mother and it’s crazy. I’ve been in the industry but this is the first time I’m playing a mother and I loved it. I look forward to playing a musician where I have to sing and dance. I look forward to playing a pastor, a tomboy. I’m flexible so there are many roles I hope will come in Jesus’ name.

If you were not in the creative space, what other profession would you have explored?
Most likely a teacher. I absolutely love children, knowledge, and reading. When I was growing up, I used to say I would be a teacher, I would stay with children and coach them. I used to do Sunday school after mass. In the University, I did some sort of babysitting so I always knew that I would love to be around children and teach them.

Talking about supportive women in the industry, how will describe Funke Akindele?
I can go on and on to describe the personality of Aunty Funke Akindele because she is one amazing human, supportive and always willing to assist others. She needs to be studied in the industry, because every time she does a production, it’s a box office hit. She gave me an opportunity at the very early stage of my career. She’s one of those people who always give others a chance. She’s literally the same as Aunty Mo, always giving people a chance. I genuinely love her. I have nothing but love for her.

What then do you have in store for 2024?
A lot of projects I featured in will be coming this year, Oloture is already streaming on Netflix, the production I did with Kunle Afolayan is currently in post-production stage and I am currently going on set with Funke Akindele for another big project.

As a creative, what is your opinion of the collaboration between the creative industry and streaming platforms like Netflix?
It’s good. This is the time when our African stories need to be heard, we need to put more colour on the screen. Our skin is beautiful, we are black, and our accent is everything. Original Nigerian accent and I’m so happy that we have a platform that is showing our stories, which has brought us to where we are, and made us who we are. Talk about our ancestors, our back story. These are the things that make us authentically who we are. So, Netflix and Nollywood cooperation is the best thing that has happened to us because it has even put us on the map.

What does style mean to you?
For me, style is an expression of my inner self. Style is just an expression of how you are feeling at the time.